G-series Letter SKS

[Navy87Guy]

Just picked up my second SKS: a G-series Factory 26.

Bolt carrier, magazine, trigger guard and receiver all match. Bolt is unnumbered, so I'm assuming a replacement. The dust cover is mismatched, but also from a Letter Series rifle. There appears to be a small font serial on the stock, but it's too illegible for me to say if it's correct. It is cut for the knife-style bayonet and has the side swivel.

I do have a question about production year. Some sources I've read say they were made 1959-1960. I've also seen sources say no SKS's were made 1958-1959 and the Letter Series picked up in 1960. Any consensus or definitive sources on the dates?

Any additional insights or observations are always welcome!

[Navy87Guy]

Boris Badinov was kind enough to point me toward this thread on Israeli Capture/Middle Eastern SKS's:

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=1886.0

Based on the import mark, it looks like this rifle could have served some time in the Middle East. I didn't realize the "CAI ST A VT" stamp held significance.



This is the part of the hobby I love...tracking down the history!!

[running-man]

There is no consensus on years for letter series type 56's in other websites. Many sites out there pushed that letter series were 'Sino-Soviet' and were the first SKSs produced by China. Knowing the progression pattern of features of the Chinese type 56 we know this is complete BS. These guns were most certainly produced after the year 3 series and based on comparisons with T53s were produced in the 59 to 60 timeframe. Moreover, the large font vs small font stampings on stocks appears to be a divider for either different years (small font '59, large font '60) or different factory lines. Either way all letter series carbines were produced from '59-'60.

[echo1]

Nice looking rifle. I recently sold a couple "Letter" series guns. One was a 5 digit, the other was an "A" series 4 digest refurb. That gun had all matching metal bits (numbers and fonts) but the stock was a replacement with new wood and forced numbers. Looked nice but the stock was way too light, so I changed it out for a laminate Russian with a Romy sling, which gave it a whole different appeal. PAX
Here they are before the swap


The A in Russian attire (you can faintly see the Cyrillic script on the other side)

[Boris Badinov]

There is no consensus on years for letter series type 56's in other websites. Many sites out there pushed that letter series were 'Sino-Soviet' and were the first SKSs produced by China. Knowing the progression pattern of features of the Chinese type 56 we know this is complete BS. These guns were most certainly produced after the year 3 series and based on comparisons with T53s were produced in the 59 to 60 timeframe. Moreover, the large font vs small font stampings on stocks appears to be a divider for either different years (small font '59, large font '60) or different factory lines. Either way all letter series carbines were produced from '59-'60.

1961 is also a possible year of Letter Rifle production.

[Boris Badinov]

I'ma put it out there.

The early "St. A. Vt." Import stamp and the over all appearance of this rifle are giving off some heavy Middle Eastern vibes.