Originally I had planed on doing this cowboy-style by eyeballing it and drilling by hand; but at the last minute, I decided to do this on the mill. 1. The T53 system of numbering actually went like this: 6/1953 to 12/1953: A000001 thru A62000. 26. The Type 56 Carbine (not to be confused with the Type 56 Assault Rifle) was nothing more than a local Chinese copy of the Soviet-era Simonov SKS Carbine self-loading rifle and, as such, shared many similarities with the original design including both form and function. most ill ever pay for an sks is 500$ and thats its if one of the ones that from the factory takes ak mags. pulled back from the stock assembly. Her work has appeared in several national literary magazines. Cleaning Rod Head Romanian SKSs seem to be going up in value, but theyre still not the most desirable variant out there. and push though the length of barrel. He said that it fell off after ten shots. At this point, it is a good idea to remove the bayonet. When it comes to 20th century Soviet-era small arms, the 7.62x39mm AK-47 may be the weapon that first comes to mind. 16. The SKS-56 was encountered frequently during the Vietnam war. 1776 United. Assembly From the Stock: You insert the rounds one by one into the fixed 10-round magazine while the bolt is locked open. 1. I'm guessing the ones with chinese characters on the left of the receiver that do not say "MADE BY NORINCO" in English are probably military Also, one of them has its rear sling swivel on the side rather than the bottom of the stock. If you own a Norinco SKS, maintaining it in its original condition will guarantee you can hold its real value in the market. Commie Bottom Boi, feces smearer, jizz gargler sezWHUT ? Got it back and "full auto" issue continued. Very early Russian examples didnt have chrome-lining either, but it was quickly added and copied by every other nation to produce the design. 6. is adjustable for elevation from 100 meters to 1000 meters(110-1100 yards). Hold open latch pin 7. Magazine: 10-round fixed Regardless of the specific make or model, the sheer abundance of . Once I cleaned them up and test fired them, I was transported back in time nearly three decades and found a renewed appreciation for the SKS. 6. From front to back, youve got your hooded front sight and barrel with no muzzle device, an under-folding spike type bayonet thats essentially a long flathead screwdriver that will still absolutely murder your gooey bits, your gas tube, and handguard assembly, the rear sight block, your bolt assembly, trigger assembly, and the rifle stock itself. Unlike Yugoslavia, whenever Romania received technical data packages from the USSR, they didnt change much. Popular 7.6239 Ammo Much less powerful than the 54R fielded by infantryman and machine gunners, but a significant step up from the pistol calibers found in Soviet submachine guns. I added a steady rest to the lathe to further support the barrel and machined the tenon to .548. The Chinese marked each rifle with a factory symbol stamp along with an SKS 4-digit serial number. Chinese Type 56 (1956-): Numerous minor tweaks, including lack of milling on the bolt carrier, partially or fully stamped (as opposed to milled) receivers, and differing types of thumb rest on the take down lever. Learn how your comment data is processed. There is also an all purpose "battle" setting on the sight ladder, set 20. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. Let's get that serial number. Thought it might have been the old "firing pin taper gets the thing stuck in the bolt" issue, so I sent the bolt assembly to Murray's Gunsmithing in Bowie, Texas, for their bolt/firing pin magic. A quick trip to the bandsaw (these arent made of hardened steel) and belt grinder to shorten then copy the profile of the original bayonet. The pins can be drifted out of the front sight assembly by using a bench block and a punch. As late as 1979, the SKS was still in frontline service in the Sino-Vietnamese war. take the case for accessories out of the stock. Firearms owners who customize their SKS rifles with composite furniture, aftermarket rails, optics, forward pistol grips, and upgraded trigger assemblies usually assume their rifles monetary value goes up. I do this by grabbing the bayonet shank with a pair of locking pliers. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. 37. Norinco SKS has one of the most difficult-to-find manufacturing dates of all the SKS rifles. You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, 30. position. The end of Chinese imports was conveniently timed with the fall of the USSR, however, resulting in the newly formed Russian Federation satisfying SKS demand until it too was cut in 1998. 7. Load with either single rounds or stripper Japs, you forgot to mention nuking Japs. During the Chinese civil war, the PRC We already have an account registered for email address 7.62x39mm cartridge. for 300 meters(330 yards). For me, what stands out the most is the very bizarre length of pull considering the rifles overall length. Do you have your own collection of the Norinco SKS? It is highly unlikely that it was issued with that mount. Examples from other countries can be found for lower prices and will shoot just as well, so at this point, it's best to leave Russian SKSs to the collectors if youre only looking for a range toy or ranch gun. PRIOR TO USE. The only honorable options with Vietnam were either to escape to Canada, or refuse to serve, and go to prison. I don't know. I too believe that Chinese SKS rifles were made for military spec regardlress of time or date or place of production. The rifles safety is located just above the trigger guard, and a quick flick of the firing finger can switch the rifle on and off safe pretty quicklysomething the AK series of rifles lacks even today on modern iterations. These are all reasonably easy fixes if youre so inclined to go hunting for that information, but we, unfortunately, didnt troubleshoot-flowchart ours beforehand. So far, two general types of Norinco SKS rifles came from China. For that, we need to know what "CJASFLD.ML" means. all rounds are gone, or the shooter stops firing. The fit was absolutely perfect, the proper amount of friction present without the need for a hydraulic press to seat it. If using corrosive primer, this step is very important to remove the Irrespective of the confidence with which they assert such claims, individuals like this typically do not know what they got. For this, I used a socket that fit the inside diameter to drive the barrel out the rest of the way. May 9, 2009. A Russian weapons designer, Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov, invented it. 1. The Type 56, or Chinese SKS as most folks call it, is a classic Cold War-era rifle. Since the early days of gun-making, people were looking for different ways to better protect the iron and steel parts of their weapons. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. The weapon created by S.G. Simonov to fire this cartridge I think you misinterpreted my post. The concept of the assault rifle began with (reloaded) ammunition or ammunition that is faulty, incorrect or non-standard, Cleaning Rod, The Basic SKS Accessories. 5. If hunting or participating in any other activity that relies on relaibility and handiness, the standard mag is best. During world war II the Russians were It was only available in a semi-automatic version with a dulled bayonet. Have a norinco SKS Poly Atl Ga ser # 12 03300E , no other markings spike bayonet striper clip feed Clean gun looks unfired an looks to be machined reciever , can you give me some idea of date mfg. Chambered in 7.6239, as opposed to . The Soviet Union designed the SKS near the end of WWII and either sold them to favored nations or assisted countries in setting up domestic manufacturing for the rifle. 6. Hammer strut We were primarily focused on functionand we were stoked when both rifles we took with us to the desert fed and fired just fine, stripper clip struggles aside. Sear I used the drill to locate the holes, then cross drilled the barrel in both sections. the trigger. here to go back to the top of the page. In over 30 years as a professional gunsmith I never once got up in the morning and didn't want to go to work. At this time this cartridge was thought to be the best for use in Some lucky few even got one of these rare birds out of the last Albanian batch when they thought they were purchasing a Type 56. enthusiasts. These days, doing a Norinco SKS serial number lookup is easy online. Like all things Yugoslavian, they did their SKS just a bit different than everyone else. 2. 1. Barrel: 20.5 inches, 4 I also found that I wanted to punch my support hand out real far forward and C-clamp over the top handguard to add a bit of stability considering the real short length of pull, but doing so actually blocks your iron sights entirely, so RIP. 46. What Is an SKS Rifle? These are so rare, that it's difficult to even find a good photo of one online. Keep up the good work, your videos are top notch and always looked forward to. I paid total $559 with shipping & FFL, this gun I received was not worth $300 in the shape it was sent to me. Military surplus Type 56 models were brought in as well, along with some of the rarer commercial variants like the SKS-D or Model M which feed from AK magazines. The Chinese SKS rifle began in Russian factories during the fifties and sixties. 1. Most of the imports were around 16.5. At the end of the serial number, there is a dash followed by two numbers. back the bolt and always engage the safety before unloading unused shells. It looked pretty rough when I picked it up, but did not look to bad at the time. standardizing production of these Soviet-type small arms. 3. Some SKS variants are easier to tell apart than others, and even some minor differences between models and years can have a big impact on their value. 29. As the condition PSA is selling them in puts most of them firmly in the Hey, this things pretty neat! category. People's Republic of China inherited many of these Soviet weapons from the 2. thumb on the rear of the receiver cover An SKS is a self-loading carbine assault rifle used by East European and Asian troops in Russia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Vietnam, East Germany, China, Korea and Albania through the late 1980s. Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297. I believe the SKS may be one of the most under appreciated rifles of the modern era. // -->. Spring retainer The first type of testing we will study is the Proof Test . While cleaning the bore, you should also view of SKS 56. Engage the tool into the flats of the front apply a light coat of oil. The first SKS carbines to come into the U.S. were brought back by veterans during the Vietnam War as trophies. Designated as the M56, Romanian SKSs can be some of the hardest to identify due to how similar they are to the Russian SKS it was directly copied from. The rifle is now loaded. SKS Disassembly and Assembly Saturate the bore brush with gun solvent With so many different kinds imported over the years, it can be difficult to know what kind of SKS you're looking at, this guide will help you identify all manner of Simonov carbines and roughly estimate their value. To clean, begin with the rifle field When reinstalling bolt, be certain magazine cover is not latched. Every other countrys SKS variant not previously mentioned falls into this category, and if you even find one, expect to pay out the nose for it. Again, theyre reasonably minute-of-bad-guy accurate out to about 150-200 yards or so, and thatd likely clean up pretty well if you gave them a more thorough internal cleaning than our basic restore function pass at cosmoline removal. 33. With numerous techs, even the old school SKS can perform better with the best SKS scope mount. Instructions for Unloading:(ALWAYS Ammo Lingo Part II: Understanding +P Ammunition, Different Types of Ammo For Different Guns, Modern Shooter: An In Depth Look At 38 Special. position where the camming surface located at the front is completely vertical. Allegedly, the SKS saw some very limited or experimental use with Russian frontline units near the end of the war in 1945, but not in any kind of significant numbers. The third SKS we got is in really pretty impressive condition considering it came from the same source. groove, R.H. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared 8. The AK-47 was the prototype for many Click The most common Yugo SKS pattern is the Zastava M59/66 PAP which was built under license from the USSR. 7.62 X 39 . 13. Extractor spring BTW am from Lithuania- small Baltic country on the coast of Baltic sea. Some rifles have no identifying characters, but Russian, Chinese and Korean rifles may. 5. Firing pin Why a $500 pistol really costs you $1,000 or more! The SKS is an economical and relatively reliable 7.62 x 39 rifle. VERY fun to shoot, goes bang each and every time I pull the trigger, and deposits the brass somewhere on this planet, though *I* don't know where. However, as you'll see in the video, I loaded the SKS upside down, with the bolt closed. When the gun is fired, gas Theres definitely a bit of a learning curve to stripper clips, especially if youre going to be drawing them out of a period SKS Chicom rig with the absolutely abysmal wooden toggle closure systems. I have to imagine these wouldnt have been fun to field if you happened to be a lankier soviet conscript, but so it goes. We snagged some new SKS stripper clips and encountered the usual issues that SKS owners have been maneuvering around for years. Many of these rifles, prior to import restrictions against China, made their way to the USA as inexpensive surplus rifles. Turn the tool counter clockwise to lower the 7y. (figure14) The early history of true shotguns begins in the 1800s, when people began to use them to hunt birds. Bolt Recoil spring Save my name and email to use for future comments. (figure16) These are the rarest and therefore most collectible SKS variants, at least when it comes to what can be found in the States. Thanks, The Spike Bayonet on one that a friend of mine has is not dulled, and it came out of the Cosmoline and paper wrap like that. with the muzzle ring facing the muzzle of the rifle and insert the bayonet pin 1954: 1,000,001 thru 1,305,000. sportsman as a hunting weapon, and as always with collectors and firearms from the magazine. (figure19) Handguard and gas cylinder Will be the last time I buy anything from PSA. Weight: 8.4lbs position. Yolo. To do this I used a small level and then swept along the flat part of the front sight with the indicator. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 4 ))); Recoil Spring Assembly They are also very visually distinctive as well, being the only kind to change the style of the wood stock around the gas tube. rifle. They saw active service with the Albanian military and many were likely used during the Balkan civil war. The most recent batches of SKS imports have been Type 56s bought from Albania, as they received many as military aid from China some years ago. These two numbers indicate the date of manufacture. After your article, I think I like my Yugo pretty fine. Any unexpended rounds will now be freed Look at a Romanian rifle's serial number. mechanism retaining button at the rear of trigger bow. http://www.jianshetrade.com/wm/en/AboutUs.aspx?id=4&tag=tag4. The inexpensive and robust carbine, chambered for the ubiquitous 7.6239 cartridge, is reliable, accurate enough, and easy to maintain. Magazine cover With left hand, lift Id even go as far as to say theyre great project guns if youre looking for a way to learn the ins and outs of cleaning disgusting grease from every conceivable nook of a rifleeven if your overall plan is to sacrifice the remains to the Tapco god when it is all said and done. While expensive for their condition, in todays surplus market that seems to be as low as any dealer is willing to sell them for. 41. (Be certain to reinstall recoil spring with C Clip end forward.) If you want to know the production information of a Chinese SKS rifle, the following may come in handy. Magazine A forum community dedicated to all firearm owners and enthusiasts. I got screwed by these thief's, they claimed best batch we ever received, lying bastards. Most of the Russian SKS examples in the United States were imported during these four years (as well as several other classic Soviet military surplus firearms). We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. 32. When I took apart to clean off cosmoline, found very bad rust pitting in 4 places on reciever and rusted out under the wood. If all the serial numbers match the engravings on the lower assembly, shoulder stock, and barrel, then the value of that SKS should hold. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. \_()_/. Ther Firearms History, Technology & Development, Is it a shotgun or a rifle? the gas tube/Handguard assembly. SKS Collecting And Identification: A Buyers Guide, Blade Show Texas And Texas Gun Experience Team Up, Usurping The King: .224 Valkyrie Vs 5.56 NATO, 5 Best AR-10 Options You Can Actually Afford (2023), SHOT Show 2023 Day 2: Zastava M70 ZPAP Underfolder, 8 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2022), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2022), Best AR-15 Options For Any Budget And Buyers Guide (2022), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2022). Some rifles have no identifying characters, but Russian, Chinese and Korean rifles may. 10. with a screwdriver of proper size. Oil Can History of the SKS 42. Exploded view of SKS 56 upward to its vertical position and pull the pin out to the right as far as The total length of the bayonet is 14 1/4" with the blade being 11" long. So while PSA isnt offering hand select, you still have the chance of getting a great wall hanger. Exploded view of SKS 56 until it can be pulled away from the gas block. We did, however, observe that one of the guns was shooting significantly above its iron sights, but thats likely due to the irons needing to be adjustedthough we suspect some errant barrel cosmoline might be at play with some of the rare flyers we experienced. A forum community dedicated to AK rifle and AK variant rifle owners and enthusiasts. The other was for civilian purchase. 4. Starting a serious SKS collection obviously isnt for everyone, but that doesnt mean you still wont be able to pay a decent price for a good shooter. These include the wood, bayonet, and internal components. 11. Stripper clips are as fun to use as you described. I sanded this thing for 4 days, and finally got the pitting, and rust out of metal. Cleaning rod crown of the muzzle from damage during cleaning. First, many Chinese made AKs have markings in Chinese, so if a person is close enough to examine the markings, then this might be a good indication of where it was made. Unfortunately, this comparison puts us at odds with the most commonly accepted 1956 + millions = year of manufacture guesstimate that is so prolific around the web. assembly: Hold the small of the stock with your left hand, pressing with your The original Russian SKS was developed by Sergei Simonov and was designed to take advantage of the Soviets adoption of the M43 7.62X39 intermediate cartridge. As relations between the U.S. and China improved they began to take advantage of Americans love of cheap, reliable firearms. 9 Hours To Build A 1911, .45 In Your Basement (Or Garage) CLICK HERE The best part is that the government can't ban this handgun or confiscate it because there's no serial number, no registration and it's 100% legal. To do this, I installed the bayonet and marked it with a sharpie. Of the 15 million plus SKS rifles produced, the Chinese made over 10 million of them. In over 30 years as a professional gunsmith I never once got up in the morning and didn't want to go to work. I asked the wife of a friend of mine. Any logo like this on the left side of the receiver means that its Chinese, but identification is often made easier by the inclusion of Chinese characters or Norinco printed in English as well. Quirks aside, the Type 56 is a super fun plinker if youre into military surplus rifles that you absolutely dont have to feel bad for actually shooting. Some feature trench art, personal decorative touches from the soldiers they were issued to, and some find that to be even cooler than having an all-matching, original-condition rifle. Use Installed a new gas valve and it's ran 100% ever since no matter what brand of ammo I shoot. In order to turn down the barrel, it needs to be mounted in the lathe. Safety catch pin Your email address will not be published. Recoil is obviously a bit sharper than a standard AR-15 thanks to that chunky ass 7.6239 cartridge, and the lack of a muzzle device means that most of the impulse is going to be upwards. Any info on that? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Your Republicans have been in power since January, and I notice they have done squat about repealing the import ban. While not exactly rare, Romanian M56s are some of the less common SKSs in the country, so you may have to do some looking before you find one for sale. (figure12) Hammer Removing Receiver and Barrel Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. working on designing a series of small arms, which would also use the 7.62x39mm To remove a bayonet from an SKS, the base of the bayonet needs to be slid and held back. Im really happy with the finished rifle. introduced the Federov 1916 Automatic Rifle, which fired a 6.5x50.5 SR Japanese If a more reapid reload, and higher capacity are the main priorities, then an AK is the better tool for the job. Let me guess, youre the asshole that everybody at the range hates because your weapons discharge at random! 3. Its a 75-year-old design, but if youre mostly used to firing guns produced within the latter half of the past century, youll know what I mean. Regardless of the specific make or model, the sheer abundance of these rifles and the circumstances under which they were imported made them Fudd fodder. Based on the SKS design, which operates on a short-stroke piston system, the Chinese Type 56 carbine continued the tradition of Simonov's classic weapon beyond the borders of Russia. For example, a serial number 2958E44--1967 indicates that the SKS was manufactured in 1967. 5. For an introduction to more surface-level SKS analysis, however, read on. 48. Norinco SKS. Produced at the UM GRAMSH factory, Albanian SKSs are some of the rarest in the United States excluding the true unicorns that will be discussed below. The factory pins were within .001 of a #39 drill. scaled down version of the 14.5x111.8mm PRTS anti- tank rifle. Accessory Case 8. AMMUNITION WARNING: Before we get to work, lets take a look at the following disclaimer. Do not leave Personalize your experience. If the factory code is in a Triangle its military. Small spring guide Still, they drove America out, united their country under Communism, and are still in power. anything extra and your 3. Trigger pin It was developed alongside the new M43 cartridge in the final years of WWII, even supposedly having a few early-production models seeing field trials in Belarus and Berlin before the European theater finally came to an end. Visually inspect the magazine and chamber :-) Blade bayonet was never used for going-to-ground. Standard commercial variants with spike bayonets are the most common, but they were manufactured by and imported from several different factories. 3. 3. at 100-300 dollars I'd recommend them as the perfect place to start learning about classic rifles. Bolt carrier SKS RIFLES SHOULD BE CLEANED THOROUGHLY recoil spring and receiver. 6. Note, though, these symbols will only a give you a rough estimate of the production decade. The front sight assembly now needs to be pushed off of the barrel. Caliber: As a military weapon, the SKS rifle is only used by frontier forces, however it remains ever popular with . Get proficient on YOUR time. These guns distributed by Chinese factories are old. 4. I used two pieces of 1/4 plate steel to support the back side of the assembly in the press, then used a hydraulic press to drive the barrel out of it. I saw tons of SKS's in Iraq the two times I was there. 4. Mounting the Bayonet: However, the gun can be damaged with such loads if fired with the gas system open. Why? The front sight assembly is removed from the barrel! The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. With the trigger mechanism removed, and today it remains wildly popular with collectors and recreational shooters, among others. Their SKS was banned from import in 1993. In order to shorten the barrel, the front sight and bayonets mounting assembly will need to be removed. The majority of Chinese SKSs in the U.S. were exported by Norinco, although Polytech sent some over too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. (figure2) cartridge. These were typically sold for about $400 to $450. Look at the two numbers at the beginning of a German SKS serial number to determine its date of manufacture. Instructions for No problem, So CT's banned List says this abour Norincos. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Wild_Philosopher1222 3 days ago. Check out our video review, or just keep readingwhatever floats your boat! There is a quick online search for SKS rifles coming from countries other than Russia. 1. SKS stands for Samozaryadny Karabin Sistemy Simonova. firing (ALWAYS REMAIN CONSCIOUS OF MUZZLE POSITION!!) What is left to say that hasnt already been said about perhaps one of the most common military surplus rifles in the world? rapid firing rifles. Look here for info and feartures: Celebrating 20 years of AK ownership: 1992-2012. 7. There was a time when an SKS could be had for around $100. the front sight seat in the opposite direction you want your point of impact to Again visually inspect the weapon. While the optimized length of pull is obviously supremely subjective and varies person to person, having a whole 3 feet of gun hanging off the front while youve got the stock crammed in real close like a weird rat person just feels funky as hell. If you can do that, youre doing well for 2022. The most notable change they made to the design was the addition of rifle grenade-launching capabilities, resulting in a distinct grenade launcher spigot added to the end of the barrel and a gas cut-off lever/grenade sight to the gas tube.