Info on Six Corp KS30 SKS

[Crowak]

I am just looking for more info on this Six Corp KS30 SKS that uses AK mags.

[Greatguns]

Hey Crowak, glad to see you made it over here, welcome. I already gave you any info I had on this so I won't double up on it. I did pass the info along to one of our Admins, Running-man to add the data on this to our database so I'm sure he'll chime in soon.

[Crowak]

Thank you, I can take more pics if anyone needs them, just let me know what you need to see.

[running-man]

Welcome to the boards!   

I'm afraid I really don't have a ton to add on this one.  KS-30s are extremely uncommon AK mag variant commercial SKSs.  I'm sure you've seen the SKSGuide pages on it: http://chinesesks.weebly.com/ks-30.html

What I do know is that it is an 1989 import (and likely production) date.  The highest S/N I've seen on these is in the 5,000's which would be a very low population of carbines if that's where they stopped. 

When XXXSKS made that SKSGuide page, there was little info on them and fast forward 10 years to today there is still very little info known.  They are unique, however, with the short neutered FSB.  That is a very interesting feature on one of the earlier known AK mag accepting commercial SKS carbines. 

Six Corp is an exporter that also exported SKS carbines with a riveted yet detachable spike bayonet.  See http://chinesesks.weebly.com/six-corp.html and https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=1307.0

[running-man]

Here's one of the other ones I've seen, marked pretty much identically marked as yours even though it's almost 3000 units sooner.

The "KS-30" marking was likely done in China by Six Corp and the more variable and less neat SKS-5 markings to the rear done by F.S.A. J&C International upon import with the S/N added then as well (company owned by Johnson Cheng, incorporated in California in 1990)

[Power Surge]

The KS-30 is an interesting rifle. Physically, it is pretty much identical to the very early 88 Sporter, with the military stock. It shares the identical action as the 88-89 "stubby" FSB Sporter. Being an 89 production gun, I would imagine it was made at the same plant with the 89 Sporter.

Now here's the interesting part. I've looked for these for a long time (one of the few Commercial models I have not owned). ALL of the ones I have come across, be it found online, or someone with one reaching out to me, have been in Australia. I have no evidence other than speculation, but it sure seems like this may have been a model made specifically for Australian export. Possibly the Sporter's thumbhole stock was not allowed there in 89? I really don't know. It's just a very interesting observation.

I also have no idea why the second set of stampings. One interesting point on that, is the second stamping set says "SKS-5". I don't think this was a model rename, but more just an import/export description. Many of these AK mag variants were sold with 5 round AK magazines.