There are 14 Restricted SKS in Canada

Colin L said:
Any SKS with a factory manufactured barrel less than 18.5" long.

Norinco made factory manufactured "paratrooper" and "sporter" versions.
Click to expand...
Must have been very few in Canada (obviously…. Only 14 registered), because I’ve never seen a restricted model advertised anywhere
 
The short barrel Chinese paratrooper SKS carbine as made by Norinco

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Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe there was a restricted firearm registry until '95, meaning there are probably more restricted length SKSs than what the registry shows.
 
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I wonder how much it cost tax payers for the rediculous response that the Safety folks provided MP Lawton?

Gemini is free and output the following in seconds....



You asked,
How many SKS rifles have been imported into Canada?


Gemini said​

Because the SKS is classified as a non-restricted firearm in Canada, there is no central registry that tracks exactly how many are currently in the country. However, based on historical import records, previous registry data, and industry estimates, the number is significant.


Estimated Number of SKS Rifles​

Most credible estimates place the number of SKS rifles in Canada between 600,000 and 1,000,000 units.

  • Industry & Advocacy Estimates: The Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights (CCFR) and various industry experts estimate at least 1 million SKS rifles are in circulation. This is based on decades of consistent, high-volume imports from Russia, China, and former Eastern Bloc countries.
  • Historical Registry Data: Before the federal Long Gun Registry was abolished in 2012 (excluding Quebec), data indicated there were over 110,000 SKS rifles officially registered. However, this was widely considered an undercount as compliance for non-restricted firearms was never absolute.
  • Import Trends: Large-scale imports began in the 1990s following the fall of the Soviet Union. Reports from major importers suggest that, at the peak of the market, tens of thousands of rifles were brought in annually. For example, a single large shipment could contain roughly 1,000 rifles, with multiple shipments arriving throughout the year.

Why is the exact number unknown?​

  1. Non-Restricted Status: Unlike handguns (Restricted), the SKS can be bought and sold between licensed owners without the government recording the individual transaction.
  2. Lack of Registration: Since the abolition of the Long Gun Registry, there has been no federal requirement to register these rifles.
  3. Recent Government Data: In late 2025, government officials stated there were only 14 "restricted" SKS rifles registered in Canada. This figure is technically correct but highly misleading; it refers only to rare short-barreled "paratrooper" variants. It does not account for the hundreds of thousands of standard-length non-restricted models.

Why the SKS is so common in Canada​

The SKS is often called the "Canadian 10/22" or the "people's rifle" because:

  • Affordability: For years, they were sold for as little as $150–$200.
  • Reliability: It is a rugged, gas-operated rifle that performs well in cold climates.
  • Utility: It is widely used by sport shooters, farmers, and Indigenous hunters for predator control and subsistence hunting.
Would you like me to look into the specific legal history or the recent classification debates surrounding the SKS in Canada?
 
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