Here's a *really* interesting one

[Boris Badinov]

Does anyone recall if  the Romanian m56's have the Soviet style inspection stamps?

[pcke2000]

I misread you question p2000.

First ~2,000 -2,100 chinese guns have the soviet star on the receiver. Presumably Soviet made.

Then in the mid 2000 serial range the ghost guns start. No Star and No arsenal stamp until ~213k.  Iirc.

Thank you very much! Interesting and good to know. A quick follow up question. When you mentioned the Soviet Star on receiver, did you refer to the star stamped on the left side of receiver, above wood line?

I noticed the rifle in question has a Tula star stamped on bottom of receiver. Shown in OP's 4th (last pic). Is Tula star stamped at this position common on Sino Soviet too?

[Shoot The Refurbs]

Does anyone recall if  the Romanian m56's have the Soviet style inspection stamps?

I just checked my 1960 Romy and it did not have the soviet style 'inspection stamped to death' bottom of the receiver.  Very few markings in fact.

Not sure if they, like the Chinese, adopted the soviet style inspection stamps early on and did away with them later on down the road though. Might have to have one of the gents around here with one of the really early ones to chime in there.   

[Greasemonkey]

I misread you question p2000.

First ~2,000 -2,100 chinese guns have the soviet star on the receiver. Presumably Soviet made.

Then in the mid 2000 serial range the ghost guns start. No Star and No arsenal stamp until ~213k.  Iirc.

Thank you very much! Interesting and good to know. A quick follow up question. When you mentioned the Soviet Star on receiver, did you refer to the star stamped on the left side of receiver, above wood line?

I noticed the rifle in question has a Tula star stamped on bottom of receiver. Shown in OP's 4th (last pic). Is Tula star stamped at this position common on Sino Soviet too?

pcke2000.. see this for markings, I own the one at the bottom of the page and could provide any photos you want of markings..   http://chinesesks.weebly.com/195556-soviet-sino.html

Does anyone recall if  the Romanian m56's have the Soviet style inspection stamps?

I just checked my 1960 Romy and it did not have the soviet style 'inspection stamped to death' bottom of the receiver.  Very few markings in fact.

Not sure if they, like the Chinese, adopted the soviet style inspection stamps early on and did away with them later on down the road though. Might have to have one of the gents around here with one of the really early ones to chime in there.   

All 4 years of mine have very limited markings, I'd guess... They had their own inspection routine and markings, the barrel shank has some similarities in marks, but that may be commie proofing method. I can provide photos of those marks, they are shared across Mosins and a few other weapons.

[Boris Badinov]

I noticed the rifle in question has a Tula star stamped on bottom of receiver. Shown in OP's 4th (last pic). Is Tula star stamped at this position common on Sino Soviet too?

I don't believe that partial star stamp is a Tula star. When properly struck, although it is a 5point star, it does not resemble the Soviet Receiver Star.

That stamp in particular is most likely just another inspection stamp in the Soviet whack-a-mole inspection free for all.
 

[Boris Badinov]

Gm, thanks for the info on the Romy guns. My two 1960 romys are in deep storage.

Do we know who, if anyone, has a no date Romy?

[Boris Badinov]

Since rm has yet to share the "weird" photos...

I think we can say for sure that the op receiver is soviet in origin. Either a soviet sneak or a true sino-soviet. It has also been refitted with an Albanian stock.

What strikes me are the photos that rm has not shared in the OP. So those absent photos are where the weirdness resides.

No serial number photos, no parts groups.

Another guess:
All matching gun. Soviet receiver. Albanian carrier and possibly handguard.

The suggestion of an Albanian handguard is really just my attempt to get as "weird" as possible. But man that would be really weird, and also VERY cool. It would also indicate a likely barrel  replacement.

[Boris Badinov]

Also weird would be a 1949 90°gas port sks45, in an Albanian stock.

[Boris Badinov]

Did the Chinese used Cyrillic proof stamps? I guess it'd make sense for the early ones if they literally took everything.

Early on the Chinese had their own, distinct inspection stamps which they applied In similar quantities to the Soviet inspection stamping patterns.

By 1957 or 58. The inspection stamps on the sides and undersides of the Chinese receivers disappear entirely. There are really great photos which document this progression at Chinesesks.weebly under the "26 Progression" links.

[Greasemonkey]

Gm, thanks for the info on the Romy guns. My two 1960 romys are in deep storage.

Do we know who, if anyone, has a no date Romy?

A no date Romanian is about my only interest in the SKS realm..... I haven't seen one listed in...many years.   

[Boris Badinov]

A no date Romanian is about my only interest in the SKS realm..... I haven't seen one listed in...many years.   

So VERY early Romanian isn't entirely out of the question

I'll get even weirder...(pure fantasy weird):

How about a, A NO-date Romy, masquerading as a Soviet sneak, wearing an Albanian beechwood stock, with a Made In China import stamp.

A Romy-Sino-Soviet-Banian sneak. 

Now THAT would be weird. Though, I highly idoubt it.

My money is still on a Soviet sneak or Soviet-sino, in an albanian stock. Possibly wearing distinctly Albanian hardware and possibly scrubbed and restamped to match.

[Boris Badinov]

RM-- any idea when the "weirdness" photos will be posted?

 

[Greasemonkey]

The suggestion of an Albanian handguard is really just my attempt to get as "weird" as possible. But man that would be really weird, and also VERY cool. It would also indicate a likely barrel  replacement.

Enlighten me on the barrel replacement. If it's packing a Albanian handguard, nothing would really change, the gas port is in the same location, as the gas tubes are the same length between a Russian, Chinese and Albanian, only the wood is different, worst case they changed the front tube/stock ferrule and that also retains the nose of the stock, if they didn't chop off the nose..


Gas tubes are the same.



Russian stock vs. Albanian



They used a combo ferrule that does stock and gas tube.

[pcke2000]

I noticed the rifle in question has a Tula star stamped on bottom of receiver. Shown in OP's 4th (last pic). Is Tula star stamped at this position common on Sino Soviet too?

I don't believe that partial star stamp is a Tula star.when properly struck, though it is a 5point star, it does not resembke the Soviet  Receiver Star.

That stamp in particular is most likely just another inspection stamp in the Soviet whack-a-mole inspection free for all.

Thank you for the info on Chinese SKS you provided! For discussion, I am very confident that the poorly stamped mark is a Tula star, you will see this type of partially stamped factory symbols very common on TT, SVT, Nagant M1895, and other Soviet small arms made prior to 1960. Chumak's new book on Russian small arms markings also confirmed it.

In addition, the receiver has at least one Tula unique OTK stamp.

[Boris Badinov]

Enlighten me on the barrel replacement. If it's packing a Albanian handguard, nothing would really change, the gas port is in the same location, as the gas tubes are the same length between a Russian, Chinese and Albanian, only the wood is different, worst case they changed the front tube/stock ferrule and that also retains the nose of the stock, if they didn't chop off the nose..

Oops. My mistake. I got a little bit ahead of myself. 

I was thinking that replacing the ferule would also mean removing the FSB and gas port. Which somehow led me to conclude that this also meant removing the barrel.

[Bob_The_Student]

I'm going to bet that the import mark is totally incorrect and it's not a Chinese gun at all.

[pcke2000]

I still believe it is a Russian made SKS, or at least the receiver is Tula made.

[Boris Badinov]

I still believe it is a Russian made SKS, or at least the receiver is Tula made.

+1

Soviet/Russian made receiver-- is the most likely with that array of inspection stamps in those locations.

[Greatguns]

Or it could be....RM is pulling all our legs and it is 2 different SKSs he is showing pictures of.

A little early for APRIL FOOL'S day RM!!!

[Greasemonkey]

I'm going to bet that the import mark is totally incorrect and it's not a Chinese gun at all.

It happens... it's my Norinco Russian.