Early One, but What Exactly? PIC Heavy

[avery53]

 OK, I know it is early, but could the experts tell me more about this one?
 The only non-matching part is the bolt, but still an early bolt.
 Someone has finished the wood, but looking at where the finish is chipped off, it looks to have been oil finished.  Maybe just skin oils or lube???
 Lots of marks and stamps to decipher.

 Pretty neat old rifle, now the pics. Thanks

 

[nater9mm]

Lol, I can't tell you what it is, but it's a darn fine piece!!!

[avery53]

 Bluing is pretty much gone, but I love these old worn things.  Kinda reminds me of myself.   

 avery

[seaglassoh]

If it doesnt have a /26\ mark then it is "no 26" early 26 rifle - it has the original stock with the small font SN and swivel on the bottom and the narrow finger cut above the trigger guard on the right.  These are propably russian stocks and you can see from the stamps all over the parts, and the sizing marks (number 1's along the barrel) that there are a lot of russian parts as well. It is unclear whether these are the first chinese run or after the sino-soviets with a russian letter prefix receiver SN. 
Nice score!!

[Aye Kay]

  You did just about the best job I've ever seen of pics.  I'd rather have that rifle than most Russians,  color me wierd.  That is super cool.  Thank you for sharing. 
   Where are the import marks?   

[eneat1119]

That is one helluva rifle.  Lot of character and the lack of blueing makes it even better for me.  :D

[Tricolor]

Beautiful-looking rifle!

[Greatguns]

Looks like a late '56 or early '57 to me. That gap between the sino-soviets and the /26\ stamped. appears to have a crack in the stock behind the receiver at the neck and also appears to have been refinished and varnish/lacquer is flaked off in the one pic. As nice looking as that is in the effect the lack of bluing has with the finish and grain of the wood, it almost looks like the metal was wire wheeled to obtain the desired look. Might just be the illusion of the pics though. Too bad the bolt isn't matching too. Still a very nice looking rifle though.

At first glance one might have said it was a Romanian.

[Jeff2/142]

Nice early sino!  There's no way to tell if these were before or after the letter series Sino Soviets.  They possess the same proof stamps and marks as Russians and they have Russian stocks so who knows?  You have one of the nicer ones I've ever seen on these boards.  Here's mine:




Definitely the favorite of the collection.  Love the rich bluing!

[avery53]

  The import mark is under the bayonet. Weak strike, can't read who the importer was.

 The crack is merely a scratch in the laquer, and the finish shows no signs of being wirewheeled, just honest wear.

 Jeff, that sure is a beauty you have there, lot purdier than mine.    We'll see how mine shoots this weekend.

 Thanks for the help guys

 avery
 

 
 

 

[Phantom63]

I've seen the 'dot in circle' (right side of barrel breech) and 'sideways ^' (forward left end of receiver) on both my and [pictures of] another member's /26\.

[Jeff2/142]

  The import mark is under the bayonet. Weak strike, can't read who the importer was.

 The crack is merely a scratch in the laquer, and the finish shows no signs of being wirewheeled, just honest wear.

 Jeff, that sure is a beauty you have there, lot purdier than mine.    We'll see how mine shoots this weekend.

 Thanks for the help guys

 avery

Thank you very much sir!  But I do prefer the "been there, done that" look on milsurps.  =]

My other early 26 has the same markings as the Sino's and Russians....I wonder if all early Type 56's are Sino Soviets then.  lol

[avery53]

 Ran about 100 rounds through it today, nary a hiccup.  Just like the energizer bunny, they keep going, and going, and going, and going,   well you know!   

avery

[vegiH]

Doing research and found your thread........I am think of purchasing similar rifle (blade bayou.....Russian wood and similar markings....serial 3176xx..........I believe it is aswell as yours either a late sino-soviet or before 26 triangle era. I have Been pondering it @ $299.00.....hmmm.......yeah I think I need another.............its not a disease....I can stop whenever....lol.....This will make three norincos for me.......French tickler...sporter.....and one of these beauties.......nice rifle. Your thread convinced me I needed it.........

[avery53]

 If it's nice, I'd grab it.  $300 SKS's are more the norm these days.

 avery