1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock?

11pt · 01-21-2006, 09:57 AM

Hi Guys,
I've got a couple questions with a long lead-in, so please bear with me here. Also, before anyone tells me to go to simonov.net and ask SKSDave, I've done that several times. That's where I've gotten my information thus far and my emails keep coming back saying his box is full so he obviously has more than he can keep up with. That said, here goes.

I own two SKSs that I inherited from my dad. One is a Russian with a laminated wood stock and the other is Chinese with a fiberglass stock. I've never shot either one and he didn't either. I was planning to sell the Chinese and keep the Russian until I saw that the Russian is a refurb. Now I'm not sure if I want to sell either.

Obviously the Russian has been fired many times. The original receiver cover
has been replaced as there is no arsenal stamp and a there is a barely discernable refurb stamp on it. It has a 1 stamped on the front sight post, which I have read is an accuracy grade. If that is true, then it will be a good shooter.

The Chinese one is the puzzler. From information I got on simonov.net, it looks like it was made in 1957 at factory 016. It has a reddish brown fiberglass stock that I believe came from the factory. I have seen these stocks mentioned, but haven't seen many pictures of them and can't find much information. I want to say that my dad told me the gun was unissued when he got it, but to be honest I can't remember. The inside is lousy with cosmoline. I have attached a couple pictures of it.

So my questions are 1) Is the stock actually from the factory and is it common for such an early gun? 2) Is there a way to determine if an SKS is actually unfired/unissued or is that option gone now that the information trail has ended? 3) Is it true that the Russian guns had the accuracy grade stamped on the front post and is it true that 1 is the best? Thanks for any info!
Nate

mtnboomer · 01-26-2006, 04:17 AM

From what I have heard, the "mud colored" red fiberglass stock on the Chinese SKS was fairly common in Vietnam.

Tracker · 01-27-2006, 06:37 AM

http://yooperj.com/

A good site for SKS info.

11pt · 02-02-2006, 07:13 PM

Thanks guys! From what I can tell the fiberglass stock is what they referred to as a "jungle stock". It makes sense.....I've just never seen any others.

1952Sniper · 02-03-2006, 12:48 PM

I hate to disappoint you, but that is probably not a 1957 model SKS. Or if it is, then the stock is not original.

In 1957, this was about the time the Russians were starting to pack up and go home from their "assistance" project with the Chinese, in helping them get production going for the SKS. At this time, factory 296 (which would bear the triangle-26 code on the rifle) was almost the only factory in operation. The SKS was still new to the Chinese and they were still working out the design kinks. They definitely were not using the fiberglass jungle stocks yet.

What leads you to believe this is a '57 model? Be advised that the serial number convention of using the millions place number was not the same at every factory. The only one that it is proven to be accurate for was factory 296.

It does seem like a rather early example of the SKS, though. The blade bayonet was correct up until about 1965. The threaded barrel was correct for a lot longer than that. But the jungle stocks were a later modification. They were typically put on "export" rifles, and it was only after learning that wood stocks rotted rather quickly in the dense humid conditions of southeastern Asia. So the jungle stock was adapted for these large sales of export rifles, and meant to be stockpiled underground for disbursement to friendly forces.

If I were guessing, just based on what I see, I'd say yours was a mid-60's production rifle. The jungle stock may or may not be original to it.

okeeemt · 12-05-2008, 11:42 PM

i have a gun just like this. it has the stock like yours and same markings. i have a 74 round clip to it. i was wondering if you found any more info on this firearm? i am very curious about it 's history and value

01-21-2006, 09:57 AM	#1
11pt Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? Hi Guys, I've got a couple questions with a long lead-in, so please bear with me here. Also, before anyone tells me to go to simonov.net and ask SKSDave, I've done that several times. That's where I've gotten my information thus far and my emails keep coming back saying his box is full so he obviously has more than he can keep up with. That said, here goes. I own two SKSs that I inherited from my dad. One is a Russian with a laminated wood stock and the other is Chinese with a fiberglass stock. I've never shot either one and he didn't either. I was planning to sell the Chinese and keep the Russian until I saw that the Russian is a refurb. Now I'm not sure if I want to sell either. Obviously the Russian has been fired many times. The original receiver cover has been replaced as there is no arsenal stamp and a there is a barely discernable refurb stamp on it. It has a 1 stamped on the front sight post, which I have read is an accuracy grade. If that is true, then it will be a good shooter. The Chinese one is the puzzler. From information I got on simonov.net, it looks like it was made in 1957 at factory 016. It has a reddish brown fiberglass stock that I believe came from the factory. I have seen these stocks mentioned, but haven't seen many pictures of them and can't find much information. I want to say that my dad told me the gun was unissued when he got it, but to be honest I can't remember. The inside is lousy with cosmoline. I have attached a couple pictures of it. So my questions are 1) Is the stock actually from the factory and is it common for such an early gun? 2) Is there a way to determine if an SKS is actually unfired/unissued or is that option gone now that the information trail has ended? 3) Is it true that the Russian guns had the accuracy grade stamped on the front post and is it true that 1 is the best? Thanks for any info! Nate Attached Images -->

01-26-2006, 04:17 AM	#2
mtnboomer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oklahoma by birth. America by the grace of God. Posts: 649	Re: 1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? From what I have heard, the "mud colored" red fiberglass stock on the Chinese SKS was fairly common in Vietnam. __________________ The cost of freedom, is eternal vigilance. The cost of bondage, is your life. - mtnboomer Support the Second Amendment - Join the NRA! > http://www.nra.org < Oklahoma State - #1 - GO POKES!

01-27-2006, 06:37 AM	#3
Tracker V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake County Ohio Posts: 202	Re: 1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? http://yooperj.com/ A good site for SKS info. __________________ "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." -- Ronald Reagan "We The People" "The Pro Gun Blog"

02-02-2006, 07:13 PM	#4
11pt Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Re: 1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? Thanks guys! From what I can tell the fiberglass stock is what they referred to as a "jungle stock". It makes sense.....I've just never seen any others.

02-03-2006, 12:48 PM	#5
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	Re: 1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? I hate to disappoint you, but that is probably not a 1957 model SKS. Or if it is, then the stock is not original. In 1957, this was about the time the Russians were starting to pack up and go home from their "assistance" project with the Chinese, in helping them get production going for the SKS. At this time, factory 296 (which would bear the triangle-26 code on the rifle) was almost the only factory in operation. The SKS was still new to the Chinese and they were still working out the design kinks. They definitely were not using the fiberglass jungle stocks yet. What leads you to believe this is a '57 model? Be advised that the serial number convention of using the millions place number was not the same at every factory. The only one that it is proven to be accurate for was factory 296. It does seem like a rather early example of the SKS, though. The blade bayonet was correct up until about 1965. The threaded barrel was correct for a lot longer than that. But the jungle stocks were a later modification. They were typically put on "export" rifles, and it was only after learning that wood stocks rotted rather quickly in the dense humid conditions of southeastern Asia. So the jungle stock was adapted for these large sales of export rifles, and meant to be stockpiled underground for disbursement to friendly forces. If I were guessing, just based on what I see, I'd say yours was a mid-60's production rifle. The jungle stock may or may not be original to it.

12-05-2008, 11:42 PM	#6
okeeemt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: okeechobee,fl Posts: 81	Re: 1957 Chinese SKS w/ factory fiberglass stock? i have a gun just like this. it has the stock like yours and same markings. i have a 74 round clip to it. i was wondering if you found any more info on this firearm? i am very curious about it 's history and value