SKS - makers and years of productions
- Thread starter AlexV
- Start date
Really there is no way to know sure numbers. These are communist bloc milsurps and they have never released production information or number counts. The Communists are funny that way 
That said that is why we have so many questions about the SKS because most of what we know has been figured out by deduction over decades of ones handling and studying them. We are constantly learning and new theories emerge from time to time but the fact is we may never know all that we would like about them. That is what makes them mysterious and attractive. On a side note Tula made SKS's at least into 1956 and if a newer theory that has emerged is true, they could have possibly made them from parts as late as 1958.
That said that is why we have so many questions about the SKS because most of what we know has been figured out by deduction over decades of ones handling and studying them. We are constantly learning and new theories emerge from time to time but the fact is we may never know all that we would like about them. That is what makes them mysterious and attractive. On a side note Tula made SKS's at least into 1956 and if a newer theory that has emerged is true, they could have possibly made them from parts as late as 1958.
Just how many the Chinese made is even more of a mystery. They produced them from 1956 straight into the 1980s. On top of that, they only kept accurate production numbers from one factory due to their militarys paranoid secret nature.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
We don't know what info they kept. We only have info regarding factory 26. Just because we don't know the date pattern yet, doesn't mean they didn't track it and have records of it for other arsenals.
Read Poyer's SKS book. Lots of interesting info on Chinese SKS factories and numbers.
Right, its not that they only kept /26\ records, its just that the other factories also had obscure dating methods that are still unknown to this day. They did this to hide the production numbers though from any potential enemy. Which in their minds, was everybody.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
I love how us not knowing the system automatically must mean it is for cloak and dagger anti espionage reasons.
It could be because they don't care to tell the rest of the world, because why waste the time.
Again, Poyer has visited several Chinese gun factories, and the managers seemed quite willing to speak of their manufacturing history. I'm sure if someone asked the right questions, a lot could be learned.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
Indeed...
The information below us paraphrased from the book "The SKS Carbine" by Steve Kehaya and Joe Poyer, 4th edition, North Cape Publications.
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Factory 26 = state owned and the oldest arsenal in china being established before ww2. Located in the city of chongqing. The civilian name of the factory is jianshe machine tool factory. Factory 26 is believed to have produced as much as 60% of all Chinese SKS.
Factory 316 = located in yurhe, zhejang province and established in 1965 primarily for SKS production. The factory was moved to wukang in 1995.
Factory 36 = located near longyan, the factory covers 20 acres and 30 buildings. The factory director claimed to have shipped 250,000 sks in 1993/94 to the US. The factory closed in 2002.
Factory 66 = located in Bei'an. Started production in the 60s. Was still producing arms until 2008 when the factory was heavily damaged in a quake.
Factory 96 = located at Xiangfan, it's stamp was 416 in a triangle unlike the others above which used their actual number. The factory opened in 65/66. In 1987 the factory was still manufacturing the sks for export and the PLA which contradicts the notion that SKS production in china for the military ceased in 1980. Witnessed by Poyer/Kehaya.
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Like I said, if one had the right visit, and asked the right questions, I'm sure a lot could be learned. Marstar has claimed to have a lot of info in their archives, but not the time to go digging for a history lesson.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
For you, no problem.
Factory 36 claims to have shipped 250 000 sks to the us after 91, when Clinton's ban on Russian and Chinese weapons came into effect?
I have poyers book, it is hardly a bible for sks owners. Lots of good info, but many errors as well. Buy it if you can find it, but take it with a grain of salt.
I have poyers book, it is hardly a bible for sks owners. Lots of good info, but many errors as well. Buy it if you can find it, but take it with a grain of salt.
Not impossible, watch the EE they come up every once in a while.
