Mfgr date of Chinese Type 56 Norinco SKS

[OLD OUTLAW]

Just for some added trivia, there are no known examples of Factory /26\ guns to be found in the 15-22 million serial range (1970 to 1978). The last production came in 1979 and 1980 as 23 and 24 million serial numbered carbines. These late ones also sported a ribbed plastic handguard, which is affectionately dubbed, the "French Tickler".

You had to bring that up didn't you. Somebody will want a detailed description from you now!
Oh boy.

[MN Fan]

I realize I should let sleeping dogs lay, but I believe the stamp is actually factory /316\. I enlarged and enhanced it and the first "digit" mostly resembles an "underscore A". But looking at Howie's factory stamp chart, /316\ is the closest to it.

[martin08]

I realize I should let sleeping dogs lay, but I believe the stamp is actually factory /316\. I enlarged and enhanced it and the first "digit" mostly resembles an "underscore A". But looking at Howie's factory stamp chart, /316\ is the closest to it.

You're just asking for it now.

Just for some added trivia, there are no known examples of Factory /26\ guns to be found in the 15-22 million serial range (1970 to 1978). The last production came in 1979 and 1980 as 23 and 24 million serial numbered carbines. These late ones also sported a ribbed plastic handguard, which is affectionately dubbed, the "French Tickler".

You had to bring that up didn't you. Somebody will want a detailed description from you now!
Oh boy.

Now, it's really time to let sleeping dogs lie.

[OLD OUTLAW]

And away runs the Moose!

[OLD OUTLAW]

Wolfy old boy, you may be going to the Vet before you know it. What you call an A is a Chinese 0 in a triangle. The zero will be shaped as a slanted triangle at times. The line across you are seeing is part of the metal finish when I really magnify. The symbol reads /016\.
You will be all fixed up once you get home from the Vets office. I think the Moose may need the same after his "French Tickler" comment and then
flees the scene so he doesn't have to explain it. Oh, animals.

[MN Fan]

I'll buy that explanation Outlaw. Man, we gotta get these Chinese guys some better stamps!

[OLD OUTLAW]

I'll buy that explanation Outlaw. Man, we gotta get these Chinese guys some better stamps!

There whole intent was to confuse everyone else in every country. There intent is that we to this day stay some what confused.
These are the toughest of all to identify. Bar none Cliff.

[angelsfanbp]

Alright I threw some chalk on it and took a close up. I'm pretty sure that is 016 arsenal. I guess part of the fun is that it's a mystery as to manufacture date?!

IMG_1073.JPG

[OLD OUTLAW]

Alright I threw some chalk on it and took a close up. I'm pretty sure that is 016 arsenal. I guess part of the fun is that it's a mystery as to manufacture date?!

IMG_1073.JPG

Very, very good. That is the trick it takes to make a light strike show up on a camera. Yes, a definite mystery, but that was fully the intent of the Chinese.
Nor would they release any info other than some arsenal 26 to any government. You need to remember with the Chinese, these were all military owned facilities. No commercial companies build their weapons. Did you know Norinco is owned by the Chinese Army? They market for the Army. Still do to this day.
Hence a lot of things they do not even want known about their weapons producing facilities and capabilities. That is why we simply do not know the dates except for the one they did tell us of out of how many?

[MN Fan]

Thank you for the updated photo. That makes it perfectly legible

[howiebearse]

I cannot believe that you guys did not give me credit for knowing what that was without a special glass:) I am after all the keeper of the codes list !!! triangle 016 is fairly common just found one for my serial number list 27011709 a high number

[OLD OUTLAW]

I cannot believe that you guys did not give me credit for knowing what that was without a special glass:) I am after all the keeper of the codes list !!! triangle 016 is fairly common just found one for my serial number list 27011709 a high number

There you are! Where ya been hiding Howie?

[howiebearse]

been busy working at our gun club . Is there any interest here for a topic of sks Accessories like oil bottles, slings, pouches , ammunition?

[OLD OUTLAW]

been busy working at our gun club . Is there any interest here for a topic of sks Accessories like oil bottles, slings, pouches , ammunition?

For me, ammunition. That old Military shop has a bunch of really old ammo he found in storage. Few boxes of this and that. You name it it seems. I wish I knew
more about early Yugo and Norinco. Old Gerald has about 20 or so full boxes of Chinese 9X18 Mak even. He also has Chinese X39 in supposedly lead core.