Recently picked up this crisp 1967 example. Not sure if it's a refurb or fresh original condition. It has a small triangle with the number 5 inside it on left side of stock aligned about center of the magazine well. Anyone know what this is for? Pointer in photo show's location
(https://i.ibb.co/j6LnNRv/1967-sks2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JBzD1QR)
(https://i.ibb.co/qWRMjKv/SHS-Stamp.jpg) (https://ibb.co/P95ZjKd)
(https://i.ibb.co/1f9R7DC/sks-stock-stamp.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y7tfPz5)
First off, welcome to the files. Best place to get info on all things SKS and other fine historical firearms.
As for the stamp, it is IIRC an inspection stamp.
Welcome aboard, nice rifle PAX
Thats what I was thinking also, but is that stamp identified to original factory 26 or possible rework?
Hard to say if your year code 12 Type 56 is original or refurbished based on those photos. We need clear pictures of all of the serialized parts.Any import markings? A picture of that would be helpful too.
Those triangle stamps on the stocks of /26\ built carbines are pretty prevalent in the year 7 to year 14 range. Year 15 & 16 do not have them as far as I can tell and then they appear again in the 23/24 carbines. Acceptance stamps like GG says is what I would deem them, but of course there is nothing official to proclaim that.
The numbers inside do change though, but within a single year code it is relatively stable with only perhaps 2 or 3 numbers being used from what I can see in the examples in my files. Often, one of the numbers appears to carry over to a subsequent year.
Year 7: /2\
(https://i.ibb.co/3dwBmJP/7058059-receiver.jpg)
Year 8: /1\ & /2\
(https://i.ibb.co/X7kQ920/8134907-receiver.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/gZvHwKB/8153687-receiver.jpg)
Year 9 gets a bit weird with /2\'s both on the left side of the stock under the S/N as well as on the right side of the butt stock as well as /P\'s and /21\ (which was seen on early six digit, year 2, and year 3 factory /26\ made carbines):
(https://i.ibb.co/f0SWDhD/9035525-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/DCnCy48/9035525-right-stock.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/WVjjcsM/9021083-right-stock.jpg)
Year 10: /8\
(https://i.ibb.co/F0dKPDm/10135552-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/TrFtW2r/10168110-receiver.jpg)
Year 11: a /3\ and a very different looking /2\
(https://i.ibb.co/WBYGsDG/11000631-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/kKkGD5J/11124865-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/BCzbSnM/11142946-receiver.jpg)
Year 12: same /2\s as well as a /6\ and then a /5\ towards the end like on the OP's stock.
(https://i.ibb.co/Zz1gQxW/12121838-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/3h8BJtX/12130823-receiver2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/T0B935B/12231701-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/MsVpt19/12346696-receiver.jpg)
Year 13: /6\s and /5\s
(https://i.ibb.co/K67H0hY/13012816-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/HDTPc4b/13025924-receiver.jpg)
Year 14: /6\
(https://i.ibb.co/YLhpGRD/14116745-receiver.jpg)
Year 23: /4\
(https://i.ibb.co/FXtj0gF/23079919-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/qpbcZp4/23106065-receiver.jpg)
Year 24: /4\ and /8\
(https://i.ibb.co/NYShc0T/24002060-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/vXkn3ry/24007410-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/d4jNzMK/24056754-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/dPKrsfc/24222011-receiver.jpg)
As a side note, you don't see those stamps on other factory carbines.
Actually I lie, you do see them on one other set of carbines:
M21 0296 carbines all sport a /4\:
(https://i.ibb.co/XYjfWWm/70906013-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZfV1nqV/70909672-receiver2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/d0HKNF0/70909640-stock2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/bJHLpkz/70918660-receiver2.jpg)
Which with the french tickler, tells me they were likely built in the same general 1979 to 1981 timeframe as the year 23 to year 25 /26\ guns. (of course factory /26\ = 0296)
OK I took some pictures by my phone isn't the best. Serial numbers on all parts match.
(https://i.ibb.co/7ntSCn0/sks7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N92FC9G)
(https://i.ibb.co/Hxgy0cP/sks8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mXzKmny)
(https://i.ibb.co/nQHm7PW/sks9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NW8C9T4)
(https://i.ibb.co/H4VRQz7/sks10.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wgR81Wy)
(https://i.ibb.co/8sHjR6c/sks12.jpg) (https://ibb.co/H4jrMnd)
(https://i.ibb.co/DtQkRby/sks13.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1LTKmn5)
(https://i.ibb.co/HYgnQ1H/sks14.jpg) (https://ibb.co/J2k5P0s)
(https://i.ibb.co/8KngK0p/sks15.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M2yk2s4)
(https://i.ibb.co/Xy8fLTf/sks16.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6vBcw5c)
(https://i.ibb.co/xgWKZNq/sks17.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SmbDSzw)
Looks like a nice carbine. thumb1
YES, nice, dance2 PAX