Here's a *really* interesting one

[Boris Badinov]

3mil sn.... Hmm.
Now seems to me more likely it was like P32 said and a leftover that ended up being used a few years later, but why?
Certainly an odd ball....

1958 production was ~110,000 fewer guns than 1957 production-- when the expectation ought to have been at least as many as the previous year. If not more.

It's possible that the Chinese had to turn to the Soviets for barreled receivers.



Hmmm.... what was going on in China at the time that might have caused such a drastic drop in production?

[Bob_The_Student]

All this hoopla over a Russinese Non-Lettered Starred SKS?! Like we haven't seen...

I'm calling this the best cliffhanger thread this month!

I think we can all agree this is the holiest of holy grails we have seen in a few weeks!

Seriously, I hope more information comes into the files, the survey or the owner joins, and we can probe him like an Area 51 alien, so we can get some more definitive answers. I'm with P32 and co. theory for now.

[Greatguns]

3mil sn.... Hmm.
Now seems to me more likely it was like P32 said and a leftover that ended up being used a few years later, but why?
Certainly an odd ball....

1958 production was ~110,000 fewer guns than 1957 production-- when the expectation ought to have been at least as many as the previous year. If not more.

It's possible that the Chinese had to turn to the Soviets for barreled receivers.



Hmmm.... what was going on in China at the time that might have caused such a drastic drop in production?

Korea was over, the French had left Indo-China, independence struggles from Britain in the Empire hadn't gotten into full swing yet, and the US hadn't gotten started in VN so they didn't have any wars to feed.

[Boris Badinov]

1958 production was ~110,000 fewer guns than 1957 production-- when the expectation ought to have been at least as many as the previous year. If not more.

It's possible that the Chinese had to turn to the Soviets for barreled receivers.



Hmmm.... what was going on in China at the time that might have caused such a drastic drop in production?

Korea was over, the French had left Indo-China, independence struggles from Britain in the Empire hadn't gotten into full swing yet, and the US hadn't gotten started in VN so they didn't have any wars to feed.

It was actually a rhetorical question. 1958 marked the beginning of Mao's 2nd Five year plan. It was also the onset of the self-induced three year famine and resulting near total economic and industrial collapse.

Upward estimates put the death toll at 60 million.

If we look at the serial data,  production from 1959 thru 1961 fell sharply. IMHO, production numbers fell significantly enough to indicate that type 56 production slowed to a crawl, or very possibly came to a halt for up to a year. Similar serial number aberrations are seen with the Type 53 mosins, and Type54 TT pistols during this time frame. My guess is the the AK type56 serial progression is no different.

Also much of the steel that China produced in this period was of too poor a quality for arms manufacturing.

[Boris Badinov]

1958 production was ~110,000 fewer guns than 1957 production-- when the expectation ought to have been at least as many as the previous year. If not more.

My mistake.

1958 production totals were roughly the same as 1957. I was comparing the wrong yearly totals.

The drop in production was from  1959 through 1963. After 1958, yearly production averages didn't top 200,000 rifles again until 1964 / 9th year of production.

[Greatguns]

Hey Boris, I should have put emoji's after my war comment as it was intended more as a joke than anything. Sorry about that.

[running-man]

Finally found that other gun.  Not as close to this one as I thought, but still a year 3 /26\.

Almost like the 3198 was already there and the rest was just an afterthought.  Anyhow, interesting shenanigans going on in year 3 at Jianshe it seems. 

[Boris Badinov]

Finally found that other gun.  Not as close to this one as I thought, but still a year 3 /26\.

Almost like the 3198 was already there and the rest was just an afterthought.  Anyhow, interesting shenanigans going on in year 3 at Jianshe it seems. 

looks like the serial number was struck too far to the right.

The serials on the OP carbine and my 3rd year linked earlier are closer to the receiver fore end.

[Bubbazinetti]

So. is the correct answer a Soviet-Sinobanian Mongrel?

[Boris Badinov]

So. is the correct answer a Soviet-Sinobanian Mongrel?

SKS Type 45/56

[Greasemonkey]

So. is the correct answer a Soviet-Sinobanian Mongrel?

SKS Type 45/56

Bummer, I figured on a more catchy name.. like super secret... sneak.. 

[Boris Badinov]

SaSKSwatch?

[Greatguns]

SaSKSwatch?

Now that's a good name, well done Boris

[Larry D.]

SaSKSwatch?

Thread winner right there.....

[Cz315]

SaSKSwatch?

Thread winner right there.....

I second the thread winner 

[Matchka]

He asks for "any information..." but doesn't leave or have an email address on file?