Info on history of old SKS

MFrankln · June 6, 2014, 02:46 PM

First, thanks for allowing me to join your forum!

My name is Mike and I am from Auburn, Alabama.

This is a question I have begun searching the web for in gun forums. The following is a partial copy & paste... as my old fingers get tired to try and rewrite it over and over, lol.

...
I am the owner of a preNorinco, CGA Chinese SKS. I have had it for over 20 years.

I spoke with a guy at a local gun show not terribly long ago. I was there to maybe trade my SK in for a Romanian AK. It was there that I got the following story... about how there was once a flood of special SKs back when China and the US threw open the doors to trade... which, of course, saw our industrial plant hop the boat.

My baby may be one of them.

The story is basically that China sent about 20-to-30 thousand of their basic, domestic SKs to Cambodia between 1965 and 1968 to support the Khmer Rouge. They were using Cambodia already as a transit route to supply the NVA in the Nam.

Anyway, the story is that by the late 1970s, the Chinese were being deeply embarrassed as the UN was uncovering crimes and slaughter by Pol Pot and KR gang. China, with an approving nod from the UN, sent in people supposedly to help refugees and those suffering, but at the same time, were there to bring home all those weapons that could be located/connected back to the atrocities... and to China.

The tale now skips to when the US and China threw those trade doors open. One of the first things they (PRC) did was to unload thousands of those old CGA-TriSpiked SKs brought back from Cambodia, onto US gun owners. They were dirt cheap at the time, too... being sold for just a little over $100 a piece.

It was at this time I got my SK... but whether it has any serious history? I dunno.

So, anyway, poof! The PRC was rid of them... no matter what the story.

My rifle's serial numbers all match and are five digits, not six and begins with the number '1' (if that means anything).

The theory is that I may have one of those KR SKs and that it may be worth hanging on to as there appears to be some added value these relics.

One last note... is that the tri-spike had been manually sharpened. The PLA would have never done that. The VC in the Nam always removed the spike bayonet so... according to what little I have been so far able to acquire, this may be one confirming bit of evidence.

In closing:
1) This is no sales pitch, promise. It is a genuine historical research effort.
2) Would appreciate any info anyone might have on this line of inquiry.

Thanks in advance for any assistance,

Mike

...

Uncle Buck · June 6, 2014, 03:45 PM

Interesting. I have one of these sitting in a safe somewhere. Guess I'll have to take it out and look at it again, as it is not a rifle I care very much for.

I am looking forward to the replies, I think this is one of the most intelligent fire arms related board anywhere and Someone with a lot of knowledge will tell us the story as they understand it.

Glenn E. Meyer · June 6, 2014, 03:54 PM

Welcome - moved it to semi rifles as that might attract more expertise.

GEM

doofus47 · June 6, 2014, 04:11 PM

I think that yooper john might be a good place to ask as well.
http://yooperj.com/SKS.htm

He's probably forgotten more about SKSs than the average observer has learned.

MFrankln · June 6, 2014, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the replies... will be checking my email daily for possible ideas.

Also, will check out that yooperj link!

Mike

MFrankln · June 6, 2014, 05:34 PM

From Yooper J's site...

Barrel lugs -
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-3.htm

Mine comes in either China early or N. Vietnam (closer to China early)

.....................

Bayonet lug -
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-4.htm

Clearly early China but with a pin and not a screw head.

....................

Bolt carrier -
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-5.htm

China early.

Sent Yooper J an email with a link back to this thread.

Mike

June 6, 2014, 02:46 PM	#1
MFrankln Junior Member Join Date: June 6, 2014 Posts: 3	Info on history of old SKS First, thanks for allowing me to join your forum! My name is Mike and I am from Auburn, Alabama. This is a question I have begun searching the web for in gun forums. The following is a partial copy & paste... as my old fingers get tired to try and rewrite it over and over, lol. ... I am the owner of a preNorinco, CGA Chinese SKS. I have had it for over 20 years. I spoke with a guy at a local gun show not terribly long ago. I was there to maybe trade my SK in for a Romanian AK. It was there that I got the following story... about how there was once a flood of special SKs back when China and the US threw open the doors to trade... which, of course, saw our industrial plant hop the boat. My baby may be one of them. The story is basically that China sent about 20-to-30 thousand of their basic, domestic SKs to Cambodia between 1965 and 1968 to support the Khmer Rouge. They were using Cambodia already as a transit route to supply the NVA in the Nam. Anyway, the story is that by the late 1970s, the Chinese were being deeply embarrassed as the UN was uncovering crimes and slaughter by Pol Pot and KR gang. China, with an approving nod from the UN, sent in people supposedly to help refugees and those suffering, but at the same time, were there to bring home all those weapons that could be located/connected back to the atrocities... and to China. The tale now skips to when the US and China threw those trade doors open. One of the first things they (PRC) did was to unload thousands of those old CGA-TriSpiked SKs brought back from Cambodia, onto US gun owners. They were dirt cheap at the time, too... being sold for just a little over $100 a piece. It was at this time I got my SK... but whether it has any serious history? I dunno. So, anyway, poof! The PRC was rid of them... no matter what the story. My rifle's serial numbers all match and are five digits, not six and begins with the number '1' (if that means anything). The theory is that I may have one of those KR SKs and that it may be worth hanging on to as there appears to be some added value these relics. One last note... is that the tri-spike had been manually sharpened. The PLA would have never done that. The VC in the Nam always removed the spike bayonet so... according to what little I have been so far able to acquire, this may be one confirming bit of evidence. In closing: 1) This is no sales pitch, promise. It is a genuine historical research effort. 2) Would appreciate any info anyone might have on this line of inquiry. Thanks in advance for any assistance, Mike ...

June 6, 2014, 03:45 PM	#2
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	Interesting. I have one of these sitting in a safe somewhere. Guess I'll have to take it out and look at it again, as it is not a rifle I care very much for. I am looking forward to the replies, I think this is one of the most intelligent fire arms related board anywhere and Someone with a lot of knowledge will tell us the story as they understand it. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

June 6, 2014, 03:54 PM	#3
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Welcome - moved it to semi rifles as that might attract more expertise. GEM __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

June 6, 2014, 04:11 PM	#4
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	I think that yooper john might be a good place to ask as well. http://yooperj.com/SKS.htm He's probably forgotten more about SKSs than the average observer has learned. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

June 6, 2014, 05:10 PM	#5
MFrankln Junior Member Join Date: June 6, 2014 Posts: 3	Thanks for the replies... will be checking my email daily for possible ideas. Also, will check out that yooperj link! Mike

June 6, 2014, 05:34 PM	#6
MFrankln Junior Member Join Date: June 6, 2014 Posts: 3	From Yooper J's site... Barrel lugs - http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-3.htm Mine comes in either China early or N. Vietnam (closer to China early) ..................... Bayonet lug - http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-4.htm Clearly early China but with a pin and not a screw head. .................... Bolt carrier - http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-5.htm China early. Sent Yooper J an email with a link back to this thread. Mike