Guns & Ammo
Finding Your Norinco SKS Production Date
Know the production details of a Norinco SKS and increase its market value.
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Norinco SKS Production | Handy Info to Keep in Your Back Pocket
Know Your Norinco SKS
Norinco SKS has one of the most difficult-to-find manufacturing dates of all the SKS rifles. These guns distributed by Chinese factories are old.
What Is an SKS Rifle? It is a semi-automatic weapon that fires rounds that measure 7.62x39mm. A Russian weapons designer, Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov, invented it.
The Chinese SKS rifle began in Russian factories during the fifties and sixties. When trade agreements and political alliances developed, Russia started overseeing the production of these firearms throughout China.
Financing and managing these factories were the Russians’ jobs until they left them to the Chinese.
These days, doing a Norinco SKS serial number lookup is easy online. The Chinese marked each rifle with a factory symbol stamp along with an SKS 4-digit serial number.
The challenge is this: the countries that received these rifles from China didn’t have most of the documents with the production details.
So far, two general types of Norinco SKS rifles came from China.
These included the Typ 56 SKS or the Chinese military SKS. These were government-issued weapons.
The other was for civilian purchase. It was only available in a semi-automatic version with a dulled bayonet.
If you want to know the production information of a Chinese SKS rifle, the following may come in handy.
1. Production Date and Factory Location
https://www.instagram.com/p/l1NtCTNNqD/?tagged=sksriffle
One of the first things to look at when you want to know the production date of a Norinco SKS rifle is the symbol. It can identify the timeframe and factory location of the weapon’s production.
A diagram online will help match the SKS markings and worth of the rifle. The symbol indicates which factory the rifle came from and an estimate of the production date.
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For example, most of the Chinese SKS for sale may come from Factory 26. Many of these rifles have a variety of symbols that all lead back to the same factory.
Note, though, these symbols will only a give you a rough estimate of the production decade. There were only about 24 million SKS rifles produced throughout China.
If the SKS matching serial numbers are in the first million, then those rifles would have between 1971 and 1978 as production years.
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2. Other SKS
The origin of SKS rifles produced in other countries is easier to find. They tend to provide adequate documentation of their production facilities during trade agreements.
There is a quick online search for SKS rifles coming from countries other than Russia. You only need to type in the make, model, and serial number.
3. Stock Condition and Aftermarket SKS Accessories
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgRSKD7hj86/?tagged=sksaccessories
Sourcing a rifle’s production time includes researching the monetary value of that rifle. The Norinco SKS price can remain the same as long as the gun is in stock.
The Norinco SKS parts should also be original and in good condition. These include the wood, bayonet, and internal components.
If all the serial numbers match the engravings on the lower assembly, shoulder stock, and barrel, then the value of that SKS should hold.
- Unique Wooden Toggle Closure System (plastic buckle, never corroded)
- Holds loaded stripper clips
- Very rare Chinese Navy surplus
Firearms owners who customize their SKS rifles with composite furniture, aftermarket rails, optics, forward pistol grips, and upgraded trigger assemblies usually assume their rifle’s monetary value goes up. This is not always the case.
Watch this video by Alden Morris to know more about dating your Norinco Chinese SKS:
Many of these SKS rifles are no longer in large-scale production. It explains why they are quickly becoming collectible classics.
If you own a Norinco SKS, maintaining it in its original condition will guarantee you can hold its real value in the market.
To further increase its worth, ensure you know the provenance of your SKS rifles.
Do you have your own collection of the Norinco SKS? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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Andrew Flores
February 17, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I’m sorry to interrupt you ladies. I thought that there might be some real information in these stupid comments.
Carry on Bitches.
Fred
March 11, 2023 at 2:29 PM
anyone able to help identify this sks serial number k4911 , any help would be appreciate, yes all numbers matchd
Alvin Cooley
December 22, 2017 at 7:41 PM
Have a norinco SKS Poly Atl Ga ser # 12 03300E , no other markings spike bayonet striper clip feed Clean gun looks unfired an looks to be machined reciever , can you give me some idea of date mfg. Thanks
Oingo Boingo
June 6, 2017 at 9:49 AM
The Spike Bayonet on one that a friend of mine has is not dulled, and it came out of the Cosmoline and paper wrap like that. It’s bone stock except for a removable buttstock extension to improve length of pull.
The metal work is flawless and it runs great. Those that badrap Norinco small arms metallurgy don’t know what they’re talking about. The guy also has a Norinco 1911A1 that’s really nice and was freely available in The USA before the Commie pervert rat Bill Clinton put a stop to Chinese small arms importation
Subcomandante Goatz
September 22, 2017 at 12:49 PM
Your Republicans have been in power since January, and I notice they have done squat about repealing the import ban. Oh, that’s right, the gun makers who fund the NRA are only interested in selling their guns, not your rights when it comes to foreign competition.
BTW – The SKS is a great Communist rifle that the Viet Cong used with great effect in killing American Imperialist scum while liberating their country from our puppet in Hanoi.
Oingo Boingo
September 22, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Yo, Slobbermouth…the Grunts on the ground in Viet Nam were made to be there, and some volunteered because they were brainwashed with The Official Feral Gubbamint Jive and Lies.
The ZOG “Imperialist scum” were, and their descendants are,The Deep State string pullers that are NOT Americans; the bastards are just here to rip off as much as they can…for their unclean pleasure and that of the illegitimate terror state of Israel.
Flush out your headgear…and SNAP OUT OF IT !
Subcomandante Goatz
September 23, 2017 at 1:02 AM
The grunts on the ground were baby killers. The only honorable options with Vietnam were either to escape to Canada, or refuse to serve, and go to prison. The day some shit-bag set foot in-country, they willingly joined a war crime. The fact that you are a Nazi piece of shit becomes obvious from your ZOG bullshit. Your ZOG is just Jewish folks being effective Capitalists, and better than in-bred fools like you.
Oingo Boingo
September 23, 2017 at 10:37 AM
Choke to death on your Shabbos Goyim servile, bullshit buying, stooge bile and vitriol, you raving sub-genius, Proto-Commie dumbass PoS.
Subcomandante Goatz
September 25, 2017 at 10:15 PM
So you’re admitting to be a Nazi piece of shit? Grear, we won’t even think of sending any of your family for re-education. Thank you comrade for volunteering everyone related to you for a life of mine clearing!
Oingo Boingo
September 26, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Drop dead, Asshole; do it today.
Subcomandante Goatz
September 27, 2017 at 7:34 PM
Sorry, can’t do that. My rabbi taught me suicide is a sin, although helping a Nazi pos like you die would be a mitzvah. On top of that, the Party only allows suicide in the course of a mission to destroy Capitalism!
Oingo Boingo
September 27, 2017 at 8:06 PM
Commie Bottom Boi, feces smearer, jizz gargler sez…WHUT ?
Subcomandante Goatz
September 30, 2017 at 1:03 AM
You are amazingly stupid. Especially since you are a Fascist piece of shit using the name of a band full of leftists. Let me guess, you’re the asshole that everybody at the range hates because your weapons discharge at random!
Oingo Boingo
September 30, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Wrong again, Corporal Assmonkey.
I’m done with your raving, psycho excuse for a personality.
So, stop hanging around the trashcans in back of my place; and hit the road back to Nowheresville, the place where you were randomly spawned…and are commonly known as a knob gobbler.
aa aaa
October 29, 2017 at 11:31 PM
58,260 dead Vs 2.5 million dinks. Scoreboard boy, scoreboard. In military terms that’s a massacre.
Subcomandante Goatz
October 30, 2017 at 10:36 PM
Yes, America loves to slaughter people who dare to refuse to bend the knee to them. Still, they drove America out, united their country under Communism, and are still in power.
Mad props to my Communist comrades!
aa aaa
October 31, 2017 at 3:58 PM
Japs, you forgot to mention nuking Japs. Roll on troll!