Cloth Jungle stock.

[bearhunter]

I can dig it! I had no idea these even existed until recently. Unfortunately I don’t think they’re all that common anymore. I know I’d like to get my hands one.

They never were common per se'. Some rifles showed up in Canada and were on dealer's shelves for around six months and then they mostly dried up.

There were all sorts of stories about what they were used for or weren't used for.

I've read socalled experts theories ranging from, the stocks were only put on civilian sporting rifles, for export only, to special out of country export to conflict areas, such as Laos, Viet Nam and tropical nations. There are also all sorts of theories about when they started to offer those stocks, starting around 1957 to 1965.

There was some sort of deal made by Century International in the US, early nineties, to purchase some surplus from Viet Nam, supposedly through an oil company that somehow ended up with them. Sounds hokey but that's what I read.

The rifles were not allowed to be imported to the US, because of their Chinese origins, at the time.

The stocks were stripped from them, no ban on stocks and sold separately in the US and other nations, likely for more than Century paid for the complete rifles.

The rest of the rifle was sold off as replacement parts, where they were allowed.

The truth is likely somewhere in between these theories.

I do remember the North Vietnamese did not like the original Chu Wood stocks that came with their Chinese type 56 rifles and wanted something different. It's quite likely that the Chinese came up with the stocks we see on occasion.

I don't believe these stocks were any sort of an attempt to "sporter" the SKS. They're military grade, through and through. Not only that but thousands of those rifles and even more of the stocks came onto the market at one time, along with the SKS M types, which were a real attempt at sporting versions

 

[Vicar]

They never were common per se'. Some rifles showed up in Canada and were on dealer's shelves for around six months and then they mostly dried up.

There were all sorts of stories about what they were used for or weren't used for.

I've read socalled experts theories ranging from, the stocks were only put on civilian sporting rifles, for export only, to special out of country export to conflict areas, such as Laos, Viet Nam and tropical nations. There are also all sorts of theories about when they started to offer those stocks, starting around 1957 to 1965.

There was some sort of deal made by Century International in the US, early nineties, to purchase some surplus from Viet Nam, supposedly through an oil company that somehow ended up with them. Sounds hokey but that's what I read.

The rifles were not allowed to be imported to the US, because of their Chinese origins, at the time.

The stocks were stripped from them, no ban on stocks and sold separately in the US and other nations, likely for more than Century paid for the complete rifles.

The rest of the rifle was sold off as replacement parts, where they were allowed.

The truth is likely somewhere in between these theories.

I do remember the North Vietnamese did not like the original Chu Wood stocks that came with their Chinese type 56 rifles and wanted something different. It's quite likely that the Chinese came up with the stocks we see on occasion.

I don't believe these stocks were any sort of an attempt to "sporter" the SKS. They're military grade, through and through. Not only that but thousands of those rifles and even more of the stocks came onto the market at one time, along with the SKS M types, which were a real attempt at sporting versions

Mine was one that came from Cabela's not that long ago, it came complete with sand and a rusty cleaning kit in the butt, it has obviously been used.

I have seen pictures of superior looking ones with made in China stickers on them.

**Image and video linking functions will be enabled after you have contributed more to the forum**

 

[bearhunter]

Mine was one that came from Cabela's not that long ago, it came complete with sand and a rusty cleaning kit in the butt, it has obviously been used.

I have seen pictures of superior looking ones with made in China stickers on them.

**Image and video linking functions will be enabled after you have contributed more to the forum**

I believe you.

I also believe that many of those stocks saw service in South East Asia and Africa. When those stocks and rifles with those stocks first started appearing in Canada, they were in all sorts of condition, everywhere from cracked and bruised to pristine. They were priced accordingly.

The workers Century hired were likely paid a fixed price to strip the lot they were given and weren't particularly careful about pulling off butt plates or taking out the cleaning kits in the stocks.

When they first were offered, I bought a stock set and a complete rifle. They both had cleaning kits in the butt.

The stocks were mostly in VG to excellent condition, as were the complete rifles. They varied in color from sandy brown to almost a blood red brown.

They weren't very popular, just like the old M14 rifles that had fiberglass stocks. People just preferred wood at that time. Now, they may be more popular.

IMHO, they don't contribute to the accuracy of the SKS and a good bedding job is needed as much with them as wooden stocks. Also, IMHO they tend to be a bit heavier than Russian Beech or Chu Wood.

 

[Vicar]

I believe you.

I also believe that many of those stocks saw service in South East Asia and Africa. When those stocks and rifles with those stocks first started appearing in Canada, they were in all sorts of condition, everywhere from cracked and bruised to pristine. They were priced accordingly.

The workers Century hired were likely paid a fixed price to strip the lot they were given and weren't particularly careful about pulling off butt plates or taking out the cleaning kits in the stocks.

When they first were offered, I bought a stock set and a complete rifle. They both had cleaning kits in the butt.

The stocks were mostly in VG to excellent condition, as were the complete rifles. They varied in color from sandy brown to almost a blood red brown.

They weren't very popular, just like the old M14 rifles that had fiberglass stocks. People just preferred wood at that time. Now, they may be more popular.

IMHO, they don't contribute to the accuracy of the SKS and a good bedding job is needed as much with them as wooden stocks. Also, IMHO they tend to be a bit heavier than Russian Beech or Chu Wood.

They are indeed quite a bit heavier, 1 1/2 pounds heavier. I just weighed two rifles, one with a standard wood stock and the other with the jungle stock. It would be nice to know where they came from.