Dating a Chinese SKS

[Bulls-I_24]

I found a site that explains how to date them if they have the /26\ but in 1963 they started putting 3 Chinese characters on there that represent "Type 56" and I guess that's when stuff starts getting tricky.
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-24.htm

Does anyone know how to date these later models?

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[sandstorm]

1. yooper is a great site .

2. but he is incorrect about the intro of the chinese character in 1963 , i have a pic of a /26\ 1962 with the 3 chinese character.

3. dating a /26\ is the same right to end of production in 1981. you cannot date other chinese factories.

[Bulls-I_24]

I believe mine has a /26\, but it looks different than other ones iv'e seen, three chinese characters and then the serial nimber with a "R1700***".
How do you know if they are from other factories.
Ill post a pic soon.....

[sandstorm]

I believe mine has a /26\, but it looks different than other ones iv'e seen, three chinese characters and then the serial nimber with a "R1700***".
How do you know if they are from other factories.
Ill post a pic soon.....

in your pic , please include the barrel lug.

[sandstorm]

if its not /26\ , could it be /216\ ? see my list .

below is a list of factory codes that i have compiled.

A. triangle factory codes, some of these codes are hard to read so I hand drawn them in the picture , below the pic are the corresponding numbers.

Triangle factory codes: in order of number of digits.


Corresponding codes to the above pic.
Row
1./?\,/oo\,/2\,/2\,/26\,/36\,/56\,/66\,/96\.
2./016\,/106\,/106\,/116\,/135\,/136\,/156\, /206\, /216\.
3./305\,/306\,/316\,/316\,/319\,/326\,/366\,/386\,/406\.
4./416\,/456\,/516\,/526\,/606\,/625\,/629\,/636\,/666\.
5./906\,/916\,/956\,/0130\,/0131\,/0223\,/0225\,/0306\,/0405\.
6./0406\,/0408\,/0412\,/0404\,/0908\,/6602\,/6609\,/6017,/6516\.
7./6601\,/6615\,/6625\,/6635\,/6636\,/6656\,/6665\,/6666\,/6675\.
8./7676\,/6906\.

B. square factory codes:
1.[0129],[0134],[0135],[0136],[0138],[0140],[0141],[0142],[0144],[0145],[0146],[0147].
2.[0220],[0205],[0221],[0222],[0223],[0224],[0266].
3.[0303],[0306],[0360].
4.[0806],[6603],[6623].

C. oblong factory codes:
1.(23),(874),(974),(0402),(6009),(9186),(9696)

D. Diamond factory code:
1.<0203>,<0205>.

E. Plain codes :M21 No, M21 0296, TO, DP, DB, DP3

[Bulls-I_24]

Sorry im still learning Where is the barrel lug?

[Claven2]

Not all military guns will have numbered stocks. Many of the early factory 26 guns with blade bayonets were imported to the US/Canada in the 1990's and a good many of those were reconditioned somewhat in the PRC before coming over. Worn/damaged stocks were sometimes replaced with new production wood (no serial number and blonder than typical military stocks) and items like the gas tube were replaced if the originals were badly pitted, etc. Often the guns were also reblued. Think of it as arsenal refurbishment as this work was all done in military factories.

Also, what we think of as "commercial production" is just guns assembled from military production spare parts for sale in the states. The Chinese had stopped SKS production at a number of factories and their vast stocks of replacement parts were hastily assembled in a variety of commercial configurations for the civilian market so that some use cold be made of these orphaned spares.

[sandstorm]

Not all military guns will have numbered stocks. Many of the early factory 26 guns with blade bayonets were imported to the US/Canada in the 1990's and a good many of those were reconditioned somewhat in the PRC before coming over.

im not talking about refurbs , my research shows that all standard factory 26 originally came with serial number on the stock.