I I will soon get a Norinco SKS Paratrooper body number is 25003601. Could you please tell me the year it was produced, Mr. Trouble? Before this group of numbers there is a rectangle inside a group of numbers: 0136, followed by three Chinese: "五六式", looking forward to your authoritative answer, thank you very much 🙏
I am fascinated by the amount of knowledge you share. You're very easy to listen to and don't come across as pedantic or patronizing, more like a friend over coffee sharing what he's learned over the years. Thanks dude, it is appreciated.
Thanks!! Just stumbled across this. Bought mine out of a crate packed in cosmoline in 1991. Looks like its a 1978. It didnt come with a bayonet though. Never really thought about dating it. Didnt care. Its for practical use. Been using it for brown bear nosing around my cattle since 1995.
Hey thank you for this! I'm learning a lot of history. I got an old $200 Chinese SKS, all matching 6 digits SN (270xxx /26\), with the threaded barrel and blade bayonet, that I bought over 10 years ago. So excited to clean it up and start my sanding project for fun. Your channel is cool! Thanks!
Thank you. Very well done video and in-depth information for this often overlooked classic surplus rifle.. which, by the way, has been appreciating by leaps and bounds in recent years..
I so glad you are making these videos because I spent hours looking at the sks boards and Yoopers website trying to research my rifle. It has a 5 digit serial number with no arsenal mark and lightening cuts on the bolt and bayonet lug. The front stock retainer has a V cut that looks like it would be for a blade bayonet, but when I bought the rifle it didn't come with a bayonet so I put a spike bayonet on it. With the help of your videos I now know that it's a first year production type 56.
@Triangle26 i think i'm in trouble, i was sold a chinese type 56 as a C&R, rectangle 0138, SN 7508113 So 1975? So not C&R until next year? All numbers matching, i received it full of cosmoline, spike bayo, short collar threaded barrel
Thank you so much. I had no idea there was separate date and production codes in what we think of as the Serial Number. This is the first I've heard of it. Very valuable info.
you have one of the most valuable channels for mil surp owners/shooters/collectors that i have run across; i was able to rather easily date my (probably) 1969 Chinese sks 14023xx...clearly not restamped anywhere; milled and short threaded barrel (extension)...triangle 106 ...this is the only sks i managed to gather-and-keep; all my early collection was Russian and Romanian...sold off with my other mil surp collections...oh well...i kept the Chinese because it was in such beautiful shape, and is a great shooter...thanks
Dude hell yeah I watched the whole video expecting not to hear about M21s. I picked mine up today brand new unfired with original box/receipt from 1994 for $600.
New sub from Canada, just got my license a month ago and first purchase was a Norinco sks which from watching your video mine is a triangle26 14 so 1969 191xxx It is a fun rifle to shoot, I had it at the range last week but the whole canada and 5 round semi auto rifle restriction kinda sucks, lots of reloading. Cheers and appreciate the work you put in to these videos, really helps out new shooters like myself!
@@Triangle26 Thanks dude, pretty stoked about it having history and given i've only shot a .22LR as a kid the sks definitely has some punch to it. Cheers!
@@Triangle26 Actually I did want to ask is there any significance to the triangle 26 stamp on the ones that have it? Curious what that stamp means because there are ones without it.
Your affinity for this rifle is contagious. What a great, simple, and robust rifle. The Chinese definitely seemed to cherish this platform. Thanks for your breakdown on the serial number and markings. I had been trying to lookup the type 63, 81, and some later models. Seems they liked the original sks so much they wanted to modernize yet do something different than the Soviets. Would love to see a video on information about those rifles.They seem to be very rare since that 89 ban came shortly after some were brought in. There's just not a lot of information on those. Keep up the good work! Well done!
That's a great idea. I do find those rifles fascinating as well and it would be great to find a way to work them into a presentation. It's funny because the Type 63 is actually one of the more heavily produced rifle platforms in history (I think it's easily in the top 10 autoloaders), but due to its select fire mechanism and some of the politics associated with it - an absolute unicorn in the US.
That's amazing.. I believe some reviewers have said there are type 63, 81s in Canada. Don't know if they're still being brought in with all the banning going on there now. Be nice if some could find there way down here. Looking forward to more videos. Your content is highly valued. Thanks
Thank you for cutting through the mystical, mythical wives' tales about dating non-/26\ SKSs. Really not all that complicated. Confucius say my /416\ is a 1971. I've wondered for years. Another great video!
Mine has the date code 11 separated by a space and then the serial 3XXXXX so mine was made mid-year 66. And I am currently cleaning my new-to-me SKS - it's quite well experienced but after pushing a worm of cosmolene out of the bore, I was able to see a beautiful, shiny bore with strong rifling which pleased me to no end. So happy to have a good example back in my collection and I'm looking forward to shooting it after I get it cleaned up.
I have a Letter Series, all matching rifle. Series E 4XXX. Bluing was worn, but all metal surfaces in otherwise great shape. No corrosion. The barrel was filled with cosmoline like a tube of tooth paste. Once removed, the barrel was in outstanding condition. The stock and handguard is in good, serviceable condition, not refurbished, the varnish (if that is the right term) is weathered with moderate wear and tear. No cracks or other problems. Shoots quite accurately. I bought it from Classic about six or seven years ago. The bayonet is blade type.
Great video. I’m about to pick up my first SKS tomorrow. More than likely just a late 80s, early 90s model but I’ll be checking that serial # before I buy. Liked and subscribed!
Thanks for helping out. I am happy to hear from you about your opinion and knowledge on the Chinese SKS rifles. I'm definitely interested in them, too.
Ah - just replied to your other comment. Hopefully this video helped with your commercial dating question, but if not, let me know. We’ll get it sorted out.
I watch everything you post. thanks for answering my question. I'm sure your subscriber count is going to skyrocket. I have noticed that many of the non-refurb Chinese sks's brought into Canada (starting around 10 years ago), had a serial number like 151XXXXX, from various factories, and not triangle 26. So, in my case, the two I bought separately, were both made in 1970. I probably handled 10 more and all had a similar 151 serial number. So perhaps these Chinese military SKS's were warehoused not according to factory but to year, and they liquidated one or more warehouses into Canada at that time. Just a theory. Later on, when Cabelas started selling sks's in a rougher condition, many that I looked at were triangle 26. I probably looked through 100 of them at one point for a friend, wish I would have known what you shared in this video when I picked one for him.
That’s a very interesting observation. I think your theory is very likely true, and I am aware of a number of data points that support it. Another important consideration in all of this is the fact that there are *far* more Chinese factory marks than there are actual factories. There are hundreds of distinct marks, but only 25 or so actual production facilities. I’m not exactly sure how that fits into the puzzle, but I imagine it has something to do with why we see rifles with the same date code but different factory codes being imported together.
Just talked to my brother and he's got one of those SKS with a low number with the letter B on front of th number, he's really stoked about the historic importance of the rifle, it has one of those red fiberglass baked stocks on it.
This helped me a ton. I knew my sks was a force matched commercial variant, the stock and trigger guard were renumbered. But the receiver, magazine and bolt group are from /206\ manufactured in 1966.
Mine is a really early 1965 10 mil series. Probably of the first thousands when they swapped to the Spike bayonet and short lug. My friend has a sino model and aside of the minor differences, they are of the same quality.
@@luisbelmont9222 🤣 I used Reddit for a couple months, but it was not good for my mental health. Reddit is a place where arguing is mandatory, but research is forbidden.
Sadly for one of the few semi auto guns we can get in Canada, it seems very little info is out out there from Canadian utubers about the sks, especially Chinese versions and so many Americans who do SKS videos, make it about comparing it with the AK. So thank you for just making it about the SKS. (Chinese wood is so light and barely any recoil, I am glad that this is my first gun over a Russian sks, but that’ll be next for a collector gun)
For my fellow Canadians they are on sale for 450$ at cabellas starting today for black friday sales, not sure when it ends but 100$ off the rifle. 50$ of 550 rounds of surplus ammo. 890$ Canadian for 1100 rounds of surplus and what looks like an unfired 1969 factory 26 with matching numbers
My point for owning a Chinese SKS is that anybody worth their salt can make a good gun, but a great gun stands out on it's own. The Chinese SKS is one of those great few guns. Here in FL, the SKS is primarily used for Hog culls and Gator harvesting. A trusted platform used with dangerous quarry.
I just bought one a week ago and now see it's triangle 26 stamped with 8 digits starting with 14 so adding to 1955 would make it a 1969? a little under 200k
I have an M21 bring home captured by my mentor, still has blood on the original sling, in 1964 outside of Danang. It's probably one of the early type56 made totally by Chinese.
9 more days left in NY state to buy semiautomatic rifles without needing a license with a many years wait time. I got my buddy into SKS two weeks ago and he made sure to get his last week. He kind of overpaid but it’s still worth it!
Boy, that’s rough. Sorry to hear that. Glad your buddy got one before the door closed. That’s as good of a reason as any to overpay. I certainly can’t judge, I overpaid for one last week and I didn’t even have a great excuse lol 🤷♂️
Or.... Don't live in such a shit hole. Move elsewhere and don't bring the shit hole attitude, politics and thinking with you. Starve them of their funds and attention and let it crumble to the ground.
I was visiting family in New York when this comment was posted, yall are screwed, I'm in the Florida free zone and picked up a nice sks a few days ago with matching #s under 3k with a 17 + 5 #s , 17020XX
When I want to date an SKS I usually take it to a movie or dinner. Seriously though, I like you're videos. You definitely have SKS issues buddy. I have around 7 myself to include a Polish one I recently put together. You should address the Polish (Russian) version sometime.
That's a great idea. Unfortunately I haven't (yet) had the opportunity to get hands on with a Polish issued SKS-45, but I agree it's a very interesting part of the larger SKS story. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Based on your excellent descriptions and analysis, apparently I have one "ghost" guns and one famine gun. Or two ghost guns. I not sure because one of the carbines has a F prefix and I'm too lazy to pull it out of the safe to see if the F is importation marking. Thanks for this excellent video!
Fantastic information. I’m just learning about the SKS. Mine is 12xxxxx. I’m thinking I have a rifle made in 1967. There is a D suffix but it’s not in direct alignment with the serial numbers so I’m thinking that’s an example of a meaningless importer marks. My pop acquired this SKS in 1992 as I recall. We’ve shot it a good bit and used it deer hunting but never really studied its features. I’m gonna take it out to the range soon. It’s been a while since I’ve had fun with it.
My sks is a triangle 26 with the Chinese marking, and 8 didgit serial number, so as I understand mine is 11 so year 66 000xxx 11000xxx thank you for the information. I just stumbles across your videos, watched a couple so far, will be watching more.
Amazing video. I was so confused as to which numbers I found were the actual serial number. From what I can tell, I think I have a mixmatch of different parts. But I'm not certain if the Chinese didn't do it that way for the different parts. Example: Reciver D-51946 Magazine well F-117583 Bolt 0-00 004. Looks like similar features of several serial numbers you mentioned.
Awesome, the “letter series” rifles are super cool! There is a high probability that the “J” prefix represents October of 1959, however we don’t have conclusive documentation on that. It’s possible it was made during a different month of 1959, or even in 1960. But October 1959 is the most likely.
I don't know if this is correct t across the board, but it appears that if you look at the numbers elsewhere on one, they do not have the date code. So if say the number on the receiver says 1832020, but it just says 32020 everywhere else, that would seem to imply the date code is "18". Just a thought. I am FAR from an expert and just trying to learn more about these before pulling the trigger on getting one(pun most definitely intended!). Great video as per usual!
OK seriously - I have an SKS on the way to me now - and thanks to you - I know that it's a 1966 copy given it's serial starts with 11. It's also stamped with the triangle 26 and Chinese characters so...
Getting to know a chinese sks personally is important first. You should really just be honest about your feelings with them, and see if they feel the same way sooner rather than later.
Thanks for helping me understand my /26\ I started watching your videos to correctly date it (1966 & thanks for that) to sell but now, I'm not soo sure lol. Thanks for sharing your knowledge 🫡
That’s fairly typical for that era. After the Sino-Vietnamese Border war of 1979, the Chinese aggressively phased out the Type 56 Carbine in 1980. Many of the most recent production examples, to include 1978, were therefor surplussed and exported without ever being issued!
Hugely useful video - thank you. As with many of the Chinese SKS-pattern /26\-made rifles that have been imported into Canada, mine is a complete mishmash of parts with different serial numbers and clearly those parts were manufactured in different years. It's unfortuate, but as I received mine as a gift from a close friend, it is what it is, and to use the old saying, I certainly wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth in that regard. Given that mix of components, is there any kind of agreed-upon "convention" as to which rifle component should "define" the age of the rifle, and therefore a date to ascribe to my rifle? Would the barrel and frame be the best component upon which to base that? Thanks very much in advance!
Thanks for another great video. I really appreciate the detail you use. I have a quick question? I have two what I believe are more modern commercial SKS,s bought in Vancouver around 2006. There is only one set of markings on each; SKS 762x39 040127? Made in China Cant find anyplace that looks like # were ground off and it came with a 1” thick hard rubber but pad on it. Can anything be determined by these markings? Thanks for any help you can provide. Cheers
Hmm, unfortunately nothing I can tell you for certain based on those markings alone. Aside from the fact that they are surely excellent rifles. That’s an atypical serial number, and when deciphering atypical numbers, we rely heavily on a wide variety of features to help narrow down what era or eras the components were made, and how they were assembled.
So I’m looking at purchasing one and it has DP with some Chinese symbols followed by 20011**. So it would be a commercial type 56 made in 1975? Hope I understood all of this correctly.
Yes on the date, however that would be a military rifle. They did not make start making commercial rifles until the 1980’s! Also the “DP” marked rifles are really interesting. Still a lot of mystery around them, but the leading theory is that they are somehow connected to Pakistan.
My rifle is marked Norinco, Pomona CA, and has matching numbers of W1032. According to this video it would be a 1960? This is a very informative video!!
Awesome man, thank you! I just figured mine out as “1979.” I bought that thing in California around 1989 for $69 and a Russian one for $89, on the same day! Ahhh the good old days of California are long gone now. Sadly, I removed the original wooden stock and wood forearm gas tube grip it came with from my Chinese edition and replaced it with all plastic about 30 years ago. Big mistake in my opinion. Lately, I’ve been searching for a wood stock that looks like the original. Any suggestions where I could go to buy one? Even a good shape original would be perfect. I search on the internet from time to time and have had no luck. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I’ve had the best luck finding stocks on eBay and GunBroker. Unfortunately it’s getting harder and harder to find good deals, and it’s not unusual for just the stocks to sell for more than you paid for the rifle itself! I have a video you may find helpful in verifying you get exactly the right stock for your rifle, as there are a few variants: th-cam.com/video/RJRuWtCxImE/w-d-xo.html
Immediately get a long dream of the *Chinese Norinco SKS Paratrooper The number of the Semi-Auto Rifle is 25003601. Could you tell me the year it was produced, Mr. Trouble? Before this group of numbers there is a rectangle inside a group of numbers: 0136, followed by three Chinese: "Type five and six", looking forward to your authoritative answer, thank you very much 🙏
Thank you very much for your answer. Today I am so happy, because I really want to get a Chinese type 56 SKS after watching your program. I wanted to see a Mosin Nagant that day, but it has already been sold, but it is almost new and has the correct number and comes with Red Star 4*24 sniper mirror. Thank you for bringing me good luck. I think this is the last batch of Chinese SKS legally imported.
Great video!!! very informative and helpful for sks rifles. I'm still at a loss on my serial number. You dident say alot about numbers in the last section of commercial stuff in late 80s and 90s. That's probably what I have. It's a 114 73783
Hey I responded to your email as well, but short version you seem to have a 1966 example. The picture you sent me shows a /26\ Arsenal mark, three character military model designation and 8 digit serial number - and that is not what we would see on an 80’s or 90’s commercial rifle.
Thank you for your videos, and also thanks for your service. " All the Way" Airborne Tankers "Thunder Bolts". I think I have an early 1957 "?" all matching numbers, 6 digit serial number 132XXX "Ghost" Sino-Soviet type. It does not have any other Arsenal stamps. It has the Import markings (I.O.inc. Monroe NC./ M56 7.62x39mm China), this is laser engraved on the right side of the barrel below the gas tube. It has Russian inspection stamp marks inside. The receiver plate cover has Russian star with 1951 'r' no serial number on cover. Barrel is not chrome lined with blade bayonet. I purchased the rifle in 2013, in Mustang Oklahoma. Is there any way to tell if this a real Ghost gun?
Back at you Airborne, ATW. I'm a little confused by the description of your rifle. The serial number is correct for a 1957, as you state. The receiver cover you are describing is not correct - that's definitely a Tula/Soviet made part. There is theoretically a possibility that this was a Russian spare part which was actually brought into China for use in the early builds, although I think it's more likely that it just got swapped at some point in service. An original ghost should be chrome lined as well, but for that matter, essentially all Chinese SKS patterns should be. Sometimes the milky chrome can be hard to visually identify, although of course I'll trust your own discretion there. You are welcome to send pictures of the rifle to "triangletwentysix@gmail.com", I'd be happy to offer you a more informed opinion based on visual inspection.
When are we going to see the ghost gun video? Really enjoyed watching all your videos. Very interested to hear all your thoughts on the first years Chinese production rifles without the triangle 26 markings.
Hopefully soon. I'm steering away from offering hard timelines (because I literally always fail to meet them), but I can say that the Ghost video is a high priority for me and technically "in progress". I doubt it will be my next video, but I would guess it will be in the next three.
That’s unusual but not unheard of. There are a few possible explanations, but the most likely would be that your rifle was originally manufactured in 1959 with a blade bayonet, and it just got reconfigured at some point over the last 64 years. It could have been done by the Chinese while in military service, it could have been done during exportation, or it could have been a previous owner in the US.
I bought my SKS a few years ago and it's been a mystery trying to date this thing. I only have a 6 digit serial # that starts with 13. Going off the info you provided it appears to be made in '68. I could be way off. I'm known to be a little slow. 🤷🏼♂️
Must just be awkward stamping on a 1965. There are not exceptions to the “no date code rule” for 1956. Also, that would leave us with a 7 digit production number, which also doesn’t exist.
now i know mine is a LETTER rifle and low 4 digit below 5000 serial number so it would be built in 1959 and 1 of the first 5,000 made guess that's pretty cool ain't it? it has the blade bayo,, long lug and milled out right side go bolt. glad it's a cool one took me 2 weeks to clean all the cosmoline off of it. oh yeah, all total matching serial number too.
My Chinese SKS is weird and I’ve only been able to find one pic of one that looks similar. -It doesn’t have the triangle marking or any triangle marking whatsoever. -It has no Chinese lettering at all. -It has no box or box symbol at all. All it says on the left side is: CAI ST ALB VT NORINCO CHINA 7.62x39 With the serial number 9016xxx on the top right (slightly above where the VT is). (All numbers are matching as well)
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I’ve never seen someone so knowledgeable about the SKS.
Same here. He is the best 👌
Me and my chinese sks have been happily married ever since I saw this video! thanks for the dating advice
Just bought a Norinco, your knowledge is outstanding,
Congrats on the rifle, thank you for watching!
Fantastic video! Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the sks community. Much appreciated.
Thanks very much for watching and commenting, I appreciate it!
I I will soon get a Norinco SKS Paratrooper body number is 25003601. Could you please tell me the year it was produced, Mr. Trouble? Before this group of numbers there is a rectangle inside a group of numbers: 0136, followed by three Chinese: "五六式", looking forward to your authoritative answer, thank you very much 🙏
@@Markusamanguns I hope you get your answer soon! I have a very similar situation with my Norinco
Misunderstood the thumbnail. Still single.
That's funny
I am fascinated by the amount of knowledge you share. You're very easy to listen to and don't come across as pedantic or patronizing, more like a friend over coffee sharing what he's learned over the years. Thanks dude, it is appreciated.
Thanks!! Just stumbled across this. Bought mine out of a crate packed in cosmoline in 1991. Looks like its a 1978. It didnt come with a bayonet though.
Never really thought about dating it. Didnt care. Its for practical use. Been using it for brown bear nosing around my cattle since 1995.
Hey thank you for this! I'm learning a lot of history. I got an old $200 Chinese SKS, all matching 6 digits SN (270xxx /26\), with the threaded barrel and blade bayonet, that I bought over 10 years ago. So excited to clean it up and start my sanding project for fun. Your channel is cool! Thanks!
I have a sks in E than 5 numbers sks wonder if it’s rare or not
Thank you. Very well done video and in-depth information for this often overlooked classic surplus rifle.. which, by the way, has been appreciating by leaps and bounds in recent years..
Thanks a ton, I appreciate the feedback.
I so glad you are making these videos because I spent hours looking at the sks boards and Yoopers website trying to research my rifle. It has a 5 digit serial number with no arsenal mark and lightening cuts on the bolt and bayonet lug. The front stock retainer has a V cut that looks like it would be for a blade bayonet, but when I bought the rifle it didn't come with a bayonet so I put a spike bayonet on it. With the help of your videos I now know that it's a first year production type 56.
Outstanding - glad the videos were helpful. Congrats on having a first year! I have a new video on that variant which will be coming out later today.
@Triangle26 i think i'm in trouble, i was sold a chinese type 56 as a C&R, rectangle 0138, SN 7508113
So 1975? So not C&R until next year?
All numbers matching, i received it full of cosmoline, spike bayo, short collar threaded barrel
I just got my first SKS today and I absolutely believe it's a 1991 type 56 carbine.
Thank you so much. I had no idea there was separate date and production codes in what we think of as the Serial Number. This is the first I've heard of it. Very valuable info.
you have one of the most valuable channels for mil surp owners/shooters/collectors that i have run across;
i was able to rather easily date my (probably) 1969 Chinese sks 14023xx...clearly not restamped anywhere;
milled and short threaded barrel (extension)...triangle 106 ...this is the only sks i managed to gather-and-keep;
all my early collection was Russian and Romanian...sold off with my other mil surp collections...oh well...i kept the Chinese because it was in such beautiful shape, and is a great shooter...thanks
Thanks a bunch, and I'm glad to be of help!
Dude hell yeah I watched the whole video expecting not to hear about M21s. I picked mine up today brand new unfired with original box/receipt from 1994 for $600.
Awesome. M21s are about as cool as it gets, and I hope to have a video on them soon. Thanks so much for watching and subscribing.
Thank you so much! I learned a lot. Looking forward to the Ghost Gun video!
I have so much respect for your passion concerning the SKS. I thought I had read or watched about everything that can be known about the SKS. Bravo!
You're a beast, I love your videos.
New sub from Canada, just got my license a month ago and first purchase was a Norinco sks which from watching your video mine is a triangle26 14 so 1969 191xxx It is a fun rifle to shoot, I had it at the range last week but the whole canada and 5 round semi auto rifle restriction kinda sucks, lots of reloading. Cheers and appreciate the work you put in to these videos, really helps out new shooters like myself!
Congrats on your first rifle - you made an excellent choice! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!
@@Triangle26 Thanks dude, pretty stoked about it having history and given i've only shot a .22LR as a kid the sks definitely has some punch to it. Cheers!
@@Triangle26 Actually I did want to ask is there any significance to the triangle 26 stamp on the ones that have it? Curious what that stamp means because there are ones without it.
Your videos are articulate and very informative. I was able to accurately date my Chinese 56type to a 1957. Thanks for the knowledge bro
Hanks for watching, and congrats on having a ‘57! Great year
Your affinity for this rifle is contagious. What a great, simple, and robust rifle. The Chinese definitely seemed to cherish this platform. Thanks for your breakdown on the serial number and markings. I had been trying to lookup the type 63, 81, and some later models. Seems they liked the original sks so much they wanted to modernize yet do something different than the Soviets. Would love to see a video on information about those rifles.They seem to be very rare since that 89 ban came shortly after some were brought in. There's just not a lot of information on those. Keep up the good work! Well done!
That's a great idea. I do find those rifles fascinating as well and it would be great to find a way to work them into a presentation.
It's funny because the Type 63 is actually one of the more heavily produced rifle platforms in history (I think it's easily in the top 10 autoloaders), but due to its select fire mechanism and some of the politics associated with it - an absolute unicorn in the US.
That's amazing.. I believe some reviewers have said there are type 63, 81s in Canada. Don't know if they're still being brought in with all the banning going on there now. Be nice if some could find there way down here. Looking forward to more videos. Your content is highly valued. Thanks
Thank you for cutting through the mystical, mythical wives' tales about dating non-/26\ SKSs. Really not all that complicated. Confucius say my /416\ is a 1971. I've wondered for years. Another great video!
Mine has the date code 11 separated by a space and then the serial 3XXXXX so mine was made mid-year 66. And I am currently cleaning my new-to-me SKS - it's quite well experienced but after pushing a worm of cosmolene out of the bore, I was able to see a beautiful, shiny bore with strong rifling which pleased me to no end. So happy to have a good example back in my collection and I'm looking forward to shooting it after I get it cleaned up.
I have a Letter Series, all matching rifle. Series E 4XXX. Bluing was worn, but all metal surfaces in otherwise great shape. No corrosion. The barrel was filled with cosmoline like a tube of tooth paste. Once removed, the barrel was in outstanding condition. The stock and handguard is in good, serviceable condition, not refurbished, the varnish (if that is the right term) is weathered with moderate wear and tear. No cracks or other problems. Shoots quite accurately. I bought it from Classic about six or seven years ago. The bayonet is blade type.
Well done good Sir! Love mine.
Just got my first SKS (Chinese) and used your video to discover that it was made in 1969. Many thanks.
Fantastic. Glad to be of help!
Fairly common year. They produced a lot in 69 and shipped them to Albania
I feel like im getting closer.. been going down a fun rabbit hole of history to figure mine out. Binge watching the channel now!!
Awesome. Let me know if there is anything I might be able to help clarify.
Great video. I’m about to pick up my first SKS tomorrow. More than likely just a late 80s, early 90s model but I’ll be checking that serial # before I buy. Liked and subscribed!
Thanks very much, and congrats on your first SKS! My late ‘80s model runs like a sewing machine 👍
You're the man! Thanks for being so knowledgeable!
Went by adding 11 to 55. have a 66. 107k + triangle on it. Excellent rifle never had a hiccup while shooting it. Had it for over 30 yrs probably .
Awesome, glad to hear it. Hard to argue with decades of perfect reliability.
I have a 66 in the 9k range. Mine also has "p" after the serial number. Does yours have that?..any clue what the "p" stands for?
@mrchoochoo1969 that I couldn't tell you could be proof tested , I'll look into it too .
Thanks for helping out. I am happy to hear from you about your opinion and knowledge on the Chinese SKS rifles. I'm definitely interested in them, too.
Ah - just replied to your other comment. Hopefully this video helped with your commercial dating question, but if not, let me know. We’ll get it sorted out.
@Triangle26 My one "commercial" Type 56's is 3-7XXXX. It's a /26. I can't figure out this one. It's a spike bayonet.
I watch everything you post. thanks for answering my question. I'm sure your subscriber count is going to skyrocket.
I have noticed that many of the non-refurb Chinese sks's brought into Canada (starting around 10 years ago), had a serial number like 151XXXXX, from various factories, and not triangle 26. So, in my case, the two I bought separately, were both made in 1970. I probably handled 10 more and all had a similar 151 serial number. So perhaps these Chinese military SKS's were warehoused not according to factory but to year, and they liquidated one or more warehouses into Canada at that time. Just a theory. Later on, when Cabelas started selling sks's in a rougher condition, many that I looked at were triangle 26. I probably looked through 100 of them at one point for a friend, wish I would have known what you shared in this video when I picked one for him.
That’s a very interesting observation.
I think your theory is very likely true, and I am aware of a number of data points that support it.
Another important consideration in all of this is the fact that there are *far* more Chinese factory marks than there are actual factories. There are hundreds of distinct marks, but only 25 or so actual production facilities. I’m not exactly sure how that fits into the puzzle, but I imagine it has something to do with why we see rifles with the same date code but different factory codes being imported together.
Just talked to my brother and he's got one of those SKS with a low number with the letter B on front of th number, he's really stoked about the historic importance of the rifle, it has one of those red fiberglass baked stocks on it.
Awesome!
@@Triangle26I got the SKS carbine by Steve Kehaya and Joe Payer and there is not much on the Chinese SKS!
This helped me a ton. I knew my sks was a force matched commercial variant, the stock and trigger guard were renumbered. But the receiver, magazine and bolt group are from /206\ manufactured in 1966.
Mine is a really early 1965 10 mil series. Probably of the first thousands when they swapped to the Spike bayonet and short lug. My friend has a sino model and aside of the minor differences, they are of the same quality.
Thankyou so much for your videos. Now if I can get the time to sit + figure my too out.
You are my best TH-cam friend for SKS reviews. Thank you my friend.
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄
Thanks, friend. Merry Christmas to you as well!
@@Triangle26 Thank you
I got myself an 81 factory 26 sks beauty type 56. Thank you for helping me figure that out!
Glad to be of help!
Funny our friends on Reddit and SKS boards have not seen this video 😅. Great Job explaining! Thanks!!!!😊
@@luisbelmont9222 🤣
I used Reddit for a couple months, but it was not good for my mental health. Reddit is a place where arguing is mandatory, but research is forbidden.
Sadly for one of the few semi auto guns we can get in Canada, it seems very little info is out out there from Canadian utubers about the sks, especially Chinese versions and so many Americans who do SKS videos, make it about comparing it with the AK. So thank you for just making it about the SKS. (Chinese wood is so light and barely any recoil, I am glad that this is my first gun over a Russian sks, but that’ll be next for a collector gun)
Excellent video buddy ! Really appreciate this one
For my fellow Canadians they are on sale for 450$ at cabellas starting today for black friday sales, not sure when it ends but 100$ off the rifle. 50$ of 550 rounds of surplus ammo. 890$ Canadian for 1100 rounds of surplus and what looks like an unfired 1969 factory 26 with matching numbers
Thank you for your contribution and knowledge of the SKS! Hope this will help with mine!
Thanks! I hope it helped too, let me know if have a tricky one.
I enjoyed the video, thank you for sharing your process for breaking down the SN
Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching and commenting.
My point for owning a Chinese SKS is that anybody worth their salt can make a good gun, but a great gun stands out on it's own. The Chinese SKS is one of those great few guns. Here in FL, the SKS is primarily used for Hog culls and Gator harvesting. A trusted platform used with dangerous quarry.
Well said. Lots of good guns out there, but a few stand out as great. Chinese SKS is one of them for sure.
Hell Yeah!! Triangle 26, Type 56, 1969 date code, somewhere just over 100000. Awesome!! Thanks!!
I just bought one a week ago and now see it's triangle 26 stamped with 8 digits starting with 14 so adding to 1955 would make it a 1969? a little under 200k
Thank you for video. It was well very done. 🍻
Thanks friend!
Thanks for posting, this cleared up a bunch.
Glad it was helpful, thank you for watching.
Love your videos, always straightforward and informative.
I really appreciate that.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on these rifles.
I have an M21 bring home captured by my mentor, still has blood on the original sling, in 1964 outside of Danang. It's probably one of the early type56 made totally by Chinese.
Thanks for the great informative video
Thanks. I just cleaned the cosmoline out of a pressed and pinned 1978 Type 56 from factory 674. It's nice to know some of the history.
Great video, very useful information.
Thank you so much!! This was very easy to follow and found out mine was made in the mid 70s.
got a 1966 all matching ## number really love it
My sks is a type 56, 1962 production year. It spent time in Albania before coming to the USA. Has Hoxha trench art all over it.
9 more days left in NY state to buy semiautomatic rifles without needing a license with a many years wait time. I got my buddy into SKS two weeks ago and he made sure to get his last week. He kind of overpaid but it’s still worth it!
Boy, that’s rough. Sorry to hear that.
Glad your buddy got one before the door closed. That’s as good of a reason as any to overpay. I certainly can’t judge, I overpaid for one last week and I didn’t even have a great excuse lol 🤷♂️
Or.... Don't live in such a shit hole. Move elsewhere and don't bring the shit hole attitude, politics and thinking with you. Starve them of their funds and attention and let it crumble to the ground.
I was visiting family in New York when this comment was posted, yall are screwed, I'm in the Florida free zone and picked up a nice sks a few days ago with matching #s under 3k with a 17 + 5 #s , 17020XX
Big help in dating my Chinese SKS. Thank you!
Glad to be of help!
When I want to date an SKS I usually take it to a movie or dinner. Seriously though, I like you're videos. You definitely have SKS issues buddy. I have around 7 myself to include a Polish one I recently put together. You should address the Polish (Russian) version sometime.
That's a great idea. Unfortunately I haven't (yet) had the opportunity to get hands on with a Polish issued SKS-45, but I agree it's a very interesting part of the larger SKS story. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Another informative video! Looks like mine was made in 76! All matching.
Based on your excellent descriptions and analysis, apparently I have one "ghost" guns and one famine gun. Or two ghost guns. I not sure because one of the carbines has a F prefix and I'm too lazy to pull it out of the safe to see if the F is importation marking. Thanks for this excellent video!
Fantastic information.
I’m just learning about the SKS. Mine is 12xxxxx. I’m thinking I have a rifle made in 1967. There is a D suffix but it’s not in direct alignment with the serial numbers so I’m thinking that’s an example of a meaningless importer marks. My pop acquired this SKS in 1992 as I recall. We’ve shot it a good bit and used it deer hunting but never really studied its features. I’m gonna take it out to the range soon. It’s been a while since I’ve had fun with it.
Awesome. All of the conclusions you have drawn are consistent with my best understandings!
My sks is a triangle 26 with the Chinese marking, and 8 didgit serial number, so as I understand mine is 11 so year 66 000xxx 11000xxx thank you for the information. I just stumbles across your videos, watched a couple so far, will be watching more.
Thank you so much for this informative video. It's great to know now that my SKS was made in 1959 letter issue.
awesome vid, very informative!
thanks. your presentation is outstanding.
I really appreciate it, thanks for watching.
Amazing video. I was so confused as to which numbers I found were the actual serial number. From what I can tell, I think I have a mixmatch of different parts. But I'm not certain if the Chinese didn't do it that way for the different parts. Example:
Reciver D-51946
Magazine well
F-117583
Bolt 0-00 004.
Looks like similar features of several serial numbers you mentioned.
Thank You ! I learn so much from your videos! I picked up a 4 digit J letter series SKS today! Now I know what I have, Guessing 1959?
Awesome, the “letter series” rifles are super cool! There is a high probability that the “J” prefix represents October of 1959, however we don’t have conclusive documentation on that. It’s possible it was made during a different month of 1959, or even in 1960. But October 1959 is the most likely.
I'm a new subscriber, and I love this channel. Armydad
Thanks a ton, Go Army!
Excellent information man!!!
I really appreciate that, thank you!
I don't know if this is correct t across the board, but it appears that if you look at the numbers elsewhere on one, they do not have the date code. So if say the number on the receiver says 1832020, but it just says 32020 everywhere else, that would seem to imply the date code is "18". Just a thought. I am FAR from an expert and just trying to learn more about these before pulling the trigger on getting one(pun most definitely intended!). Great video as per usual!
That is often true - but as is always the case with Chinese rifles - there can be exceptions!
Another stellar video keep it up!
Thanks very much, I really appreciate the support.
I just found that what I thought was a 1956 is actually a 1957 Ghost SKS :) and my others are a '66 para and a '79 standard [138]. Cool info!
OK seriously - I have an SKS on the way to me now - and thanks to you - I know that it's a 1966 copy given it's serial starts with 11. It's also stamped with the triangle 26 and Chinese characters so...
Getting to know a chinese sks personally is important first. You should really just be honest about your feelings with them, and see if they feel the same way sooner rather than later.
Thanks for helping me understand my
/26\ I started watching your videos to correctly date it (1966 & thanks for that) to sell but now, I'm not soo sure lol.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge 🫡
What about if the numbers in the triangle is 22 instead of 26?
My Chinese type56 SKS is made in 1978 damn it’s like brand new was covered in cosmolene grease all over inside and out
That’s fairly typical for that era.
After the Sino-Vietnamese Border war of 1979, the Chinese aggressively phased out the Type 56 Carbine in 1980. Many of the most recent production examples, to include 1978, were therefor surplussed and exported without ever being issued!
ah i have a 1959 letter seires very cool thanks man!!
Thanks to you Sir, I determined I have an arsenal 16 made in 1981.
Thanks for the info , chinese letter series here
Awesome, great rifles.
Hugely useful video - thank you. As with many of the Chinese SKS-pattern /26\-made rifles that have been imported into Canada, mine is a complete mishmash of parts with different serial numbers and clearly those parts were manufactured in different years. It's unfortuate, but as I received mine as a gift from a close friend, it is what it is, and to use the old saying, I certainly wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth in that regard. Given that mix of components, is there any kind of agreed-upon "convention" as to which rifle component should "define" the age of the rifle, and therefore a date to ascribe to my rifle? Would the barrel and frame be the best component upon which to base that? Thanks very much in advance!
Thanks for another great video. I really appreciate the detail you use. I have a quick question? I have two what I believe are more modern commercial SKS,s bought in Vancouver around 2006. There is only one set of markings on each;
SKS 762x39 040127?
Made in China
Cant find anyplace that looks like # were ground off and it came with a 1” thick hard rubber but pad on it. Can anything be determined by these markings? Thanks for any help you can provide. Cheers
Hmm, unfortunately nothing I can tell you for certain based on those markings alone. Aside from the fact that they are surely excellent rifles.
That’s an atypical serial number, and when deciphering atypical numbers, we rely heavily on a wide variety of features to help narrow down what era or eras the components were made, and how they were assembled.
So I’m looking at purchasing one and it has DP with some Chinese symbols followed by 20011**.
So it would be a commercial type 56 made in 1975? Hope I understood all of this correctly.
Yes on the date, however that would be a military rifle. They did not make start making commercial rifles until the 1980’s! Also the “DP” marked rifles are really interesting. Still a lot of mystery around them, but the leading theory is that they are somehow connected to Pakistan.
From what I can tell, I’ve got a 71 (probably) but since prod number is in the 700xxx range I’m not sure… either way really cool that helped out a lot
Mine is a 1966, Ser# 244xxx inherited from my sweet dad.
Thank you, Triangle.
I was able to date 3 of mine thanks.
Excellent, I'm happy to hear that!
Imagine my disappointment when this video isn’t about starting a romantic relationship with an SKS.
Lol
My rifle is marked Norinco, Pomona CA, and has matching numbers of W1032. According to this video it would be a 1960? This is a very informative video!!
Thank you for this. Figure out my sks is 1979 and is a low production number
Glad to be of help. The 1979's are awesome, arguably one of the nicest SKS variants ever!
Awesome man, thank you! I just figured mine out as “1979.” I bought that thing in California around 1989 for $69 and a Russian one for $89, on the same day! Ahhh the good old days of California are long gone now. Sadly, I removed the original wooden stock and wood forearm gas tube grip it came with from my Chinese edition and replaced it with all plastic about 30 years ago. Big mistake in my opinion. Lately, I’ve been searching for a wood stock that looks like the original. Any suggestions where I could go to buy one? Even a good shape original would be perfect. I search on the internet from time to time and have had no luck. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I’ve had the best luck finding stocks on eBay and GunBroker. Unfortunately it’s getting harder and harder to find good deals, and it’s not unusual for just the stocks to sell for more than you paid for the rifle itself! I have a video you may find helpful in verifying you get exactly the right stock for your rifle, as there are a few variants: th-cam.com/video/RJRuWtCxImE/w-d-xo.html
@@Triangle26 Thank you for this!!!! Subscribed!
Immediately get a long dream of the *Chinese
Norinco SKS
Paratrooper
The number of the Semi-Auto Rifle is 25003601. Could you tell me the year it was produced, Mr. Trouble? Before this group of numbers there is a rectangle inside a group of numbers: 0136, followed by three Chinese: "Type five and six", looking forward to your authoritative answer, thank you very much 🙏
The markings you describe indicate that your rifle was the 3,601st Type 56 Carbine (military) produced at Factory 0136 (Chenggu, China) in 1980!
Thank you very much for your answer. Today I am so happy, because I really want to get a Chinese type 56 SKS after watching your program. I wanted to see a Mosin Nagant that day, but it has already been sold, but it is almost new and has the correct number and comes with Red Star 4*24 sniper mirror. Thank you for bringing me good luck. I think this is the last batch of Chinese SKS legally imported.
Great video!!! very informative and helpful for sks rifles. I'm still at a loss on my serial number. You dident say alot about numbers in the last section of commercial stuff in late 80s and 90s. That's probably what I have.
It's a 114 73783
Hey I responded to your email as well, but short version you seem to have a 1966 example. The picture you sent me shows a /26\ Arsenal mark, three character military model designation and 8 digit serial number - and that is not what we would see on an 80’s or 90’s commercial rifle.
Thank you for your videos, and also thanks for your service.
" All the Way" Airborne Tankers "Thunder Bolts".
I think I have an early 1957 "?" all matching numbers, 6 digit serial number 132XXX "Ghost" Sino-Soviet type. It does not have any other Arsenal stamps. It has the Import markings (I.O.inc. Monroe NC./ M56 7.62x39mm China), this is laser engraved on the right side of the barrel below the gas tube. It has Russian inspection stamp marks inside. The receiver plate cover has Russian star with 1951 'r' no serial number on cover. Barrel is not chrome lined with blade bayonet. I purchased the rifle in 2013, in Mustang Oklahoma. Is there any way to tell if this a real Ghost gun?
Back at you Airborne, ATW.
I'm a little confused by the description of your rifle. The serial number is correct for a 1957, as you state. The receiver cover you are describing is not correct - that's definitely a Tula/Soviet made part. There is theoretically a possibility that this was a Russian spare part which was actually brought into China for use in the early builds, although I think it's more likely that it just got swapped at some point in service.
An original ghost should be chrome lined as well, but for that matter, essentially all Chinese SKS patterns should be. Sometimes the milky chrome can be hard to visually identify, although of course I'll trust your own discretion there.
You are welcome to send pictures of the rifle to "triangletwentysix@gmail.com", I'd be happy to offer you a more informed opinion based on visual inspection.
When are we going to see the ghost gun video? Really enjoyed watching all your videos. Very interested to hear all your thoughts on the first years Chinese production rifles without the triangle 26 markings.
Hopefully soon. I'm steering away from offering hard timelines (because I literally always fail to meet them), but I can say that the Ghost video is a high priority for me and technically "in progress". I doubt it will be my next video, but I would guess it will be in the next three.
I have an SKS which has spike bayonet and a number of Ixxxx, which is the letter I and 4 numbers after it. Not sure where that fits in.
That’s unusual but not unheard of. There are a few possible explanations, but the most likely would be that your rifle was originally manufactured in 1959 with a blade bayonet, and it just got reconfigured at some point over the last 64 years. It could have been done by the Chinese while in military service, it could have been done during exportation, or it could have been a previous owner in the US.
@@Triangle26 I also forgot to mention I bought it between 1986-88 and it has no other markings besides the serial number.
I bought my SKS a few years ago and it's been a mystery trying to date this thing. I only have a 6 digit serial # that starts with 13. Going off the info you provided it appears to be made in '68. I could be way off. I'm known to be a little slow. 🤷🏼♂️
So I have a SKS that has a serial number of 10002902 but the 1 is oddly far apart from the zeros, so would it be a 1965? or a 1956?
Must just be awkward stamping on a 1965. There are not exceptions to the “no date code rule” for 1956.
Also, that would leave us with a 7 digit production number, which also doesn’t exist.
now i know mine is a LETTER rifle and low 4 digit below 5000 serial number so it would be built in 1959 and 1 of the first 5,000 made guess that's pretty cool ain't it? it has the blade bayo,, long lug and milled out right side go bolt. glad it's a cool one took me 2 weeks to clean all the cosmoline off of it. oh yeah, all total matching serial number too.
My Chinese SKS is weird and I’ve only been able to find one pic of one that looks similar.
-It doesn’t have the triangle marking or any triangle marking whatsoever.
-It has no Chinese lettering at all.
-It has no box or box symbol at all.
All it says on the left side is:
CAI ST ALB VT
NORINCO CHINA 7.62x39
With the serial number 9016xxx on the top right (slightly above where the VT is).
(All numbers are matching as well)