View Thread: Need SKS historian


kanscheapskate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, like most I have picked up some cheap Chicom SKSs and want to know some history. From what I read on the net all early ones came with the blade bayonet and I got one that is a second year Chinese production according the the serial number with a spike bayonet and an unissued looking stock that is for a spike and not blade. I also read that they put mostly spikes on for US export because they thought we would buy them better. This is my guess, these guns were old ones in storage that were unissued or maybe reblued and restocked and equiped with a spike before coming to the US. Does this sound right? If not please explain the early serial numbers on my new looking rifle? If this was reblued there is little wear or worn surfaces and the barrel looks mint. The reason I am wanting to know this is I had a good friend who died and he had always wanted a red fiberglass SKS like the one he had captured in Nam only to have it stolen a week before he came home. I found the stock for it here from a member and wanted to recreate Darrel's stolen war trophy but the Glass stock is cut for the blade and now I am back to not wanting to change out a bayonet and stock off a mint original gun but since the facts don't match the gun I am really doubting these features are original. I hope this makes sense??? Thanks

martin08
Really need more info.

Only the factory /26\ can be truly dated. Is yours a /26\?

Also would need the full serial numbers like 1,468, 2XX to get a full picture... or pics themselves!

My understanding - Cryllic followed by four digits = Sino Soviet or 1956

One million range serial numbers on /26\ = 1957
Two million range serials on /26\ = 1958
And so on

So a /26\ 114685XX would be a 1956 plus 11 = 1967

Blade bayos came originial through 1965.

Just my understanding, others may have more/better info.

allesennogwat
The earliest Chinese SKS's were made with Soviet parts. The earliest Soviet SKS's and the earliest Sino-Soviet(Chinese-made with Soviet parts) SKS's had spike bayonets. The Soviets had already switched to blade bayonets by the time the Chinese got the parts with spike bayonets. Later the Chinese switched to the blade bayonet that the Soviets were already using. The Chinese thought the blade bayonets were too heavy and didn't like the balance of the rifle with it and switched back to the early Soviet design spike bayonet.

History

Soviet with spike bayonet

Soviet with blade bayonet

Chinese with old Soviet spike bayonet

Chinese with Chinese-made blade bayonet

Chinese with Chinese-made spike bayonet

There is some overlap of these designs.

China was also supplied with Soviet-made SKS's before China started assembling them and making them.

kanscheapskate
Wow, that was fast, ok, here we go- all I own are factory 26, The one I want to put the jungle stock on is number 10288xxx, I think a guy with some kindo f chart on the numbers told me it was made in 1965 -66 or about there, it has a milled trigger gaurd and looks brand new other than a ding in the stock. I got another one he looked up and said it was an early production, I think '58 or atleast pre 60. The trigger gaurd is made slightly different along with other slight differences. Every SKS I bought looked brand new, bolts perfect, and bayonets with out a scratch. The wood all looked like it was just made that year but I suspect they are refinnished and restamped for export but I just don't know. If anyone wants more info I can post, just ask, I have not tried to put a pic on here but I might have to give it a shot, thanks

martin08
Your gun with a 10million range number, puts it as a 1966. Hence the proper spike bayo for post '65 Chinese.

kanscheapskate
Thanks, Now I got a 1966 and a 1958. I sure wonder if they were restocked, I can't see this mint stock on the 1958 being that old, its perfect, it has the spike aslo so I guess I should trade it for the fiberglass stock and blade bayonet. Thanks