What is it?

[Darryl]

OK, you guys have got to tell me what I have! I only have one SKS and I know it is called a Paratrooper and it's Chinese. I though the guy that sold it to me (years ago now) said it was a milled receiver??

I don't know, but I have to say it is one heck of a fun shooter in the desert! The two I love to shoot in the desert is this SKS and my M1 Carbine, but the carbine costs a lot more to fire.

I want a Russian SKS (later) and I'll be looking for help when I get there.

I don't think it was a military rifle, but isn't that /26\ a Government factory? But tell me what you can about this guy!

[millman]

AFAIK all SKS's have milled receivers.

[OLD OUTLAW]

AFAIK all SKS's have milled receivers.

Actually, a few very rare ones do not. They are there though.

[millman]

Stamped sks's? I didn't know about those. Learn something new everyday.

[martin08]

Several thousand were made with stamped receivers, but not many are here in the U.S.

Yours is most assuredly built on a military platform, Dolk. It is a refurbished 1964 Jianshe Carbine that was converted to a paratrooper for commercial export after 1980 when Norinco was founded.

One of my favorite shooters is a carbon copy of that one, 1964 and all.

[MN Fan]

As Outlaw and I discussed earlier this evening, I am just +1 above being a rookie...but, I'll give it a shot

The /26\ is the Jianshe Arsenal stamp. These rifles were made for combat. Being "left" of the serial number tells that its a later year production. With a 7 digit serial number, you add the fist digit to 1956 to get the year it was made...in this case, 1964. The 3 characters/symbols just to the left of the serial number designate it as a Type 56.

The Chinese did use a stamped receiver near the end of production. It is sort of like the "last ditch" effort for the SKS. They are pretty rare though.

The only other thing I can add is she looks great and I bet its a blast to shoot!

Nice one dolk

[OLD OUTLAW]

Dolk,
All Chinese factories are Government. Some very local for their own District troops and Militia. Theyy were very secretive
about this. That is why we know so little about any other than /26\, and not all about it even.

Yes, that is a milled receiver. Yes, it was at one time a Military Rifle. But, the Chinese never had any Paratrooper.
This was a term came up with by US Importers and Distributors to get them more sales and at a little higher price. Plans were sent
to China. So, the Chinese Arsenals took the existing rifles and cut them off.They chopped the bayo off or made shorter ones.
Most then made new stocks or cut stocks for the shorter bayonets. Most have no serial number on the stock.

The Military configuration was, well, have to say Bubba'd at the request of US Dealers to get a catchy phrase and a higher price.
In looking at your S/N that I think is 8,159,045 and comparing to an old Howiebearse Publishment on "That other Board,"
I will guess it to be a 1964 or 1965 rifle. Howie is perhaps the greatest authority on dating /26\ rifles there is. A Published
Authority and we are lucky to have him here now. I am sure he can give you every detail you would ever wish to know.

This Paratrooper concept is what is really making thousands of SKS disappear every year now and growing. It has also started
with some of the Mosins in particular. Since people cannot go just buy one readily, they make one. That's how much in demand that rifle is.

Your rifle should be an excellent or even better shooting rifle than the original because of the shorter barrel harmonics. It would
command a higher price than many Chinese SKS. It is a good one to own even if not a true original. I would like to have it
myself for deer hunting in heavy cover like I hunt in. Not all that many nice ones like yours around.

Hope this bit helps some.

[Darryl]

You know, now that I think of it...I don't think he said milled receiver. But he may have???

It is something about pinned or screwed barrel. Either it was a pinned barrel or a screwed barrel? I don't know which, but he seemed to think it was better for some reason. Does that make sense? He was a 01ffl out here I knew and he had about 20 of them. All I remember was I didn't pay very much for it.

Someone about two years ago told me to take the bayonet off because they were not supposed to have a bayonet on them (legally). But I have seen them with and without and this one came with it on and sealed up in the box...so???

Dolk

[OLD OUTLAW]

You know, now that I think of it...I don't think he said milled receiver.

It is something about pinned or screwed barrel. Either it was a pinned barrel or a screwed barrel? I don't know which, but he seemed to think it was better for some reason. Does that make sense? He was a 01ffl out here I knew and he had about 20 of them. All I remember was I didn't pay very much for it.

Someone about two years ago told me to take the bayonet off because they were not supposed to have a bayonet on them (legally). But I have seen them with and without and this one came with it on and sealed up in the box...so???

Dolk

Since it was in the box, you are legal. It should be by that date a screwed in barrel I do think. The later imported guns that did not have a bayonet in the box with it at time of purchase are the iffy ones to tinker with.

[martin08]

Yours will have the long lug threaded barrel, dolk. Possibly still made from a majority of Russian parts. The Chinese introduced their own short lug threaded barrel in early 1965.

Originally, yours would have had a blade bayonet, side rear sling swivel, and a milled "trigger group" housing. Spike bayonets appeared in early 1965. Pinned barrels, bottom sling swivels, and stamped trigger group housings were phased in in through the late 1960's and the early 1970's.

[Junk Yard Dog]

At least it hasn't got that dam AK mag conversion like mine, wouldn't be bad if it would actually retain the magazine. They also didn't bother refinishing mine after turning it into a Para.

[Darryl]

You know, I hate to say this, but you guys keep dragging up memories of this rifle when I bought it from the 01FFL here. I'm wondering if he said "milled trigger group" like Martin just said. I don't remember is was so long ago. I know they just came in and was one of the first batch to hit the US. This guy had it in his safes for a little while, and I mentioned I wanted to try a SKS and he had almost 20 of them. All boxed up. He ended closing up shop about 6 months later and moved to Tenn. Said he was fed up with Calif.

I just figured for the price he was selling them for, I couldn't resist.

Well, like I said, it is a kick in the pants to shoot,....... cleaning...not so much!

Oh, I have a top cover so you can mount a scope and a detachable metal magazine out in the garage in a box brand new, never used for it. I got them about the same time. I tried them on once just for a photo, but took them back off. I'll look and see if I have those photos somewhere. I'll bet they are illegal to put on here in Calif now. I think it is a 20 rounder mag. I'll bet money if you put it on, it is illegal here. Need to ditch those I guess. Probably not worth the cost of the metal anyway. I understand those scope mounts don't hold zero very well?????

Dolk

[Junk Yard Dog]

The scopes were cheap crap, good for a .22 but fairly useless on anything with recoil. The mounts were nothing impressive either, I have one and boxed it away years ago, at least it wasn't expensive. Don't ditch the magazines, you will never be able to get them again out there. I remember something about that pinned/screwed barrel thing from back them, but don't recall the details. I well remember how cheap the Norinco's were back then, and plentiful, I could have had uncounted numbers of them, but they were in the way of my M1 Garand collecting and so were ignored.

[Darryl]

Here is a photo of it maybe 10 years ago. I mounted everything (I forgot I had a rubber butt extender) and removed the bayonet (when they scared me into doing that).

The rifle is like above now and back to the way it was originally. These were just bolt on items.

Dolk

[martin08]

If you have the original receipt, you may find that the high capacity mag is grandfathered. I have heard that before from other Cali SKS owners, but please check for yourself.

The receiver cover mounts are about a one in five chance of holding zero while firing. And about one in a million chance if you remove it to clean the rifle.

There is no good way to scope an SKS without D&T. Unless, of course, you buy one that is already commercially attached.

Here's looking at you! (and about $8-900!)

[Drago]

About 2 months ago, I sold a para for $450, so they definitely have an above average value for a Chinese. I'd like to get another one at some point, but it's been too much fun selling off all my SKS's! Whooda-thunk selling would be almost as addicting as buying!

That's a keeper there Dolk!

[Jackson]

if you find that you want to get rid of the 20 round mag, I'll take it off your hands, just name the price.

on topic: that's a sharp rifle.

[Darryl]

I'll never sell the mag, although I'll probably never use it. You can't buy them here in Calif., but if you have them you can keep them.

Thank you guys for all the info. I'll be back before too long to get some help on a Russian.

Dolk

[Junk Yard Dog]

Same deal in NY with the Hi cap's, I am hoarding my East German AK mags among others.