Help with identifying SKS

[browningautorifle]

, but the photos don't seem to demonstrate rebluing.

Perhaps not, but it's harder to tell for sure through pics...

[Boris Badinov]

You will find the most extensive and in depth study and research of the early Chinese SKS carbines here:

Dating The Chinese SKS - Chinese SKS Guide

Most of their work regarding dates, traits and origins is spot on and subtantially evidenced. Though there is still some debate regarding the dates and specifics of the Chinese "Letter Rifle" carbines.

[ChrisP]

Thanks to everyone for all the help and thank you Boris for all the great information and reading material!

I was initially disappointed that there were little markings on the gun. Nothing looks like it was ground off, but I was thinking it had been scrubbed somehow. I love these milsurps for their history and the arsenal markings are a neat feature to show people. But this is definitely cool in its own right. Can't wait to go shoot it!

I'll have to check the piston tube and shaft after work this afternoon for electro pencil marks.

[browningautorifle]

Nothing looks like it was ground off,

It's not a matter of grinding. The polishing wheels are 240 or 400 grit or 555 for a high polish. If you use file and then machine paper, you can virtually make it blend clean and the layman won't see. You don't have to do the whole rifle either, and if it was done some time ago then natural wear will take place. Those are just facts. This rifle may well be what you now suspect, pictures are hard to judge by.

[ChrisP]

No worries too much either way for me. Not too worried about collector value, I didn't pay anything extra for it, and not planning on turning around and reselling it. Just happy to have a piece of history to own, shoot and enjoy!

Thanks again Jim for your help!

[Brian Dick]

Interesting thread. I just pulled one out of my safe. It's sn. 9003937. It's near new factory original condition with a few handling marks in the wood. There's not a mark on it other than the serial number in all the pertinent places.

---------- Post added at 06:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------

I see mine is a late export model.

[Boris Badinov]

After re-reading your original post and re-viewing all of your photos, I'm convinced that your rifle has not been altered in any way-- neither pre or post-import

The "I.O. Monroe, NC" import stamp identifies your rifle as an early 2013 import. Many of the large sellers (Classic, SOG, J&G, AIM etc) purchased these carbines in large quantities from the various importers.

None of these sellers put any effort into modifying or altering any of these guns. Essentially, your rifle has been sitting in a crate, covered in cosmoline since it was packed away into military storage years ago in Albania.

After examining your pictures in detailed high-magnification and with various filters, I see absolutely zero signs that your rifle has been sanded, refinished or reblued. In fact your stock looks like it could even be made of the same Arctic Birch that the Soviets used on the SKS-45's (on this observation I am less certain).

Though the condition of the Sino-Albanian cache of Chinese Type 56 carbines (and the Soviet Sneaks that accompanied them) varies widely to the extremes on both sides of the spectrum and in between, many of them are in amazingly robust condition both internally and externally. Which tells us much about the men (and women) to whom these rifles were issued. With no evidence of a contemporary, organized, small arms re-arsenal program in the Albanian military--the evidence suggests that, for the most part, the men and women of the Albanian armed forces were well trained in the care and maintenance of the rifles they were issued.

You, my friend got lucky. I can only assume that you paid the extra fee to SOG for the "hand select" option. If so, you were wise to do so...as the nominal extra charge makes a world of difference especially if you decide to sell at a later date.

If you're curious and want to know more, I strongly suggest signing up at the sks-files.com and the ak/sks collecting forum at gunboards.com . The creators of the Sks-files forum have put years of research and collected volumes of serial, feature and historical data to iron out much of the early and modern history of the SKS carbine. If you post this rifle on either of those forums, the members there will be able to tell you considerably more about your rifle and you will be able to peruse past threads and photos of rifles like yours. This will give a very good idea of how fortunate you are to have ended up with the rifle that you now have.


jealous.

[ChrisP]

Brian, thanks for stopping by! I purchased a Longbranch No. 4 Mk 1* from you in September of this year, you're the reason I came to this forum. Very thankful to you for that also!

Boris, I began browsing those pages you mentioned after your initial post and I am finding a ton of great information. The creator of the sks-files forum has a quite extensive survey on his weebly page that I am in the process of completing. I will be sending a photo of every mark, stamp, scratch or scar that is relevant along with the survey. I've never tried to take such detailed, close up photos of a gun before and I am only just realizing how poor the lighting in my house is for such things! I did pay the $10 hand pick fee to SOG as I do everytime I buy from them. Not sure how much of a difference it actually makes, as I have never *not* paid the hand pick fee. But I have received a couple beautiful rifles in the past from them and figure I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.
Also, I did check the gas tube and piston as you mentioned earlier and found they are both electropenciled with the matching S/N

[Boris Badinov]

Natural morning light seems to be the best for taking pics, it has a fuller spectrum. Near a window with adjustable blinds in case the light gets to bright. I like to use hardwood floor or natural wood planks for background. My Samsung android takes amazing high resolution photos.

[datastreamcom]

Hi Boris, I joined recently and have posted pics of a 51 Tula in another thread.

It was imported by KBI. What do you know of them? Is it possible to date their imports?