CHINESE, YES! BUT, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

[Trip]

Ronny,

Yes, minus the 25, everything has the same stamped numbers. Sorry about the picture quality, I just couldn't get it right.

I'm going to barrow a friend's camera to see if I can't get a better picture.

[Ronny]

I have to confess that my eyesight isn't good enough to make out detail in your picture.  It appears to be a truncated triangle with the characters inside in "script" format.  I don't remember ever seeing that before, nor do I remember Factory 223.  howiebearse' Factory Code info is no longer in the sticky and I've forgotten what was there.

I've also never seen 6 digits carried forward to, for example, the bolt carrier, on a Chinese.

I suggest you start all over with your own thread and include the Factory Code in the title.  Maybe you'll pick up some more activity from the gurus.  Try to get a better picture and include more pictures.

[Trip]

Thanks Ronny,
This pic should be a little better:


As to the factory code, is the number 25 the code? If not or if it's the symbol, how do I get it posted in the title of the new thread?

BTW, I appreciate your patience and help, thanks again.

[Ronny]

OK, that helps.  The factory code is contained within the triangle.  Your's appears to be 0223.

I don't know if the 25 is actually part of your serial number or not.  Chinese normally have 7 digits or more in the serial number.  Then the last 5 digits of the serial number are shown on the trigger group, stock, magazine, bolt, bolt carrier and rear of the receiver cover. 

Those Chinese characters supposedly represent the rifle type (Type 56), or something.

I'd just start a thread titles "Need help with Factory Code 0223 and odd serial number".  Include the photo and others showing the 6 digit serial number in other locations and the overall rifle itself.

Someone will probably be able to answer your questions.

[Ronny]

Wouldn't you know it, after saying I don't remember any 6 digit numbers transferred to the other parts, I just saw another one in another thread.  So, I'm guessing the 25 has some totally unrelated meaning and your serial number is 6 digits, which, at least for Factory Code 26 would mean it was built in 1956.  For 0223, I just don't know.

Is my lack of knowledge showing yet?

[Trip]

Not to me buddy! As far as these weapons go, I'm still at the "dada googoo poopie" phase.

I'll start the new thread. Thank you Ronny.

[Ronny]

You're welcome.  Good luck.

[archivist dick]

Trip, you have an interesting ChiCom there.

The "25" stamped in the "weird" font is your year-of-production code; it's relatively low serial number tells the story of a curbing of Type 56 Carbine production in that year. Incidently, instead of the following year's crop showing a "26," it would have been "82" standing in for 1982. Just one of those strange, strange things the PLA is noted for.

The 6223 cartouche is a nice one to have too. Congrats and enjoy your rifle.

I've been away from this board for quite some time coz the dear old parish commands more of my attention these days. Special thanks to Ronny! Kid, buy a Sig if you want to; it's OK, really. Get whatever you want and whatever you'll potentially need sooner rather than later is good, sound advice.

[Ronny]

Kid!  That made me laugh.  Thanks.

My sig used to be "I don't have a Sig, but I do have a CZ".  But, then I sold my CZ.

[archivist dick]

Ronny, thanks for fielding a myriad of questions relating to Type 56 Carbines. I appreciate all you've done.

I'd urge all collectors and owners to sharpen their marksmanship skills, to lay in sufficient provisions for a very long dry spell ahead, to get grounded, to be patriotic when unpopular. You're needed now more than ever.

Remember the SKS is merely a tool, you are the craftsman.

Good bye for some time. And take good care one for the other. My parish calls.

"LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou has prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to the glory of thy people, Israel.

"Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever."

[Ronny]

God speed!

[Prince50]

Thanks in advance for any info you can shed on this SKS.

Right side of the reciever has a 94667 Sn. No preceeding charecthers, no triangles, then again on the RHS, it has a import stamping not dot matrix, but real stamp "SKS 7.62x39mm MADE IN CHINA K.S.I. POMONA, CA-"

All parts are stamped matching with the full 5 digit SN. No SN on the stoack, Blade bayo, screwed in barrel, sling swivel on the side of the stock, 001126 EP'D on bottom of gas tube. some small inspection stamps on chamber area of barrel "l" "circle with small c" and a chinese charecter in a circle. Front end of reciever "trunion" Area, is a "7".

The rear sight has the Russian upside down U charecter.

Thanks,

Darin

[JLA]

Hi fellas. I must say that you have very interesting forums full of info. I really appreciate that. Lots of great reading!

I am hoping that someone could answer a question for me. I just got a Norinco SKS and on the side of the barrel it has the word "sporter" on the side. Now....the "sporters" that I have seen have the thumbhole stock on it. Mine has a regular wood stock. Is that common? Also, the adding up the year when manufactured kind of confused me so could you help me on the too? Here is a few facts about mine....
Mine has a 20" barrel
206 (inside the triangle)
Serial# 14126xx
Says "sporter" on the side


I took a couple of pictures. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks again!

[Mousegunner]

My Norinco SKS seems a bit different from the others mentioned here.  It is a POLY and imported through Atlanta, GA.  It has [0140] stamped on it, followed by a serial number, then an "L."  Here's a picture.  Any ideas?  No original stock or bayo, just a Tapco T6.  I traded my Kel-Tec PF9 for it.

[smacneighill]

Comments:

• Carbines built in the 1956-65 period will display a factory cartouche to the right of the serial number.  In 1966, these relative positions were reversed in order to preserve the continued integrity of the PLA’s date-of-manufacture marking system (add first two digits of serial to 56 to derive year).

OK, going on what LESchwartz quoted from an article written by board member Archivist Dick in the original post of this thread. Am I to understand that, "SKS carbines" begin with the year 1956 and, add the "millions" number to the date (hence 1956 + 1 = 1957 . . 1956 + 2 = 1958 . . 1956 + 3 = 1959 . . and so on) to show the year of production? So, am I right in saying that, my Chinese Norinco (factory 0406) may have been produced sometime in 1957?? I know some say no, yet others say yes . . is there a definitive way of finding out, outside of researching Chinese government records? Why would it only be that way for some factories and not all??

I have proudly owned this rifle since 1987 (yes, pre-ban . . with everything in the photos below, minus the ammo chest pouch, of which I still have somewhere). And now, I'm "attempting" to learn more about, not only mine but, all SKS's in general.

Here is a photo of the serial number and factory code (0406) to the right of the serial number. Would anyone have any thoughts as to approximating the year of production and, what the "11-" is at the beginning of the serial number? Its an "all matching" rifle with a sling swivel on the bottom of the stock (not the side) and the spike bayonet.:

Here are a couple of other photos of it: