Thread: SKS?
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Old 12-07-2009, 03:57 PM   #2
hogger129
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Default Re: SKS?

Here is the article where I got my information in case you wish to read more about it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_63_assault_rifle

I'm sure what you have is a Norinco Type 63 assault rifle. It's the Chinese copy of the Russian SKS but unlike the SKS that uses a fixed magazine, the Type 63 assault rifle has modifications so it can accept cut down 20-rounders or the AK-style 30-rounders.

Here's a little more about the gun -
The Type 63/68 rifle is a select-fire weapon, feeding by proprietary "cut-down" 20-rounds magazines or standard AK-47 30-rds magazines, although these require minor modifications (removal of the bolt hold-open device) to fit. The fire selector is placed on the right side of the weapon right above the trigger guard, at index finger reach. The Type 63/68 rifle also features a non-removable folding spike-bayonet and a gas regulator system[1] to use standard live ammunition or blank ammunition for the launch of rifle grenades.

The Type 63/68 was an outdated design already at the moment of its adoption, much like the American M14 rifle. It responded to a military philosophy based on the use of masses rather than of weapons, a philosophy that wanted the troops to be able to stop the enemy advance by rifle shots at extremely long distances, and relying on the use of the bayonet for the final close-quarters engagements. As such, the Type 63/68 had the accuracy and range of an “old time” rifle, but was too long and heavy to be serviceable, and lacked the firepower of a true modern assault rifle as it resulted less than controllable in full-automatic fire. Additionally, design flaws and poor manufacturing qualities erupted with user experience gaining a reputation of unreliability. Poor performance and increasing availability of more modern weapon (Chinese-made AK clones) in Chinese service led to the final withdrawal of this weapon from PLA use in 1978.

Several thousand of these rifles, with welded semi-auto only selectors, were imported as surplus into Australia and sold to the public in the early 1990s. In 1993 it was shown that the guns could be converted back to select fire, albeit requiring a reasonable knowledge and skill of metalworking. Customs made an attempt to recover them but many were not, it's unknown as to how many were recovered. Several dozen have turned up in the hands of OPM rebels in West Irian provence of Indonesia, they have also been seen in the recent fighting in Bangladesh as to whether or not they come from Australia is unknown as the Chinese did "sell" many Type 63/68's on to other interested parties.

The Type 63 can be loaded in 4 different ways, owning to its system:

1. Using an empty 20-round magazine, cocking the action holds the bolt to the rear; a 10-round SKS-type charger can then be put into the feed guides and the rounds forced down. Five further rounds can then be pressed in from the next charger.[3]
2. 20 rounds can be forced down, one after the other, into the magazine.[3]
3. A 20-round magazine can be pre-loaded off the gun and then placed in position.[3]
4. If the bolt stop has been removed or ground down, a 30-round magazine can be used. But, it must be pre-filled off the gun as the bolt will automatically close on the empty chamber and close off the top feed opening.

And I'm sure that what you have is pre-ban because post-ban I thought was anything made after 1994, and this gun was taken out of production in 1978.

I also don't know why they call it a Type whatever. Why not just call it a SKS/AK or something like that. It's easy to get confused...
Type 56 Carbine - fixed magazine - almost identical to the Russian SKS
Type 56 Assault Rifle - Chinese copy of an AK-47
Type 63 Assault Rifle - see above

Last edited by hogger129; 12-07-2009 at 04:17 PM..
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