I was just visiting Epps (www.ellwoodepps.com) on Sat 07 Nov and they have a bunch (20 the staff member said) of the 2009 marked batch of Norinco M14's. 
Receiver: marked 2009###x just like a Poly M14 report I made a couple of months ago in August.
Parkerizing: A tad lighter than the almost black Poly 2009 series that I own, very even and consistent
Flash suppressor: YES
A Bayonet Lug is present!!
and all of us bayonet lug lovers will be happy. NOT welded either... life is good! 
Bolt and Bolt Slop: Yes there was the usual bolt slop when the bolt was closed, so nothing new here. Yup, large battle rifle chamber; what a surprise...
Rear sights: METER marked elevation pinion knob! Wowsers! I love it. I played with the sights and just like my Poly sights, they work!! Norinco high school shop teacher/managers got it right!
The windage knob was cranked 5 MOA left and then right. It's all good to go! It took them many years to get the heat treating right, but finally the rear sights work, Seems to me like PolyTech stepped in at the right time!! And sorted out the rear sight situation. No more having to buy M1 Garand elevation and windage knobs from Egay.
Stock: Hey the PolyTech factory provided these black stocks! No more Chu wood with illegally disposed of PCB laden, WHMIS nightmare, MSDS sheet missing mystery oil!
Front sight: Yup, it's still tall as heck, but you can fix that by gently filing it downwards and sloped forward.
Major parts and components: Stamped serial numbers, not high school grade 9 shop class dremel pencilled in place.
Overall impression: I'm happy that the Norinco managers finally got their shzt together and consulted the PolyTech lovers. They worked together and everything looks great. Now if they could only stop chamber reaming things to 10 thou over the 1.630" SAAMI spec.... Everything looks and quacks like a 2009 PolyTech, but it's stamped, "Norinco"!
I'm hoping fence sitting bayonet loving M14 addicts can now jump on this version... It's sweet!
Peace be to journey!
Barney

Receiver: marked 2009###x just like a Poly M14 report I made a couple of months ago in August.
Parkerizing: A tad lighter than the almost black Poly 2009 series that I own, very even and consistent
Flash suppressor: YES
Bolt and Bolt Slop: Yes there was the usual bolt slop when the bolt was closed, so nothing new here. Yup, large battle rifle chamber; what a surprise...
Rear sights: METER marked elevation pinion knob! Wowsers! I love it. I played with the sights and just like my Poly sights, they work!! Norinco high school shop teacher/managers got it right!
Stock: Hey the PolyTech factory provided these black stocks! No more Chu wood with illegally disposed of PCB laden, WHMIS nightmare, MSDS sheet missing mystery oil!
Front sight: Yup, it's still tall as heck, but you can fix that by gently filing it downwards and sloped forward.
Major parts and components: Stamped serial numbers, not high school grade 9 shop class dremel pencilled in place.
Overall impression: I'm happy that the Norinco managers finally got their shzt together and consulted the PolyTech lovers. They worked together and everything looks great. Now if they could only stop chamber reaming things to 10 thou over the 1.630" SAAMI spec.... Everything looks and quacks like a 2009 PolyTech, but it's stamped, "Norinco"!
I'm hoping fence sitting bayonet loving M14 addicts can now jump on this version... It's sweet!
Peace be to journey!
Barney