Newbie question on SKS received in trade. Ghost?

[Whiskey6eod]

Hey all - thanks for allowing me to participate. This rifle was acquired a month ago in trade. I don't know much about SKS's - so I joined your site and thought I'd be able to find some answers to what I have. See attached picts (if I can get them to post right). I'd be happy to take more picts - just tell me where to aim the camera. Thank-you again.

[Greatguns]

Welcome Whiskey, does appear to be a ghost you have, but apparently has been refurbed and looks to have a replacement stock. If you want to know if everything is "present and correct" action-wise, I would strip down the rifle and take pics of all the parts. If you click on "Chinese SKS Guide" in the upper right hand side then Arsenal 26 and scroll down to 56/57 Ghost tab you can see pics of one for an example to compare to.
One of the guys who knows more about the ghosts than me will come along soon I imagine and probably see something I'm missing.

[Whiskey6eod]

Thanks for the reply - I'll pull it apart and take some more picts. I know there's two parts with different numbers I saw when I first cleaned it - both numbers were lower than the gun SN. I did some reading in trying to see what I had - I had never heard the term "ghost gun" before. I guess I'm just wondering if this is something special and worth holding on to or not. I'll likely never shoot it. Thanks again!

[running-man]

Hi W6, welcome to the boards.

Yes, this gun is a "Ghost gun" or if you prefer an early production type 56 that was built in ~1956 before the /26\ stamp became common. 

When you break her down maybe get a photo of the import stamp.  That will tell us what batch and timeframe this one came into the states with.  Looks like a pre '94 batch based on the replacement stock and finish.

As far as it being something special, with the stock missing and other mismatching hardware the collector value is diminished quite a bit.  It's probably a great shooter, this is not a gun you should be afraid to shoot and enjoy for fear of ruining something of great value.  Going rate for a clean shooter these days is ~$400 which is $100 than it was only last year. 

[astronut]

Welcome to the forum!  That is a nice SKS rifle you have there.

[Whiskey6eod]

Thanks all - your expertise is greatly appreciated. Here's a few more picts I just shot -

[Greatguns]

Most parts on Chinese SKS only used the last 5 digits of the SN so those mis-matched parts could be from any arsenal and any year rifle build. So, you end up with the novelty of having a "Ghost" gun, but not the value of one due to the mis-match. Bore is chrome lined and will last a long time so, as mentioned, don't be afraid to take it out and shoot it.

[Whiskey6eod]

Awesome - thanks! I didn't put a whole lot into it when I traded ($250) - so I was pretty confident I didn't get hurt. Guess I'll pick up some ammo one day and maybe give it a run. Again, thanks for all the info - great site!

[Larry D.]

Welcome Whiskey6.

That's gonna be a good shooter. You should be able to have a lot of fun with it.

[running-man]

That CJA stamp is a relatively old one.  It's pre-Norinco so it's probably pre-'89 or so.  Impossible to get any more precise thanthat, but I generally think the Norinco marked guns were '88-94.  The import stamp is #40 on the list: https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.0

Stock was likely replaced prior to import.  Had it been a recent import stamp I'd have said that the stock was recently swapped out because the new imports certainly don't look like that.  Defeinitely a nice one there.  You certainly won't have to worry about getting your $250 back and then some should you decide to part way with it.

Be careful when shooting it though, you may decide you absolutely love it and 2 years from now you're showing off your 15th SKS (it's been known to happen!) 

[Whiskey6eod]

Ha - I already have that "problem"...but with M1 Garands. Thanks for the advice!

[Phosphorus32]

Ha - I already have that "problem"...but with M1 Garands. Thanks for the advice!

Nice SKS! The info has been covered, but...

...M1 Garands!?! We have an American section, hint, hint! 

Also, is W6 an MOS or something of that nature for Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel?

[Whiskey6eod]

Thanks - nothing special, just my call sign when I was an EOD guy.

[running-man]

Nice!  The EOD guys I know are all great.  Definitely all cut from the same cloth. 

To a man they will all use all 10 lb. of C4 if the job only requires 1 but they brought 10.  Everyone says it's because of the paperwork returning the excess to the mag, but we all know better!

[Whiskey6eod]

When you were a kid did you ever save fireworks for next 4th of July? I thought not (smile).

[Bob_The_Student]

When you were a kid did you ever save fireworks for next 4th of July? I thought not (smile).

So true...

[carls sks]

hi whiskey and welcome. good to have you here. you have a nice one there, just have fun with it.

[Whiskey6eod]

Thank you - I will.

[echo1]

Hi Bud, and thanks. PAX

[Bacarnal]

Whiskey6eod, Welcome from Kentucky!!!  Graduated from Indian Head in December of '83.  PX3=E!!!

P.S. Nice Ghost.  I have the same problem with Garands .