Picked up a Norinco Type 56 (SKS) but don't know much about them.

[sarge912]

Pretty sure it is a stamped receiver.
I gave $340 for it out of an estate sale. It looks like new. Clean, crisp bore, Crown looks untouched.
Very nice stock. I will try to see it is shoots straight tomorrow.

Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

[sarge912]

the characters translate at "Late sixty-five" or so I have been told by a Chinese friend of mine.

[sarge912]

I got it to the range and it shot beautifully. Life is good.

[tjtM38]

I have a Norinco from the 138 factory. I don't have a clue where that manufacturing facility is, but my rifle is a great shooter and a keeper.

[B24]

My pinned barrel norinco out shoots my Russians.

[sarge912]

All SKS are made with milled receivers. Looks like you got yourself a quality example. Be forewarned, they tend to get lonely and require more of their brethren as company..... ;-)

From what I have been told, mine is definitely a stamped receiver. China made their Type 56 with stamped receivers in two factories for several years. [0138] is one of those factories.

The rivet in the picture is supposed to be the telltale sign.

[martin08]

This is assuredly a stamped receiver. If it has the original stock, DON'T shoot it. It is susceptible to cracking.

You have found a rare variant. Congrats!

[sarge912]

I did manage to find a collector that wants to either buy it outright (for more than twice what we paid) or trade for an nice shooter and cash. We haven't been able to match up our schedules yet but she is a safe queen for now.

[Gunowner99]

Looks pretty sweet to me.

[sarge912]

Well, it turns out that, at least according to the buyer/collector that I showed it too, there are a couple of issues with it. Someone etched Norinco on the cover


which could be corrected by getting a clean Chinese cover. (The correct import marks on on the barrel under they bayonet.)
AND
The stock was refinished, which he told me, drops the value by at least $200.

Further he said that the stock cracking by having been shot is a myth and the it had been obviously already fired and has no ill effects showing.
He examined it at said that if the stock was going to fail, it would have already done so.

I'm still going to try and sell it but if I can't find a decent trade I will shave out the Tapco stock that I have and see if that will work.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I walked past tables heaped with Chinese SKS rifles back in the late 1980's, all of them at under $100, some under $50 if I recall. I wonder how many like this variant were hidden in there, but at that time there was zero information around about them, and little collector interest. Have fun with it, good find.

[capt14k]

Nice find. If you don't collect SKS and can double your investment take it and trade up. Good luck.

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