Oddball serial number.. what is it?

[K.Campbell]

So I picked up this sks a while back, it initially had a sticky firing pin, I cleaned it to no avail, fired it a couple of times and bent the firing pin.. got a new one and fitted it, it’s still a hair sticky.. any how it functions Ok.
The serial numbers are odd though, first off it came in a Monte Carlo style stock, with no bayonet. The recover cover has been replaced, other than that it’s all numbers matching... what do you guys think about this odd serial number?

[K.Campbell]

I know it says “ sporter” from the importer.. in electric pencil, but i doubt that’s what it is.

[Justin Hell]

I saw one of these in person in 2012....seems like yesterday.
B-West did a few like this, I dunno if it was before they got busted for having the smallest import stamp in the world or if it was before they got the stamp altogether....one way or another its interesting.

I dont recall it being that weird of a serial though...

[K.Campbell]

If you would please,Explain in detail what the serial number tells you, I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Aside from the b-west stuff, The serial number is what’s intriguing to me.

[Justin Hell]

Honestly, I don't have a clue.
It could be that you have the first one though.

[K.Campbell]

Lol, well I don’t have a clue either... lol, I’ve seen a b-west or two.. but in regards of the serial numbers... it’s just plain odd. If I was to guess, I’d say it’s mid 80’s?

[running-man]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is this:

The "10 INC" was put by the Chinese, possibly indicating the refurbisher or the exporter.  Would be a new one to me, I only know of GLINC that might be close.

The 56 very likely stands for "Type 56" and is a translated version of the typical 五六式

The 10001 is the sequential S/N.  Highly likely that they started at 10001 and if so, this would the first gun stamped in the series.

If you can post photos of the components, we may be able to better narrow down if this was a parts gun or perhaps something else.  The 10 could possibly be a year 10 designator, but highly unlikely with the 56 designator as the Chinese didn't start using "56" on certain guns until much later in production.

The B-West import stamp (etching) is a very early marking.  From what I've been able to gather, B-West was one of the first importers of the type 56 from China, somewhat after Clayco in '84, but not by much.

It's a neat one, I've not seen anything like it yet. 

[K.Campbell]

I sure can show you anything you’d like to see, I did notice the block that holds the gas tube in, is different than the others I have,  when I lift the lever To the first notch to release the gas tube assembly, the small pistonAnd spring pops out.. and When I put the whole assembly back in, it’s a pain, I have to use a small screwdriver to hold the small piston while I push down the gas piston/ tube assembly. I’ve never ran across that before. The re I ever cover is black matte, slightly rough texture, you can see the serial number lightly stamped in the back. The trigger guard has no visible number, the bolt is matching.. stamping is severely worn but can be seen. The stock is “ patent pending combat exchange”  To my eye this one has been shot a lot, but is still perfectly functional.

[K.Campbell]

So what letter is this? Looks like it could have been a Q... but looking at the other letters, if it would have been accidentally scrubbed then the other letter should have been damaged as well? Upon further investigating the stock, it was made by a now defunct company called “combat exchange” I like the stock and am keeping it. Anyhow a closer look at the first 5 digits of the serial number  again, let me know the components that you would like to see .. THANKS!!

[Greatguns]

I have run across your gas tube install issue on many SKSs. I various conditions, but with a tight fitting in length tube. The back of the tube hits the extension rod due to excessive protrusion on the rod. It could be a replacement rod or wear on the lever that allows it to stick out a little too far. Not a big deal using a small screw driver or blunt object to push the rod in underneath the tube. Don't know if it is something you can round off or taper the bottom side of the back of the gas tube to help the situation or not. I never considered it enough of a deal to pursue any kind of a fix.

[K.Campbell]

That was my thoughts exactly GG, here’s my bolt assy. The one On the right is from the mystery gun, on the left  is from a 1971 era Norinco for comparison. There are some slight differences..

[Phosphorus32]

Your import mark is the earliest B-West marking (#8 in the list https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.0)

My guess is that it's a commercial parts gun.

[running-man]

So what letter is this? Looks like it could have been a Q... but looking at the other letters, if it would have been accidentally scrubbed then the other letter should have been damaged as well? Upon further investigating the stock, it was made by a now defunct company called “combat exchange” I like the stock and am keeping it. Anyhow a closer look at the first 5 digits of the serial number  again, let me know the components that you would like to see .. THANKS!!

Could be a Q, though it's not like one I've ever seen before.  Could also be a boo-boo by the guy doing the stamping, dropping the hammer long before he had the stamp set in the correct position (why I thought O at first blush).  The top may have simply been poorly struck such that only part of the letter appears as opposed to scrubbed.  The more I look at it though, the more it looks like a U to me.  The top surfaces don't really begin to bend in like they should with a Q (or O). 

so 1 QINC
vs
1 UINC
vs 1 0INC

Google searches on any of them (even removing the 1) don't turn up much related to China.  Closest I get is "Qing" as in Qing dynasty...

But, yeah the font on that bolt really points to this being a gun assembled from parts...

[K.Campbell]

Thanks guys, it shoots to the right, which concerns me as the front sight post is pretty far to the right already.. I’ll need a little help on that one after I do indeed confirm for certain it’s shooting to the right.

[Greatguns]

If you confirm it shoots right and somewhat random then check for a burr at the muzzle and clean up/de-burr accordingly.

[K.Campbell]

Will do