SKS ID Help?

[Bruno2]

I have 3 SKS rifles bought back in the early 90's.They are Norinco guns made in China. They have the cosmoline on them. None of the rifles have the bayonet, but have the "V" cut in the front of the stock, but do have a sling. The receiver has a triangle with the 26 inside. Also, they have a 4 digit serial left of the triangle that begins with what looks like a letter B (example B 25 52). There is a serial number on the magazine that is 4 digits as well, but not the same as what is on the receiver.

I have heard the serial number on the stock matching would be better. However, unless it is the number on the magazine I have no idea where the stock's serial number would be located.

Any pricing help would be great as well.

Thank you in advance!!

 

[joem1945]

Sounds like it was made in china. On a good day perhaps $450.00.

 

[Bruno2]

Here is an update. There are serial numbers on the receiver, magazine and trigger guard. They all match as well. I was having trouble seeing some of them, but got enough people looking at it to verify that they all match.

 

[dogmush]

It sounds like you have 3 very early production Chinese Type 56 Carbines. The Triangle "26" is the factory code, and alpha character followed by 4 digit serial would have been while the Soviets were still helping set up the factory. The Chinese changed pretty quickly to "Type 56 Carbine" (in chinese) and a longer serial to the right of the factory code. (or the receivers anyway)

The Military guns that I have seen had the serial stamped pretty prominently into the butt. It would be hard to miss.

Kinda sounds like you have a commercial build, exported by Norinco (They didn't really build any SKS's) not matching numbers and missing the bayonets. As always pictures would help.

Value can vary a lot with the local market and condition, but a quick glance at gunbroker auctions that actually have bids makes it look like your rifles would be worth $375-$400 ish each.

 

[WardenWolf]

Agreed. Sounds like a commercial Norinco. The surplus ones still had bayonets. Price is about right, from what I've seen recently. They aren't particularly sought after compared to others.

 

[Bruno2]

The butt doesn't have any serial numbers stamped in it. It has a little circular spring loaded trap door about the size of a nickel.

 

[Reloadron]

The butt doesn't have any serial numbers stamped in it. It has a little circular spring loaded trap door about the size of a nickel.

The small spring loaded flap is where the cleaning kits went.

The early SKS rifles that came into the country were military surplus guns, actual Chinese Communist rifles manufactured for the Chinese military. Then NORINCO began making new rifles and they were imported till the Clinton ban ended their importation (for the ChiCom Guns Anyway). A good example of the new production rifles was the "Paratrooper" which was interesting as to the best of anyone's knowledge the Chinese Army does not have airborne paratroopers. The new guns also as I recall had stamped rather than the early milled receivers and they had pinned barrels. The model 56 SKS was one of the most popular rifles on a surplus market and in the beginning they were cheap. There are still entire forums and web sites devoted to the things. Today I see them around here in gun shops averaging around $400 for a good clean specimen.

Ron

 

[JR47]

A large number of SKS carbines were imported before the ban without bayonets, to get around regulations. There were some with thumb-hole stocks, for that same reason. Very early SKS firearms used a knife bayonet. Later ones were equipped with a cruciform bayonet.

 

[Reloadron]

A large number of SKS carbines were imported before the ban without bayonets, to get around regulations. There were some with thumb-hole stocks, for that same reason. Very early SKS firearms used a knife bayonet. Later ones were equipped with a cruciform bayonet.

That's right, the infamous SKS Hunter with a 5 round mag and a thumb hole stock. The bayonet nightmare was funny. Dealers at shows were yanking the bayonets off the things and nobody was sure what was what. So you had a table covered with SKS rifles and in a corner a pile of "tent stakes" for $5.00 each and the tent stakes bore a resemblance to bayonets. Some funny stuff.

Ron

 

[MilsurpShooter]

triangle 26 reciever with a B cyrillic letter in front of the Serial Number might denote a Sino-Soviet. Some information here: http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-36.htm

 

[Bruno2]

So, are they actually the type 56?

If you need pics, what do you need pics of so I can get the right info on here?

 

[Catpop]

To pose a question: I bought one of the sks' in 1989. It came with the triangle spike bayonet attached. Is it legal to own it with the bayonet attached?

 

[lysanderxiii]

In North Carolina it is.

Can't say for other states...

Oh, and Triangle 26 is Jianshe Arsenal

 

[dogmush]

So, are they actually the type 56?

If you need pics, what do you need pics of so I can get the right info on here?

To the best of my knowledge ALL chinese SKS's are properly called "Type 56 Carbine". SKS is an acronym that refers to the Soviet built rifle. Every other country that made one had it's own name. (Yugo PAP M59, Nork Model 63, Romanian M56, etc) So yes they are Type 56 Carbine. Not to be mixed up with a Type 56 Rifle, which is an AK clone/variant.

Pictures of the whole rifle, close ups of the receiver, bayonet slot in the stock, and any markings on the rifle might help some of the more knowledgeable SKS guys track it down. There are several different stocks, bayos, receivers, bolts (I think), and other things that the Type 56 Carbines had at various times.

The NORINCO (also an acronym) commercial rifles were (my understanding is) mostly built from spare parts from the Jianshe factory. NORINCO didn't actually manufacture any. They were just the exporter. So you could have a commercial rifle that was made from old parts. (The recivers are very early production) or you might have a military rifle that was refurbed and given to NORINCO for export. There are some very knowledgeable folks on combloc surplus rifles floating around the net. Good pictures might allow them to give you more details.

 

[Salmoneye]

To properly ID your SKS cache, start here:

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=26665

 

[HoosierQ]

A large number of SKS carbines were imported before the ban without bayonets, to get around regulations. There were some with thumb-hole stocks, for that same reason. Very early SKS firearms used a knife bayonet. Later ones were equipped with a cruciform bayonet.

Why in the world would you put a thumbhole stock on a gun that lacks a pistol grip in the first place????

 

[Ignition Override]

Bruno2:
Have you tried the SKS website "SKSboards"? A member there told me that even the 90's Chinese imports (into the US), technically, are also classified as military rifles.

Our latest batch of imports are the early Type 56, most often found with battle scars. To avoid the US 'Chinese import ban', these rifles were shipped
from Albania.
On a fairly recent Youtube video you can watch a Classic Arms staffer removing them from the shipping crate. Each rifle was sealed inside a separate plastic bag, and tiny sections of garden hose were on the bolt handles for protection.

 

[Ash]

I think the reason the Chinese Type 56 Carbines came from Albania is not to get around importation but because they were actually surplussed from Albania's armed forces. You have to remember that Enver Hoxha, the communist dictator of Albania, was a Maoist Communist and fostered close ties to the PRC at a time when the Soviets and PRC were quasi-enemies. In this time period (50's and 60's) China supplied Albania with Type 56 Carbines.

In short, these weren't an end-run around US importation laws but rather Albanian surpluses.

 

[Bruno2]

Here are some pics. From what I read these fit in with the description of the Sino Soviets.

 

[Bruno2]

 

[Bruno2]

 

[MilsurpShooter]

http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-24.htm scrolls down to China and it should give you a bit of info