Bayonet

[RoscoeTurner]

Are the bayonets supposed to fit the slot tightly or is it a loose fit?  I received my first Type 56 today and the bayonet is a bit loose.  When you hold the rifle horizontally the bayonet drops maybe a 1/2 inch or so.   It does not appear messed with as the retaining screw is staked in place.

[echo1]

The tip should be in the stock slot, PAX

[RoscoeTurner]

Thanks, since posting I found that it appears the loose fit is a regular problem.  Swapping bayonets seems to offer most common solution.  Oh well, lesson learned from buying online.

[Phosphorus32]

The bayonet should fit up inside the slot in the correct original wood stock for a spike or blade bayonet version.

Spike bayonets are often installed incorrectly; 50/50 chance of getting it correct/incorrect. Staking marks can be lined up even if they're no longer untouched since staking. The flat side should be out when the bayonet is folded into the stock groove, i.e., when you grasp the foreend you don’t have a ridge from the bayonet digging into your support hand.

[RoscoeTurner]

The bayonet should fit up inside the slot in the correct original wood stock for a spike or blade bayonet version.

Spike bayonets are often installed incorrectly; 50/50 chance of getting it correct/incorrect. Staking marks can be lined up even if they're no longer untouched since staking. The flat side should be out when the bayonet is folded into the stock groove, i.e., when you grasp the foreend you don’t have a ridge from the bayonet digging into your support hand.

Thanks, the bayonet is installed correctly but droops about a 1/2 inch when you hold the rifle horizontally.  This is my first experience with a Chinese SKS, the blade bayonet on my Soviet SKS does not have this problem.  I ordered another bayonet assembly and will give that a try.

[Greatguns]

Due to the tolerances between arsenals and years of manufacture just within China the bayonet collars from one to another may not mate up correctly to the lug on the FSB. Sometimes you can stretch the spring to fix it, many times it requires a swap out of the collar, and not very often it can take a slight filing or build up of the angle on either and/or both the collar and the lug to fix the droop.

Hopefully the swap out will fix it.

[RoscoeTurner]

Due to the tolerances between arsenals and years of manufacture just within China the bayonet collars from one to another may not mate up correctly to the lug on the FSB. Sometimes you can stretch the spring to fix it, many times it requires a swap out of the collar, and not very often it can take a slight filing or build up of the angle on either and/or both the collar and the lug to fix the droop.

Hopefully the swap out will fix it.

Thanks, new bayonet assembly should be here by the end of the week.  Hopefully that will solve the problem.

[RoscoeTurner]

UPDATE:  Experienced the same problem with the replacement bayonet although not quite as bad.  So, I resorted to the tried and true Soviet method of firearms repair and beat on the rear barrel sleeve bayonet lugs with a ball-peen hammer.  Three to four whacks on each one and now the bayonet sits in the stock channel as Simonov intended.

[echo1]

Good job Ivan, PAX

[Phosphorus32]

The beatings will continue until morale improves…and/or bayonet fit improves 

Glad the bfh resolved your issue 

[RoscoeTurner]

The beatings will continue until morale improves…and/or bayonet fit improves 

Glad the bfh resolved your issue 

Thanks.  There is a good reason a big hammer is found in every Russian Maxim gunners kit for those times finessee and skill fail.

I forgot to mention putting some tape over the lugs prevented any damage to the finish.