Holy smokes! Thanks so much Hickok, you truly made my day. Merry Christmas.

Hopefully more folks will know that your channel is the definitive source for all things SKS!

@@Triangle26 I just found your videos. Wow, what a treasure trove of information. I've recently been revisiting my Russian SKS and have purchased a couple of Chinese Type 56 models. Rediscovering why I was rather fond of the SKS decades ago, and you've helped me understand some things I was either clueless about or a bit "foggy" about, to say the least. Thanks!

@@hickok45 Merry Christmas!

It’s like making a boxing video and Muhammad Ali approves the message lol. Hickok45 is a legend, the guy can hit the gong with a slingshot blindfolded.

Thanks, friend!

Thanks friend, I sincerely appreciate it!

Awesome. Thanks so much for watching, and glad you are enjoying the rifle. It’s a great first rifle.

Thank you!

Thanks very much for watching and commenting. I'm glad you got something out of these videos, and more importantly that you are enjoying your SKS!

Thank you!

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for watching and commenting.

Awesome. Sometimes they pop up on eBay and GunBroker for decent prices!

Hey thanks bro, I really do appreciate that 👊

Good call!

I'm picking one up on Tuesday, it's a "Para" version. I've been wanting an SKS for the last 15 years ever since I first saw my grandpa and daddy's SKS's when I was 7.

Same born 1980, spent summer 1994 at a Red Sea beach house. But then PLA built military factories over there.

@@stoegerstewie8351 I spent most of my summer vacations on the Black Sea.

Thanks for watching, and for the suggestions. Those are great ideas 🙏

The SKS-M is marked with an "M" on the receiver, which refers to the "Monte Carlo" style sporting stock that they were imported with. They also have 16.5" barrels and modified short gas systems. The SKS-D *is not* marked with a "D" on the receiver, and aside from the no-groove bolt carrier and modified feed system are otherwise indistinguishable from standard Type 56 Carbines. I hope that helps!

That is correct, assuming it also has the features expected of a 1960 (blade bayonet, triangle 26 marking, *no* Chinese model designation, etc). I should also note that we are not *positive* that "W" prefixes correspond to 1960, it's theoretically possible that it was actually made in 1959. I think 1960 is far more *likely*, but the point is that it hasn't been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Definitely one of those two years though.

Yea, honestly that’s the most common pronunciation in the States as well. I think “nohr-in-coh” is technically the correct pronunciation (based on the pronunciation of North Industries Corporation), but I could be wrong.

Great examples - it's always funny how that works. I knew some Iraqi's who called *all* rifles "FNs". Funny how that is the word that stuck.

It sounds like you most likely have an early "SKS-D". These were the first Chinese commercial imports to be factory converted to accept AK magazines, and while some of them have additional odd features, the early ones are pure SKS in every way except the magazine conversion. It should also be noted that "SKS-D" is an informal marketing term, not an official model designation that was stamped on the rifle. It's a niche item but very desirable to some collectors, and certainly commands a premium over run-of-the-mill military examples.

So funny enough - “ONT CA” is not Ontario Canada, as logical as that sounds. Ontario, *California* was the headquarters of “China Sports International”, a prominent Us importer. In fact, I don’t believe there are any Canadian import marks, as I don’t believe they are required by Canadian law.

@@Triangle26 Oh, that's right. I think I learned it was California a long time ago but lost track of it. lol. This was the first gas operated rifle/carbine that I ever bought and I'm not getting rid of it either. lol. It's chicom cousin is a Russian Saiga made in what appears to be 2009 and it has been converted back from the import configuration since before I got it. The only thing I had to fix was where someone drilled out the trigger rivet a bit too wildly and the hole was large and out of round. We had the machinist at the gun shop I worked at (and bought the AK from before then) make a bushing to fill in the void. Feels good now - no trigger pin wobble. lol.

I’m pretty much with conventional thought on this one. I agree with the perception that M-21’s are categorically above average in terms of overall fit and finish. I don’t necessarily believe that this reflects a formally raised production standard, but rather it may simply be that they happened to be made at the best factories (296 and 416) during some of the better eras (mid 1960’s and late 1970’s). Indeed, *at the least* an M-21 will always be more desirable and carry a higher value than an otherwise identical Type 56 Carbine. They are relatively rare, and they have a really neat story associated with them, which is that they were produced for the explicit purpose of providing deniable military aid. In summary, it’s extremely cool that you have two of them. The most I have ever personally paid for an SKS was a little over $800 for my own 1979 [0296] marked M-21, and it’s become one of my favorite pieces in the collection. They are an extreme cool and often overlooked part of the Chinese military SKS story. I hope that is helpful, as always thanks for watching and commenting.

@Triangle 26 Thank you for your thoughts on the M-21!

Yea, many people advise caution with the “non-corrosive” marked Norinco ammo, as apparently they didn’t get it right 100% of the time. I’ve always had good results though. Also, some of it is steel core and is capable of crazy penetration.

It depends on exactly what you have. “Commercial Type 56” is a bit of an oxymoron, because Type 56 is a military designation. So if it’s actually a Type 56, it might not be commercial at all. There are a lot of possibilities, but if you give me a brief description of your rifle and tell me the serial number (feel free to use X’s for privacy, ie “120XXXX”). I just need to know the first 3 digits and exactly how many digits follow.

It does matter, although it will *usually* function either way. The correct orientation is with the squiggly end forward, inside the bolt carrier.

Won't happen. " Norinco officials " were caught selling weapons directly to gangs in California hence the ban on Chinese direct imports. The ammo would have to first be imported to a friendly state for like 50years before it would be eligible to be imported here. The Chinese SKS's we are getting post 93 ban are predominantly coming from Albanian arsenals.

@@ricdandel1145 Yep, you pretty much nailed it. The law is 20 years rather than 50, but other than that, I couldn’t have summarized it better myself. I mean I guess one day many years from now we might get it imported from some African nation that sat on it for 20 years, but hard to know if there would even be a market for that.

It sounds like you may have a ban-era rifle which had the bayonet lug removed for “safety”. Unfortunately, replacing a missing or ground down bayonet lug/front sight block assembly is not an operator level task. Finding the correct part it easy, but installing it will likely require professional assistance.

Hey thanks for the rapid reply. Yeah been looking at videos to replace it. And yes looks very involved. Oh well I will just roll with it. Picked up for $450 all matching numbers sighted in well at 50 meters shoots great. Broke it down cosmoline all gone cleaning rod and kit are both present. I do need a sling but other than that good to go. Thanks again.

They were selling arms directly to gang members including RPGs and full autos iirc.

That'd be nice

It has to do with the June 1989o of the pro democracy movement and the weeks long occupation of Tian An Men Square. After weeks and weeks of this occupation the CCP sent in the Army with tanks as back up and killed an unknown number of people. Commonly known as The Tian an Men Massacre. Because the PLA was making cash selling guns in the USA President Bush banned importing Chinese guns and Ammo. Importers saw this coming and brought in GOBS of ammo, magazines, AKs and SKSs. I was getting SKS stripped clips of 10 rounds for $1.89 back then. Here in California the ATF thought one import company had an illegal shipment of 7.62 ammo. They invited the media to film them raid the place. It turned out to be a few typos on the documents. They had to give all the seized ammo back. It was an ENTIRE RAIL ROAD BOX CAR of ammo. All that ended in June of 1989. Some people think thousands were killed by the Army that night.

Most likely falsely marked. If you give me the first two numbers of the serial number and the remaining number of digits (ie 17XXXXX) I can probably tell you more. Does it have the three character Chinese model marking?

@@Triangle26 18xxxxxx, Spike bayonet, No Chinese characters. all serial numbers that I saw so far are matching.

@@rotisseriebear5394 Got it. That serial number format strongly indicates 1973 production, meaning your rifle was almost certainly manufactured 7 years before Norinco even existed.

Thank you, @@Triangle26 I heard someone refer to a bakelite stock as a "jungle" stock. I really like it. It was totally random that the only one the big box retailer had in stock was bakelite. I previously didn't know such a thing existed. I wasn't even in the market for an SKS, but my buddy practically made me buy it at the point of his bayonet, and I'm glad he did. Now I want one with trench art, and one to put in some kind of pistol grip stock. I'll be catching up on all of your videos.

This is a matter of some debate. I have not seen definitive documentation one way or another - so take this with a grain of salt: I, among many others, am of the opinion that DP *most likely* indicates that the rifle was intended for delivery to Pakistan, and that DB *most likely* indicates intended delivery to Bangladesh. Without going into great detail, there is a decent bit of evidence supporting this theory - but it ultimately falls short of conclusive.

That's possible, but I'm not sure it's the case. I've seen plenty of Canadian rifles with the same Norinco markings, I think it has more to do with when they were exported rather than where they were headed. My personal theory is that the markings were placed primarily during the earlier years of importation, in order to create brand awareness. If western consumers saw "Made In China By Norinco" on high quality military rifles made 20 years before Norinco existed, they might reasonably assume that all Norinco branded merchandise was made to the same high standards. I'm not positive though!

Then it was imported into the United States by Act III in Greensboro North Carolina.

Absolutely. “triangletwentysix@gmail.com”

I have a video which should help you be sure, but *probably* 1976. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p72Fqshnpq6rdJs.html

@@Triangle26 thank you sir! Pretty sure I saw the video, however I'll watch again and sub!

@@chrislang5659 I appreciate it. If your Type 56 Carbine has a 7 or 8 digit serial number, spike bayonet, and the three character Chinese marking on the side - I think it’s pretty safe to assume it’s a ‘76.

@@Triangle26 yep, 8 digits, three characters however missing the bayonet. So the question is, where do I get a bayonet?

@@chrislang5659 I’ve had to buy a few Chinese spike bayonets over the years, and I’ve always found eBay to have good deals. You can usually find them for right around $50 delivered, including the mounting collar and screw.

I personally do not - but I don’t turn my nose up at them either. They are cool rifles, and if money way no object, I’d love to have a few. But generally when I have enough money to buy a new SKS, there are is always going to be another military variant I am more interested in adding to my collection.

@@Triangle26 totally get it. I bought a sporter as a budget friendly alternative to an AK in MA and it’s made me want to collect traditional SKSs. To your other videos, if you want a rifle for personal protection, a modern AR is always a better option. SKSs just have a cool place in history

ChiCom - Chinese Communist

This is a bit of controversial question, because Chinese military manufacturing infrastructure is basically an elaborate shell game. There are hundreds of coded arsenal marks which have been observed, many of which are still not "deciphered". My personal opinion (based primarily on modern accounts published in Chinese language academic magazines), is that there were approximately 25 production facilities in China capable of producing finished SKS patterns.

They have not always been historically legal for *import* but they have almost always been legal for assembly and ownership. Obviously, individual municipalities may have their own laws, but overwhelmingly the answer to that question is “yes”.

Thanks, and thanks for the video’s amazing in depth knowledge of the sks

It’s a great question, and there are really quite a few possibilities. One possibility is genuine “trench art”, which is a pretty well established phenomenon in which soldiers exposed to prolonged combat are typically able to get away with equipment personalization which would not be tolerated in garrison. Even US forces do this, maybe not with rifles, but certainly on other mission sensitive equipment. It’s not unusual to see “unauthorized” art on armored vehicles and helmets “in-country”, in a way that would never be tolerated in CONUS. Another, and probably more common explanation, is simply the fact that some countries have *really* poorly disciplined National Guard / Reserve elements. Sometimes it a funding issue, sometimes it’s a corruption issue, but either way it’s not unusual to see rear echelon, part-time units in some countries that have absolutely zero “military bearing” and basically just graffiti everything they are issued, weapons included. With something like a Russian SKS, trying to decipher the name can tell you a lot about the history of the rifle. Many names, slogans, and symbols can be geographically pinpointed pretty easily.

How curious. Send Triangle a pic of it, I bet he can help you identify what it says.

China (Nor)th (In)dustries (Co)rporation, yes. That’s why I included that information in the video.