Chinese SKS Dating Thread

[Boris Badinov]

Hi there, I have two questions:

1) I bought a Chinese SKS with arsenal stamp “?5” from the link you’ve provided (I’ve seen it called /0306\ on other pages). Which arsenal is this, based on your research?

2) The serial number is stamped like this: 6 -1611963 then the arsenal stamp. No Chinese lettering. What is the date on this one, and anything else of interest based on this information?

Thanks!

(Full disclosure-- the research is not my own. Once youve been an sks-files member long enough, you are granted vaccess to certain parts of the archived arsenal and serial data.)


IIRC, that factory is only one known to use the unique month code at the beginning of the serial.

The offset 6 prefix indicates that it was produced in the 6th month (presumably June) of the 16th year of type56 production (1971).

Even without the type56 designation it is still considered a mil spec gun.

 

[hurrikane18]

Thanks for the reply! If I understand this, the Chinese lettering means type 56 so if it doesn’t have the Chinese lettering, it wasn’t made for military use, but it was built to the same standards regardless? If this is true, was the /0306\ factory designated as a non-military factory or did all factories make both? Appreciate all the info in this thread!

 

[Boris Badinov]

AFAIK, if it was made before 1984 it is a mil spec rifle.

There are a small handful of arsenals that -- for whatever reason-- did not apply the type56 designation. Some of them as early as 1966

Its entrely possible that /0406\ added the type 56 designation in other years.

Its commonly thought that the triangle arsenals are associated with the PLA which suggests military production.

 

[hurrikane18]

AFAIK, if it was made before 1984 it is a mil spec rifle.

There are a small handful of arsenals that -- for whatever reason-- did not apply the type56 designation. Some of them as early as 1966

Its entrely possible that /0406\ added the type 56 designation in other years.

Its commonly thought that the triangle arsenals are associated with the PLA which suggests military production.

Thanks!

 

[TheCyaba]

Good god it's 3am iv been up for over 24 hours and I read the title SKS dating thread first thought was some madman started a tinder for sks's......... I have to go to sleep lololol

 

[howiebearse]

What do I have here?

factory 6615 see small break bottom of 5

 

[2drx4]

What is this factory? 760?

Please don't tell me it's rare or collectable.

 

[Boris Badinov]

/6601\. 21st year of production, 1976.

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=43.0

Not rare.

Could be collectible IF its one of the composite stock commercial mods from K-sports for example..

 

[2drx4]

/6601\. 21st year of production, 1976.

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=43.0

Not rare.

Could be collectible IF its one of the composite stock commercial mods from K-sports for example..

Thanks. And good, because it's Bubba'd and I'm probably going to make it worse.

 

[Boris Badinov]

Thanks. And good, because it's Bubba'd and I'm probably going to make it worse.

We await the before and after shots...