SKS date of importation question.

[rebfarmer]

Hello,
I was wondering if you can tell by the sks serial number when it was imported? Post ban vs preban? Is it safe to have a bayonet on an sks and be legal?
Thanks,
reb

[Greasemonkey]

It would probably be easier to figure out import time frame from an import stamp.

As far as I know about putting a bayonet on a post ban weapon, how would this any different than everyone putting a normal Ak stock set on a post ban thumbhole stock MAK90, or debanning weapons from the era...seeing as how the said ban expired in 2004. They tried to pass or reenact it it again in 2013, but it didn't pass.


I'm sure RM would have some legalise fancy wording..

[running-man]

The only states I'm aware of that pre/post ban even mean anything are Connecticut (registration req. if evil featured rifle purchased 'post-ban' between '94-'14) and Washington (really evil machine guns and NFA short barreled shotguns are illegal unless they are pre '94).  All the other left leaning states (Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, California) have since passed extremely restrictive laws and there are no grandfather provisions for 'pre-ban' and as such the term is useless and no longer used. 

The laws that most people are concerned about when it comes to what can and can't be on a particular firearm are the 922(r) laws.  It used to be you had to satisfy both 922(r) *and* the AWB which were sometimes contradictory such as *removing* a grenade launcher off a Yugo M59/66 was a huge gray area because in one aspect it was needed to follow AWB, but in another it was taking away the C&R status of the firearm and making the gun "unimportable" and ran afoul of 922 in general.  As GM said with the automatic sunset of the AWB in 2004, 922(r) is really the only thing that needs satisfied when 'assembling' a firearm...and 922(r) has never, to my knowledge, been used as the sole means of prosecution.  The law is so vague and the term "shall not assemble" is arbitrary enough that it simply cannot cover a forearm that is transferred to another owner already having the 'illegal' mods done to it (ie. it is not illegal to possess a non 922(r) compliant firearm, it is illegal to assemble a non 922(r) copliant firearm). 

The easy answer to this is that if an SKS has an intact bayo lug, it was clearly originally produced with a bayonet and reinstalling that bayonet (even with a replacement part because the original is missing or was removed at import to comply with AWB) is now perfectly fine at the federal level.  Of course, state laws which are more restrictive than federal laws may not permit this...

How's that for worthless legalese GM? 

[Greasemonkey]

How's that for worthless legalese GM? 

I love it when you get all technical and use words I have to look up to get the general gist..

Sometimes...I think you try to make up some of the wording like a lawyer.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Like the word 'forearm'?

[Direct Connection]

The only states I'm aware of that pre/post ban even mean anything are Connecticut (registration req. if evil featured rifle purchased 'post-ban' between '94-'14) and Washington (really evil machine guns and NFA short barreled shotguns are illegal unless they are pre '94).  All the other left leaning states (Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, California) have since passed extremely restrictive laws and there are no grandfather provisions for 'pre-ban' and as such the term is useless and no longer used. 

The laws that most people are concerned about when it comes to what can and can't be on a particular firearm are the 922(r) laws.  It used to be you had to satisfy both 922(r) *and* the AWB which were sometimes contradictory such as *removing* a grenade launcher off a Yugo M59/66 was a huge gray area because in one aspect it was needed to follow AWB, but in another it was taking away the C&R status of the firearm and making the gun "unimportable" and ran afoul of 922 in general.  As GM said with the automatic sunset of the AWB in 2004, 922(r) is really the only thing that needs satisfied when 'assembling' a firearm...and 922(r) has never, to my knowledge, been used as the sole means of prosecution.  The law is so vague and the term "shall not assemble" is arbitrary enough that it simply cannot cover a forearm that is transferred to another owner already having the 'illegal' mods done to it (ie. it is not illegal to possess a non 922(r) compliant firearm, it is illegal to assemble a non 922(r) copliant firearm). 

The easy answer to this is that if an SKS has an intact bayo lug, it was clearly originally produced with a bayonet and reinstalling that bayonet (even with a replacement part because the original is missing or was removed at import to comply with AWB) is now perfectly fine at the federal level.  Of course, state laws which are more restrictive than federal laws may not permit this...

How's that for worthless legalese GM? 

[/color]


This is as close to the truth and really good advise as far as im concerned. Especially for Ca, I remember about 7 yrs ago I bought a mid 90's chinese production SkS from out of state and my FFL dealer told the guy" Seller" to be safe and remove the bayo and send it to me separately and the gun to him.

[Matchka]

There's a dealer in San Diego that sells 'neutered' Yugo 59/66's - ain't cheap, but they go quickly.  Personally, I've never had a problem with Chicoms or Tulas with attached bayonets - but, folks at area shows sometimes  have the bayonet right next to the SKS and "available for purchase". "Please do not affix bayonet to weapon on the premises." 

[running-man]

Yeah you guys have some pretty restrictive laws out there.  They do it by either being named specifically on the list or by accumulation of evil features correct?  They've nailed down most all the loopholes and will keep encroaching until they get the total ban they want. 

[Matchka]

The 922r compliant and the fixed 10rd magazine seems to be the two big deals, at least in my limited experience. The CFLC transfer thing spooks a lot of out of state sellers too. Understandable bcz CA DOJ keeps upping the ante on the "list" every time you look sideways.

[rebfarmer]

Thanks for all the response to my question.

What about Bush's 1989 ban that never expired? Maybe I was mislead and told that this is the ban we need to be concerned about?

Thanks again.

[Greasemonkey]

Ok...I'm sure RM will correct me...again, but..
The 1989 ban was technically not an all out assault weapon ban, it was deemed a semiauto rifle ban...but.. it did encompass various assault weapons and even some rimfire weapons. Certain models banned were not being used for sporting purposes, or according to the features on the rifle, were not legal to hunt with. There were 40ish couple things on the list, things like a Finnish Valmet, Galil rifle, Uzi, TEC9, TEC11...pistol grip semi auto anything...FNFAL, AK, CETME..even the Colt AR-15, and a 12 gauge revolving cylinder streetsweeper.

This is where all the thumbhole stock sporter versions came into play...the MAK90s, NHM90-91, Maadii Ak, the SKSNR,  the sporter neutered versions of the CETME and FNFAL. This is when SKSs had bayonets removed and sold separately or bayonet lugs removed all together. This is also the era you see tons of 5 round magazines for various rifles to meet state "Hunting" laws.

They more or less had to have some kind of practical sporting use, other than just be purely military design.. which is why you saw a Type 56 Ak's get bayonet neutered, get sold with a 5 rd magazine and pretty much become a thumbhole stock MAK-90 Sporter.


At the same time... many rifles still have bayonet lugs, and pistol grip rifles are once again sold.. all the WASR models, the Vz58s, Polish and Bulgarian AKs, and all them plastic rifles. The one instance I know of... my Czechpoint Vz.58 has no bayonet lug, while my Vz.2008 does. I would think putting a bayonet on an SKS with an intact bayonet lug is not going to be the end of the world.

[Matchka]

A couple of the many comments I get from 'some' relatives and acquaintances (you know who they are) on my wall-hangers are "Why do you need that thing?", "That's stupid.", "It's old fashion.", "Who are you going to stab/stick with it?" 

[Greasemonkey]

Old fashion....

I have a bayonet or 2 that cost roughly the same, if not more than a run of the mill Chinese average condition SKS..  

Price a M1917 Winchester Enfield bayonet or a M1947 Madsen bayonet. Bayonets actually have their own collector niche' like collecting rifle magazines, old obsolete ammo and other paraphernalia.

[Matchka]

I'm not really a collector but have picked up the odd or super clean bayonet over the years. WWII nazi K98, Brit, Finn, Swede, Yugo AK, Russian, a Chilean and some U.S. The majority of 'em I have no idea what they go to! Pics don't include some others and a few daggers.


mirza ghalib english translation

[rebfarmer]

Thank you very much for all the information. I have picked up several Chinese sks rifles in the past few years and most did not have the bayonet come with it. They all still had the lug intact. I like a (complete rifle). So take if from there. Then I was reminded of the expired ban and the 89 ban and just needed some clarity on what is and what is not still the rule.

[Greasemonkey]

I'm not really a collector but have picked up the odd or super clean bayonet over the years. WWII nazi K98, Brit, Finn, Swede, Yugo AK, Russian, a Chilean and some U.S. The majority of 'em I have no idea what they go to! Pics don't include some others and a few daggers.


mirza ghalib english translation

Just a quick look..... I see a French m1886 Lebel, a Spanish FR 8/CETME, 2 variations of Ak47/74, and a M1896 Swede.

[Matchka]

A lot more than I ever knew about them. The AK type bayonets came from Republika Serbska (bakelite) and Kosovo/KLA (black plastic). The others also have a 'story' that goes with.

[Larry D.]

I also see a K98, a Swiss Sig, M16, Yugo Mauser, and what I believe is a U.S. WWII vintage U.S. Navy sheath that could have a MKII, a Kabar, or a Camillus fighting knife in it.

That curved sheath has me curious....

I'd like to see some better pictures of that collection!

[Matchka]

The Camillus (stamped U.S. Navy) was issued to me in 1968. The curved knife is the Chilean 'Curvo', given to me by a retired Chilean Army officer.

[Larry D.]

Pretty cool. Do you actively collect, or did you just wind up amassing them over the years?
I have a few military blades floating around.
How about the daggers?

I have some sort of knife that a buddy gave me. He said it was some type of knife issued to British paratroopers. Slightly curved blade, blunt tip, and stamped metal sheath.