Saw An Offbeat Type 56 At A Show Today

[Ol Relic]

/26\ stamped to left of the three Chinese "type 56" characters to left of 6-digit (I checked, double checked, and triple checked to be sure it wasn't 7 digits) serial starting with "15", stamped trigger group, no lightening cut, short lug screwed in barrel, "3" stamped rear sight, blade bayonet retrofit with spike-cut ferrule, all matching numbers except stock (looked to be from a 6-digit ghost).

Apparently came out of the Sino-Banians (TGI import, owner said he bought it from Centerfire Systems a few months ago).

Comments?

[Loose}{Cannon]

Should have got some pics.     but it sounds like a 216 gun.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Regardless....  the 15 means the 15th year of sks production making it a 1970 gun. This on-par with all of the characteristics you described.

[running-man]

You sure it wasn't a 7 digit 1.5 mil?!?!   

Naw, I believe you. The features you describe all could easily correspond to a 1970 vintage gun. The one that doesn't quite jive with what I know about a /26\ is the '3' battle sight. I only have a single example of a '70 /26\ though, so it could be a transition year, or it could be a replacement. Like LC says, it could be a /216\ too, they are ridiculously similar.

Would you happen to remember what the piece parts were stamped with?  The whole 6 digit number, or a five digit or even a four digit?  If a four, that would jive very well with this being a 15th year of production gun.

Was the condition similar to a Sino-B?  Happen to remember the importer?

[Ol Relic]

I thought about trying to sneak a pic, but the show organizer always has "no camera" signs all over the place.  I tried to make sure that it was actually a /26\ rather than a /216\, but I could have been mistaken.  I'm pretty sure the secondary serials were 4 digit.

It was a Sino-Banian from the TGI batch of a few months back.  I probably would have bought it except for the fact that I felt the stock had been "over-cleaned" a bit.   Looked like birch (very similar to how Mosin stocks look when they've been stripped). According to the owner, it came out of the box in typical filthy condition for a Sino-Banian.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Go back and buy it....  then we can get a look-see.   

[Ol Relic]

Go back and buy it....  then we can get a look-see.   

Too late-it was a walk-in.