Info on a Chinese SKS

[Lorenzo]

Just acquired a Chinese SKS and wanted to see if any knowledgable folks out there could give me some info on it.

The rifle has a milled trigger group, a lightening cut on the side of the bolt carrier, has a blade bayonet, and is outfitted with one of the reddish-brown fiberglass "jungle stocks." I've seen these stocks being sold separately before, but have not seen one on a rifle. I'm not sure if the bayonet and stock are original to the rifle, but the gun seems to be a earlier model, so it could be since I've heard these type stocks were found on earlier models. The serial number is 23590, and there is some Chinese writing and what looks to be a symbol of the number 26 within a triangle on the left side of the receiver next to the serial #. I just wanted to know if this is a genuine pre-ban rifle and maybe see if anyone knows when it was made and if the furniture is original to the gun. Any info would be appreciated immensely. BTW, the gun is in excellent shape.

[JA]

The only rifles I have seen that were imported with the jungle stock were parts guns. I was there when a dealer/friend cut the bands on a woooden case of rifles he got for $59 per rifle. Some had wood and some jungle stocks. The numbers on bolt carrier,bolt,receiver cover,etc...... didn't match or didn't even have numbers on them.
Is the gas tube milled? Matching numbers on the parts?

[Lorenzo]

JA,
I'm not sure how to tell if the gas tube is milled or not, but it does seem as if all the parts match, far as I can tell. Does that help any?

[CALIFORNIAN]

Hi Lorenzo, the Chi-com type 56 carbine with
blade bayonet is the early original model,
around 1965 and before approx. ser. no.
9,250,000, Chi-com SKS's were mfg. with blade
bayonet instead of the often seen spike bayo.
Based on the serial no. your rifle was mfg.
around 1962-65 era if it's all matching?
most important the receiver and bolt & carrier. The 26 in a triangle is the original
chinese arsenal that made some of the finest
examples and were usually the all milled ones
with threaded barrels. The gas tube can easily be identified as milled by close exam-
ination, does it have a noticable separate
piece near the tube ,that looks stamped or
milled ? The brownish red stock that your rifle has was made specifically for the humid
jungle environment and not too many were used
in Vietnam because they were introduced late
in the war ,late 60's and the AK47 was becoming more widespread as the Vietnamese
got better equiptment. The stock was probably
added later, does it have importers markings?
I saw an ad in Shotgun news several years ago
advertising SKS's with red jungle stocks.

[This message has been edited by CALIFORNIAN (edited 10-29-1999).]

[This message has been edited by CALIFORNIAN (edited 10-29-1999).]

[Lorenzo]

Thanks for the info, Californian. Yes, all the parts seem to be matching. From what you said, the gas tube seems to be the milled type. There are importer's marks on the left rear of the receiver, they read: SKS 7.62x39 MADE IN CHINA IC-KNXV-TN, that's what they appear to be, they're kind of faint. I just noticed that the serial # on the receiver reads 9123590, while on all other parts it reads just 23590. Does this change anything in your estimation of date or place of manufacture?

[CALIFORNIAN]

Yes ,since the blade bayonet models cutoff
date of manufacture ended around 9,250,000
and your ser no.# 9,123,590 that would mean
your rifle is definitly pre-1965 era but it
was probably imported to the USA within the
last 10 years ? IMHO by the importers mark.
I have an early pre 65 Chi-Com SKS myself,
that I bought for 69.95 several years ago.

[Lorenzo]

Thanks again, Californian. Sounds like I got a good deal for $200. It's kind of nice knowing I have a real military-issue weapon instead of some cheapo commercial sporter.