Looking for examples...

[Worm]

Does anyone have any Chinese SKS’s with the correct IC import mark on the barrel that are non-/26\, or that are /26\ but NOT 9 or 12 mills?

(   CAI.ST.ALB.VT
         SKS 7.62 CHINA   )

I am NOT looking for ones with this very similar mark:

  CAI.ST.A.VT
SKS 7.62 CHINA

Note the difference, “A” instead of “ALB”, I am looking only for the “ALB” ones

Examples (sorry, not the best pics but all I have on hand atm, but you get the idea):





I am wondering if perhaps all Chinese SKSs with this import mark are from the IC batch. If anyone has any they suspect aren’t, I am looking for pics.

I will elaborate in a future post I am working on. Thanks

[Matchka]

Any way to check inputs to the SKS Guide for this particular CAI stamp? 

[running-man]

There are very few CAI stamps on the barrel in the survey unfortunately. 

[Worm]

That's ok, thanks for letting me know. A few months back I found my first non-/26\ example with the correct-for-IC import mark, out of checking MANY over the years. In fact, before that find I had never seen a Chinese SKS with that import mark that wasn’t a /26\ 9 or 12 mill. It was well used, but in its stock configuration (just as many /26\ 9 & 12 mills w/ the mark are, though - which also makes ICs harder to ID since people don't know what to look for besides the obvious Arabic markings which are only found on the minority of them). Since then, surprisingly, I have found another non-/26\ from the same factory as the last one, in fact, only about 500 serials away, also with the correct import mark, but it has a red refinished chinese replacement stock & sand was present inside the stock, both of which are common on ICs. They're also 1.4 mills, which, if the serial dating sticky is correct, puts them at 1969, which fits the IC / sino-PLO timeline.

I was able to snag the more recent one, I'll be posting pics soon.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Well, I have that V lettergun that was full of cosmo-sand....  cant remember which version of the stamp it has. 

[Worm]

Well, I have that V lettergun that was full of cosmo-sand....  cant remember which version of the stamp it has.

IIRC it was the "A" version, not the "ALB," I think I remember because it was similar to my 8 mill. Should let me know though, my most recent acquisition that I suspect is an IC has a mismatched V-series trigger.

[Loose}{Cannon]

I'm a bit confused as to what your saying about the A vs ALB....  one was before the other seeming back/back and I would assume either can be an IC, just dif batches in a relatively short time frame.

[running-man]

I'm a bit confused as to what your saying about the A vs ALB....  one was before the other seeming back/back and I would assume either can be an IC, just dif batches in a relatively short time frame.

I'm guessing he means ST A VT vs ST ALB VT import stamp. 




The ST ALB is the newer of the two, but you're right, they are most probably different batches to have a change in the stamp like that (unless Mr. ATF was tipped off and and immediately had them change that stamp midway through the process).

[Worm]

I'm guessing he means ST A VT vs ST ALB VT import stamp. 

Right. The "ALB" you have pictured there is on the receiver though. The "ALB"s on ICs are all on the barrel similarly to the "A" you have posted there. Just to note.

I do believe these were two separate batches for sure, especially since (as far as we can tell) they don't share the same years of production. I'm confident that all (early, barrel marked) "ALB"s are ICs. I haven't found any with the mark that has convinced me otherwise, such as commercial variants, etc. The great majority are obviously the 9 & 12 mills. Finding two /666\s, both with 69' years of production, one of which that has what appears to be the common IC red replacement stock, as well as sand, & obvious hard use is kind of a no brainer to me.

The "A"s are probably ICs as they do show signs of IC (sand & patina, primarily). It would be nice to see an Arabic marked one. Unfortunately, as I had pointed out in my IC post, Arabic marked stocks are far rarer than people most likely assume. And since there are so few "A" marked chicoms, it will make it much harder to find an Arabic marked one. Their production dates also fit the timeline. They just have that same "look" too.

I really do believe some kind of sorting went on. IC Russians & 10 mills have all been non import marked, meaning probably Canada imports from around the same time. So, Canada gets 10 mills & Russians, we get a small batch primarily of of Letter series & 8 mills. Then, we get another batch, maybe a month later, maybe a year, who knows, of primarily 9 & 12 mills. (Or vice versa, ALBs may have come first, then As - no clue).

[Worm]

And also, my /666\ has a V series trigger which imo kind of "bridges" the two import marks. The trigger's patina matches the rest of the /666\ perfectly, so I'm confident it arrived here with it. LC's V series has the "A" import mark. Soo.. I'm thinking V's were obviously over there.. meaning they're most likely ICs.

[running-man]

Right. The "ALB" you have pictured there is on the receiver though. The "ALB"s on ICs are all on the barrel similarly to the "A" you have posted there. Just to note.

Righto man.  I actually don't have a St. Alb barrel stamp in the import stamp thread I'm embarrassed to say. No idea how I don't, they are certainly out there...  anyone know of a good one?

[Loose}{Cannon]

From What I understand, The CAI Canada branch received some similar condition /26\ guns around the same time period.   Yes, my V series has the 'A' stamp... just double checked. 

[Worm]

Right. The "ALB" you have pictured there is on the receiver though. The "ALB"s on ICs are all on the barrel similarly to the "A" you have posted there. Just to note.

Righto man.  I actually don't have a St. Alb barrel stamp in the import stamp thread I'm embarrassed to say. No idea how I don't, they are certainly out there...  anyone know of a good one?

In my /666\ thread I posted a pic of it. Not the best pic. If you want a close up shot for the thread lemme know

[Worm]

From What I understand, The CAI Canada branch received some similar condition /26\ guns around the same time period.   Yes, my V series has the 'A' stamp... just double checked.

That's what i thought. Thanks for confirming for me.

[Worm]

Here's a better one RM

[Loose}{Cannon]

My two lines are on opposite sides of the barrel. 

[Worm]

My two lines are on opposite sides of the barrel.

The ALBs vary that way. Some are even upside down (if the gun is right side up anyways)

IIRC your 12 mill laminate I sold you is like mine. GM's 9 mill IC is the opposite sides of the barrel variation.

The two lines of text are rarely perfectly even with each other like on the "A"s.

[running-man]

My two lines are on opposite sides of the barrel.

Can you get a photo for the import list?

[running-man]

My two lines are on opposite sides of the barrel.

The ALBs vary that way. Some are even upside down (if the gun is right side up anyways)

IIRC your 12 mill laminate I sold you is like mine. GM's 9 mill IC is the opposite sides of the barrel variation.

The two lines of text are rarely perfectly even with each other like on the "A"s.

CAI certainly had separate stamps for the two lines of text for a long long period of time.  Receiver stamps are similar in the nuances.  The big question now is should we assume that opposite sided barrel stamps are actually from the same import batch, but just perhaps stamped by a different person or on a different day.  If the various stamps have different font, spacing, lettering, etc. we may have a whole other import batch to account for.  (of course the absence of this doesn't necessary mean anything)

[Worm]

Honestly, I just think it was whether Joe or Bob marked the barrel that day. But, even if not, it doesn't really change anything. All the same guns.