My new sks

[HarryG]

Yesterday I finally picked up my new rifle. It is a Chinese type 56 SKS from factory 26 made in 1980, unissued and unfired. It is all numbers matching, the only thing missing is the spike bayonet. My friend threw in the 30 round mag as he had no use for it. There are a couple of dings to the stock but other than that it is in great shape. My next goal is to get it cleaned so I can start putting rounds through it. This rifle marks the start of my surplus rifle collection I want to have. I want to pick up a Nagant and another sks at some point.

Information

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[WarPig1976]

Nice carbine, hate to break it to you but it's not a type 56 which is Chinese military. It's a norinco sks made for the commercial market. These guns are why there's a ban on Chinese imports. US gun makers couldn't compete with the inexpensive Chinese guns. Why buy a Ruger mini 14 for I don't know 500.00 when you could buy a 100.00 SKS. I have one also great guns lots of fun. Don't get me wrong it's an SKS just no military provenance.

[Midmichigun]

Regardless if it is a Military Model or an Export variant, that is a nice looking rifle!
I remember the Chinese SKS coming in by the crate before 1994.
IIRC, they came with a sling, cleaning kit... and a bandolier of ammo for about $100.00.

Right now, the easiest SKS variant to find in my neck of the woods are one of the Yugo versions. We don't see as many Russian or Chinese anymore.... The Yugo were the last imported in any large quantity if I recall correctly.... You may want to look for one of the Yugos while they can be easily had....

[Adolf Galland]

Great gun.I bet you'll be buying more.

[HarryG]

The local gun show is the 31st to the 2nd and I plane on going with cash in hand.

[Aragorn243]

The current import SKS is the actual military Chinese SKS. They look horrible however but are priced substantially less than anything else. The stocks look like they are covered in grey mold. The metal didn't look too bad. I wasn't shopping for one so I didn't pay too close attention to them but they have been at the last two or three shows I've attended.

[Tank50]

Aragorn, It sounds like you are describing the Chinese manufactured SKSs which had been imported from Albania recently. I don't know any basis to differentiate the OP's rifle from any other military SKS. The Chinese characters before the serial number translate to Type 56. The only rifles I know of which were made expressly for the commercial market are the "paratrooper" which has a 16" barrel and the SKS-D, SKS-M and Sporter models which accept AK magazines in factory configuration.

Whatever the case the OP has a very nice condition SKS.

[arado]

IMHO, you acquired the best military long arm ever issued. still in service........ten round magazine. ten round stripper clip. death by aimed fire. it goes bang every time....

[Bulls-I_24]

...The Chinese characters before the serial number translate to Type 56. The only rifles I know of which were made expressly for the commercial market are the "paratrooper" which has a 16" barrel and the SKS-D, SKS-M and Sporter models which accept AK magazines in factory configuration.

There was also a "Cowboy Companion" which had a scope much like the PU mounted to the receiver with the stock relieved. I belive all sks's were "military" besides the M,D and cowboy variants. The "paratrooper's are just cut down 20" barrels, I have a factory /26\ that is in paratrooper configuration.
To the OP, Ibelieve yours is a factory /216\ maybe? I'll have to find my chart. I don't think rifles were made in the 26 factory after 1965 which was the 9 million serial number range. I would still argue that this was a military contract rifle.

[HarryG]

It is a /26\ the picture isn't the best as I don't have a macro lense for my camera.