Is this a /26\

[aschatzl]

Can anyone tell me if this is a /26\? Not sure bad or worn stamp

[Loose}{Cannon]

Yup..  its very common to have little chunks missing here/there.   Im guessing your rifle is a recent sino-banian from the CAI batch as noted on the import mark on the right side of the barrel just in front of the stock ferrule... recent dot matrix.

[aschatzl]

Thanks It's not CAI it is an I.O. palm bay

[Loose}{Cannon]

Your rifle was built in 1958 at Jianshe arsenal /26\....  the only location in china producing the sks in this time frame.

Thanks It's not CAI it is an I.O. palm bay

Ah...   I keep forgetting that IOs last batch included 2,3, and 7m rifles.

[aschatzl]

Thanks for the info

[running-man]

Ah...   I keep forgetting that IOs last batch included 2,3, and 7m rifles.

That last IO batch was full of everything under the sun.  Likely the guns that CAI missed in their import, probably due to the 7 mils being iffy.