Author Topic: pics of my 8M SKS (Read 7345 times)

Jeff · « **on:** January 17, 2015, 01:01:32 PM »

Good morning from sunny So Cal (80 here today for you east coast guys)!

First attempt to post pics of my 8M /26\...quickly found out I'm a much better shooter than photographer or webmaster. A little history, bought mine around 1990 at a Dallas gun show. Pulled out of a wooden crate packed in cosmo and appears to have been new or never shot. Paid about $200 cash for the gun, 500 rounds Russian ammo, two 30 round after market mags and walked out the same day...I guess those days are over. All matching serial numbers. A couple unique points Ive noticed after reading through your site is its an 8M number but has the spike bayo. Running -man suggested pics of the bayo ferrule may give a clue and I noticed when taking pics it appears grooved for the spike but also has a slot for a blade in the bottom of the channel. The lead in metal cap is also a U-shape but has a notch in it to accept a blade. All other indicators lead me to believe its an early model but I will defer to the experts here. I entered the info on the survey as well if that helps.

When I bought the gun I was with a group of law enforcement buddies heading out for a weekend deer lease (more like beer lease in those days). All had an assortment of high tech ARs and the like and scoffed at my purchase of an SKS. As a story I'm sure you have heard before, in the end the SKS was the gun everybody wanted to shoot. It held its own against any of the iron sights and out performed most. Most of those guys immediately bought their own and it became the go to gun for most of our trips. I grew up in a gun family and have owned many over the years but this $99 SKS is my favorite gun...who would of thunk.

I have to shoot these pics with my phone so if you need something specific let me know. Also new to the shutterfly process so if it fails I may need somebody to walk me through it.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee877f96fbf2500000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170402280.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee8765ed2df1f00000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170402912.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee876ea095eae00000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170403705.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee8762d501e0c00000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170405006.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee8765d5e1e3a00000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170404391.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee876671a9f5300000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170405657.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee877e181bfc700000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170406282.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee8774a52ffd900000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170407513.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee87743813ea600000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170406908.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5df36b3127ccee8769df59fc100000030O00AZt3DlkzaOHAPbz4A/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00808432987320150117170408150.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

Jeff · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2015, 01:08:07 PM »

I see that did not work very well. I will try to enlarge the pics on shutterfly and add again.

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2015, 02:13:54 PM »

Highlight each link and select this button

Worm · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2015, 02:23:31 PM »

Fixed it

You sir have a double cut bayo groove in your stock. That is interesting!

Very nice clean rifle!!! A beaut

Jeff · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2015, 02:41:52 PM »

Thanks Kalashniworm! I have not found any identifying marks on the stock. The gun appeared to be new when purchased so I don't think its a replacement stock. Where would I kook for any other identifying marks (if there are any) on the stock?

Worm · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2015, 03:02:18 PM »

Well, the only thing you might find are QC stamps, such as a small triangle with a number in it. It looks correct for the rifle, is there a serial number on the stock? If so, does the serial match the receiver?

Jeff · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2015, 03:33:59 PM »

Not stamped on the outside or anywhere obvious. I can't say I've had the stock off in awhile nor have I looked for any numbers on the inside but if you think its a possibility I can strip it down tonight and take a look.

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2015, 03:57:36 PM »

Your stock is a replacement from the time of export because the original would be serialized on the left side. An 8m is also supposed to be a blade bayo gun, so it looks to have been converted aswell.

Jeff · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2015, 06:08:15 PM »

That's interesting. The gun appeared to have never been fired when I purchased in in 1990. No scuffs or wear on any internal parts and the bluing on the barrel/bayo lug (actually the whole gun) match perfect. I'm curious why go to the trouble to switch out a stock and bayo on a basically new weapon. Was there a legal issue bringing them in with a blade in 1990? Would there be any other indicators of a conversion I can look for?

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2015, 06:43:22 PM »

Thats how hoverhauled rifles look.... like new. Thats the whole point.

When your gun left Jianshe in 1963, it had a serialized matching stock that was blade cut only, and had a blade bayonet.

Stoned_Oli · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2015, 06:45:03 PM »

And the current bayonet is upside down...

Jeff · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2015, 08:15:23 PM »

Thanks for the info...now I know. Never had the bayo off or noticed it upside down. Ill have to fix that...

Worm · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2015, 08:20:52 PM »

Quote from: Jeff on January 17, 2015, 08:15:23 PM

Thanks for the info...now I know. Never had the bayo off or noticed it upside down. Ill have to fix that...

Well it's a good thing you never had to bayo anybody.. Would've never worked!

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2015, 08:32:28 PM »

Heck... put a blade bayo on it.

running-man · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2015, 10:41:35 PM »

That's a beautiful gun Jeff. I'm going to agree with LC and the wormster on it though. That stock is a replacement that was installed during a factory refurb. You can see that the shade of the hand guard (is the gas tube S/N'd to the rest of the gun?) clearly doesn't quite match the stock. The bayo groove cut is pretty amazing though. Apart from Israeli Capture guns (those used by the PLO and in Syria), you don't often see a bayo conversion like yours has. The ferrule conversion is pretty common, but the extra material taken out of the stock isn't, and that's pretty neat!

Thanks for sharing!

Jeff · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2015, 11:53:48 PM »

Thanks running-man...these guns all seem to have a story to tell. I pulled the the gas tube and did not see any numbers or marks on the cylinder or plunger. I had never considered it would be a refurbished gun At a $99 sell price I wouldn't think it would be worth the effort but now the unmarked stock and spike bayo make sense. Whoever refurbed it did great job as it is tight and clean. I stripped it completely down tonight for the first time in 20 years and (of course) found some cosmo under the stock. No identifying marks at all on the stock. Seeing that i decided to pull the firing pin and ended up boiling the whole mess. I haven't shot it in15 years or so (marriage, kids-girls only etc) but all this discussion has motivated me to head to the range. I may take Loose Cannons suggestion and try to find a period blade bayo to put on it. And turning the spike bayo over as Stoned pointed out definitely makes it lay tighter. This is a great site,very knowledgeable group. I will reach out to some of my old SKS friends and ask for info on their guns...you just never know!

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2015, 12:09:37 AM »

The 1963 8m Jianshe /26\ is a fantastic rifle. The chinese did a very good job making these fine weapons ready for the US market, and it should last a few lifetimes.

Welcome to the boards Jeff....

Dannyboy53 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2015, 12:44:54 AM »

Jeff that's a beauty no doubt, and the bayonet cuts are fascinating. I'm left wondering why someone made the spike cut...no blade bayonets available at the time?!

Jeff · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2015, 12:52:20 AM »

Thank you LC...enjoying the conversation. I noticed on your post about "dating my SKS" the 8m series was topped at 8.129m. Does my 8.203m raise the 1963 Jianshe /26\ output number or does it not include refurb weapons?

1963: 8 million /26\ marked guns, S/N ~8,000,001 to at least 8,129,462.

Loose}{Cannon · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2015, 07:24:35 AM »

It doesnt matter what the rifle is, a serial is a serial. Where did you see this a t so I can update?.. sounds like something of RMs that I pasted.

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Author Topic: pics of my 8M SKS (Read 7345 times)