The "Canadian Para"... rediscovered?

[fenceline]

So I managed to wrangle this one away from another local collector.  I've been trying to piece together what it is, and I believe it may be the illusive "18 inch" commercial Canadian model mentioned in the Canadian chapter of the SKS Guide for commercial Chinese guns.

This SKS was saved from the back room of a LGS last December.  It was missing the original gas tube, bayonet and butt plate.  The rescuer took it home, ordered a new Chinese gas tube assembly, added a bayonet and (gasp) re-stained the stock as it had flaked.  Other than that, all parts with the gun appear to have been the way it was sold.  The bayonet however in original form was too long, and had to be shortened.  That is when our rescuer realized the barrel itself was shorter than an original sks should be.  In fact, it measures out at exactly 18.75 inches.  18.5 or less in Canada is restricted (SBR eh!) and thus why it isn't shorter.

All typical locations for serial numbers have been scrubbed, and a 04 prefix serial number added by the Chinese.  There are no other markings, and no USA style import markings. 

SKS 7.62X39 04008**
Made in China

Given the 04 serial number, I am fairly certain this gun came in after the 02 "SKS-D" marked commercial guns that have no bayonets and a shortened bayonet lug.  Lever Arms and SIR were heavily into importing those guns.

In doing some research on the Canadian Gun Nutz forum, I came across one post and only one post that was speaking about Yugos vs Chinese SKS.  One of the repliers stated:

"Lever's, and SIR's SKS's are norinco and yes, they are slapped together from parts bins. They have shorter barrels and the stock has a rubber 'recoil' pad on it. (IIRC) They do shoot just fine and work quite well and also have a chrome bore."

That would possibly explain the missing butt plate on this gun if someone ditched the rubber recoil pad.  That is all I know on this one.  Never seen any other mention or pictures of something similar.  The serial number shows less than 900 made in 2004 and I doubt any more may have come it.  Honestly everything I have is theory based on the above single post and the hints provided by the serial number and scrubbed parts on the gun itself. Wish I had something more conclusive. 

Mr. Lever passed away about a year ago, and his descendants don't have any recollection.  John at Marstar also had no independent recollection.  (Our rescuer called both).  SIR got bought out by Cabelas, so not even worth trying there for information.  The LGS had no idea about the gun at all, other than it had been in the back room for some time and they decided to clear it out of the back.

For lack of any other term for it, I present to you, the Canadian Para SKS (my term, not official haha)

[running-man]

Now that is a neat find.  *Very* kool fenceline, thanks for sharing!

What a hodgepodge of parts I see.  Milled TG, stock from an inverted takedown lever gun, late bolt carrier, really odd duck short barrel lug (looks like they took quite a bit more off than is typical), early gas tube, early FSB, cast gas block, cast RSB.  Very neat.  Reminds me of a '57 Chevy in Havana...the car is a '57 Chevy, but in reality it isn't anymore because darn near every internal part has been replaced.

[fenceline]

The gas tube was a replacement. The original went missing at some point so as a feature it can't be relied on as original. But that in mind nothing on this gun is consistent to a period. Being commercial and all. Total mix master in that regard.

It is different that is for sure. So different I haven't seen pictures of anything like it up here. While it has been refinished and "restored" I'm quite happy with how it looks. No one has really done any research into the commercial versions up here. Most sks collectors and even general shooters turn their noses up at the commercial "inferior" models.

Honestly this forum has done more to research the Canadian SKS-D models than anyone on CGN has.

Odd duck for sure this one.

[padams8888]

You can still see the original serial number on the side of the receiver.......neat rifle!

[fenceline]

You can still see the original serial number on the side of the receiver.......neat rifle!

You've got better eyes than I do. I can't see it.

[Loose}{Cannon]

I see 4 of the old numbers....  Looks like 2309.

[running-man]

You can still see the original serial number on the side of the receiver.......neat rifle!

You've got better eyes than I do. I can't see it.

I didn't see it until Pat pointed it out either 

LC is right, certainly looks like a 2309:

[fenceline]

Thanks!  Perhaps the first 4 given location. 23 million perhaps.

[Power Surge]

Actually, I think it's a 28, not a 23. That's the big bubbly font seen on 27-29mil guns.

[fenceline]

Actually, I think it's a 28, not a 23. That's the big bubbly font seen on 27-29mil guns.

Will take a close look and see if my eyes will pick anything up on the actual receiver.

[fenceline]

So I took a really bright flashlight and shone it on the side of the receiver where the ghosted number is. I was able to read it and the number appears to be the ghost image of a laser engraving. It starts under the i in China.

The ghosted serial number is very legible and uniform. Does not look hand stamped and I'm sure it is laser engraved as the numbers are very evenly spaced and level across the receiver.

With the light is was clearly readable. The light is so bright though that taking a picture is impossible.

9××2309. xx replaces two digits.

9mil number. Can't see a triangle or arsenal marking ghosted.

[Power Surge]

Very interesting. That would make sense, since it has 9mil era attributes. Just doesn't look like 9 mil font though.

[Greasemonkey]

Interesting...

Just outta curiosity, since it is visibly a truly scrubbed receiver, is there any receiver thickness differences vs. one thats not scrubbed? Do they shave just the left side to remove the old markings, or do they do both sides so it's equal?

Is or are the stocks usually that color, is it the normal Chinese stock wood thats just either a Chinese rework or importer rework, or has it been stripped/stained after purchase trying to make it look "nice"?

[fenceline]

Very interesting. That would make sense, since it has 9mil era attributes. Just doesn't look like 9 mil font though.

Ya it isn't a punched serial number for sure.  I wish I could get a photo.  It is straight, perfectly spaced, and computer-ish font.  Wasn't hand done for sure, and appears cleanly burnt into the finish.  Almost just a discoloration now.

[echo1]

Unique for sure. PAX

[Loose}{Cannon]

9××2309. xx replaces two digits.

Ah Ha!!

[fenceline]

Interesting...

Just outta curiosity, since it is visibly a truly scrubbed receiver, is there any receiver thickness differences vs. one thats not scrubbed? Do they shave just the left side to remove the old markings, or do they do both sides so it's equal?

Is or are the stocks usually that color, is it the normal Chinese stock wood thats just either a Chinese rework or importer rework, or has it been stripped/stained after purchase trying to make it look "nice"?

It has what could be tooling marks on the left side. The "rescuer" I got it from restained it as he said the original finish was flaking.   Said he picked the color because he saw Chinese sks that color online. It is actually pretty close to the color on the stamped receiver stocks I have.

[fenceline]

9××2309. xx replaces two digits.

Ah Ha!!

I wasn't going to rub it in, but very much not an 8 haha.

[Power Surge]

I was just thinking an 8, because that looks like the 27-29 mil font.

[running-man]

Very interesting. That would make sense, since it has 9mil era attributes. Just doesn't look like 9 mil font though.

I think look at it as a 9X prefixed gun, not a 9 mil /26\.  I'd bet it's a 94 or 95 that didn't make it into the states before the ban was implemented.

Something like:


But with different placement maybe?  Just a guess...