Help with identifying SKS

[ChrisP]

I just picked up this SKS from Southern Ohio Gun, it was listed as Chinese, but after picking it up I'm not finding any markings that I recognize from the either the chinese or Russian ID pinned posts. The import mark, which I didn't take a picture of, does say China on it.

Any help would be appreciated! I tried to post pictures of any and all markings that I could find.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Welcome to the forum, no markings on the cover at all? I think the marking at the back of the rear sight means infinity in Russian...

[Flying10uk]

I would say not Chinese because of the bayonet being a flat blade rather than a cruciform bayonet. I don't know that China ever fitted any flat-bladed type bayonets to their SKSs??? There should be enough markings present to give a positive I.D. on the country of origin; it's just a case of finding someone who knows what the markings mean. However, you have come to the right place and give it a few days, you should have an answer. My guess is Russia or Eastern Europe but not China; I stand to be corrected.

[Flying10uk]

Another point which is so obvious I almost overlooked it, there appears to be no Chinese writing on your SKS and you haven't mentioned the presence of any. I do have a U.K. deactivated SKS which I know to be of Chinese origin are there most certainly is Chinese writing on it. I have already posted pictures of it on this Forum but I will do so again which may be helpful and of interest.

[Miller Tyme]

I would say not Chinese because of the bayonet being a flat blade rather than a cruciform bayonet. I don't know that China ever fitted any flat-bladed type bayonets to their SKSs???

Early production Chinese SKS's, so called Sino-Soviet SKS's had blade bayonets and a fair number of them where built with left over parts from when Soviet production ended.

[browningautorifle]

Your pics are not really comprehensive either...more typical flat side pics would help. Top, sides...

[ChrisP]

Here are some pictures of the top and back of the dust cover and one of the import stamp. I didn't take any pictures of the right side of the receiver because there weren't any markings, but I will put up a few more pictures in the morning.
There are no chinese symbols on the rifle

[ChrisP]

More pictures! Sides, top, one of the bottom (trigger guard/mag). If I can provide any clearer pictures or any of a particular area, please let me know! There really just aren't many markings at all other than the serial number and a couple poorly stamped markings around the where the barrel meets the receiver (pictures in the earlier post). There is a kinda blurry picture I posted earlier, it's the bottom of the barrel where it goes into the receiver, it looks like a backwards 3, followed by 1 6 0

[browningautorifle]

That receiver looks to have been re-blued...the cover for sure and the flats of the receiver. The rest not so. I wonder...it would explain absence of number/letter...

[Boris Badinov]

You have a very early chinese SKS. About a year before the addition of the /26\ State Arsenal stamp and several years before the addition of 3-character "Type 56" designation stamp (五六式).

You have what is commonly referred to as a "Ghost Rifle". When these recent import Chinese rifles first began to appear in the US en masse via Albania (post 2010), collectors and and mil-surp enthusiasts had a difficult time identifying their national origin. With no Arsneal stamp to identify it as Soviet (tiny star on left side of reciever) and no State Arsenal stamp from China ( /26\ ), these serial-number-only rifles presented a bit of a mystery. No one knew if they were chinese or soviet made.

Because of the mystery regarding national origins, some collectors began referring to them as "Ghost Rifles". Many still use the term, despite the fact that it has been proven that they are Chinese guns (partially made in USSR and China). Some find the term "Ghost" annoying and misleading and refer to this early serial number pattern on Chinese SKS's as "serial number only" rifles. Which is boring, IMO.

The "Ghost" rifle serial range runs from around 2000 -- 213,000. Around the 213k serial range, the /26\ State Factory Stamp appears. Through extensive research, the date of the first /26\ stamp has been pinpointed to early 1957 (likely April when Jianshe /26\ became officially state owned).

Accordingly, your early 5 digit Ghost Rifle was likely between April and June of 1956...on of the first 15,000 Chinese SKS carbines.

It's a beautiful rifle. Appears to be all matching. The stock is in amazing condition, and likely refinished post import. But there is a possibility that it is an 'as-issued' carbine. Have you checked the bottom of the piston tube and the piston shaft itself to see if they still have the electro-penciled serial numbers?

I have two all matching Ghost Rifles in my collection. 187k and 210k serial number range, much later than yours. And though both of my stocks match, they aren't in nearly as good of condition...and I have no intention to refinish them.

I have to disagree with the above claim that the any part of this carbine has been reblued. It does not appear to have been reblued. Which doesn't mean it hasn't been retouched, but the photos don't seem to demonstrate rebluing. I have 7 early Type 56's at least four of them retain 75%-99% of their original bluing.

Great rifle. Nice get. Congrats.