Help deciding

[C4inEOD]

I've been looking at a type 56 from plant 316 made in 1966 with all matching. I only snapped a few pictures, but it's in very good shape.
The guy is asking $340. My gun fund is pretty dang low at the moment and it would completely tap me out. Saying that, I do not have a type 56 in the safe yet.

It is whole. I wish I had taken more pics. I looked it over pretty well. Wood is in good condition, no rust or putting. Bore is very good. All major parts has matching unforced numbers except I couldn't find a number on the spike mapping me think it doesn't belong to the rifle.

So the questions are.......Have I translated the marks correctly and is it a fare price?
[attachment=-1]uploadfromtaptalk1394681522683.jpg[/attachment][attachment=-1]uploadfromtaptalk1394681533350.jpg[/attachment]

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

[Greasemonkey]

To me, it looks like a /26\ factory stamp, but it could be the picture. As of now, the only dateable Chinese SKSs are the /26\ factory rifles. You would be correct, a 10million series falls in line with the factory /26\ '66 production year and spike bayonet as far as we know. All other factories are a best guess, until China releases production info, we may really never know. Some dating can be done based on features, but even some features can be somewhat misleading.

As for the value, it's about the going price, offer 300 or 325, it never hurts to try and you never know , in my area they commonly will sell 400+. If you get it for 325, that would still be a pretty decent deal. The recent imports of Chinese have lowered the prices somewhat on them due to market saturation. If it were still packed in grease, truly unshot since import, that would bring a slightly higher price.

[C4inEOD]

Thank you for the information. I think I might pass on this one.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

[C4inEOD]

I went by today and took a few more pictures. I think you are correct, it looks like a /26\.
Does the stock look sanded? It doesn't have much of the shellac left if any. I want sure how the finished the stocks at the factory.







Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

[Greasemonkey]

I would say it's possibly sanded and stained, maybe with an oil finish applied. Still it looks like a /26\ factory stamp, like the one I enlarged some.

A typical Chinese stock from the Norinco import era would be similar to one of the two below, finish wise. The top is an older one, very close in vintage to yours, a 9 million series /26\, the other is a later model Security Forces model. Stocks can vary, older models can be found with a lighter style wood, and some later ones can have darker wood shades. The wood finish can vary as well, from a reddish color to almost orange to yellow.

[C4inEOD]

I don't think the stock has been messed with. The cosmo is still in the crevices and the bolt seems to have been peened. I think if it was sanded or stripped, the metal adjacent to the wood would show evidence since I don't think the bolt can be removed. In the picture you can see the peen which did have cosmo in the peens until I picked it out with the plastic pick. I was going to take it down and give it a through cleaning, but I'm thinking I will just do what I can with a plastic pick.
I'll look up and see what the difference in a pinned barrel and a threaded one. I'm not sure what difference that makes.
On the trigger, I included a closer picture. Not sure if that adds info or not. This has the cleaning kit with it as well.
Every number I have found stamped matches the receiver: receiver, rear housing, stock, trigger guard, magazine, bolt, bolt carrier. I could not find numbers on the bayonet, cleaning rod, cleaning kit, or butt plate.

[attachment=-1]uploadfromtaptalk1394818946399.jpg[/attachment]

Picture of the crud still in the bayonet cutout.



Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk