In late 1955, the Soviet Union was ramping up production of the AK-47. As a result, assembly of the SKS at the Tula Arsenal dwindled to a trickle into early 1956. In that period, the Soviets sold their tooling, parts, design specifications, and provided engineering support in order for China to begin production of the SKS. The designation of the new model was called the Type-56.
Early manufacturing utilized Soviet parts at the Jianshe Arsenal, Factory /26\. The first rifles that were stamped with the /26\ arsenal mark are designated as the Sino-Soviet Type-56 SKS. These guns are identified by a serial number which generally consists of a Latin letter, followed by a four digit number, i.e. J4321. The main serial number is found on the left front of the receiver, followed by the factory symbol, which can sometimes be lightly stamped and/or partially obscured by the wood line of the stock. The numbered parts on the metal contain the entire or partial serial number, and are stamped on the receiver cover, trigger group, magazine, bolt carrier, left side buttstock (which omits the letter prefix). Electropenciled serials can be found on the bolt, the underside of the gas tube, and sometimes on the gas piston.
The guns were assembled entirely, or nearly entirely from Russian parts. The fitment/assembly stamps of the reciever and barrel (number 20 as shown) are identical to Russian markings, and can also be found at corresponding points along the barrel where front stock ferrule, gas block, and bayonet lug are pressed into position (number 1 as shown). Later Chinese guns do not exhibit these fitment marks. Type-56 carbines were assembled with the blade bayonet style until early 1965.
The right side of the bolt carrier has a milled out slot to lighten the part. This is called a Lightening Cut (not to be confused with an electrical charge!), and is not found on later versions of the Type-56. The rear sight is identified with the Cyrillic Russian letter "П", which translates to P. The meaning is unclear, except that it corresponds to the lowest setting of the slide on the rear sight leaf for battlefield zero settings of 300 meters.
The stock and handguard of the Sino-Soviet is not the typical soft Chu wood found on later Chinese guns. It is made from birch hardwood. The sling swivel is located on the left buttstock, with usually tall and deeply stamped serial numbers toward the rear. The relief cut just above the right side of the trigger is short in length, like its Russian counterpart. Later Chinese stocks extended the relief cut along the entire length of the trigger guard. Sino-Soviet stocks will have a small 1/4" sized star cartouche on the right side buttstock.
It is rare to find a completely matching original finished Sino-Soviet. Mine was refurbished and restamped to match. Even complete matching refurbs with correct stocks are somewhat uncommon, and a complete specimen like the one featured here will command a $50-75 premium over other early Chinese SKS's. Thanks for allowing me to share with you all, folks.
, always interesting to learn info regarding SKS's, I've been looking for a true Sino. 
What took you so long to get here? Welcome aboard! 
