• The Comprehensive Chinese SKS Survey Version 2.0

  • Thank you for clicking on this Comprehensive Chinese SKS Survey v2.0!  I have updated the survey using lessons learned from the original Chinese Survey that was active from April 2014 through March 2017.  This survey is meant as a quick and efficient way to help build our knowledge of the Chinese SKS.  I am looking for information on any Chinese specimen you might have - any configuration, any year, any arsenal is ok to enter.  Please note that heavily modified (bubba'd) firearms are of very little use to me beyond the information shown on the receiver.  Though the communist governments of old did not share or publicize any information about their arms industry, we are able to tease out many details by simply looking at a large cross section of a country's firearms with common features, serial numbers, stampings, etc.

    It should be made exceptionally clear: Under no circumstances do I want to collect any information that might tie any particular firearm to any particular owner.  I'm intending the submission of this form to be confidential (well as confidential as the internet can be these days).

    Unfortunately, because I'm not requiring any ID vetting process, the data collected could easily be corrupted by anyone who decides to 'have some fun' by inputting bogus data. Please DO NOT input bogus data into this survey, it is a waste of my time as well as yours.  

    To ensure data reliability, NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT AT LEAST A LEGIBLE PHOTO OF THE ARSENAL STAMP AND SERIAL NUMBER ON THE RECEIVER.  If you are unwilling to provide the entire S/N, you may blur or otherwise obscure the last digit only.  I will automatically discard any entries without a legible S/N or with more than the last digit obscurred.  

    I've managed to whittle this survey down to around 30 questions.  You will need a photo of the SKS receiver with legible S/N ready to go as the survey cannot be started without at least this photo.  You should have your SKS handy, already broken down into the various sub-components, with good lighting to note any of the features asked about over the next several pages.  

    If you have additional photos you would like to share, you will be able to upload them after the survey is complete.

    Thank you,

    RM (running-man@sks-files.com)

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  • Upload receiver photo
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  • Receivers

    This section deals with aspects of the receiver.

  • 1) What is the serial number of your SKS?  The serial number of the firearm is the receiver number and is always located on the left side of the receiver (opposite the charging handle).  If you are unsure, include all digits grouped with the S/N on the same line including any letters.

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  • 2) What factory arsenal stamping (if any), is present on the left side of the receiver?

    • Triangle Section 

    • 2.1) What does the triangle shaped stamp most look like.  Note that your mark may not exactly match these options.  If your mark is not here or you are in doubt, select 'other', type a description and consider providing a photo of the stamp at the end of the survey.


    • All triangle factory stamp renderings courtesy of Loose{}Cannon Ⓒ 2017, All Rights Reserved.

      Photos from various auction sites and internet postings used under 17 U.S. Code § 107, fair use, not for profit educational purposes.

    • End of Triangle Section 
    • Rectangle Section 

    • 2.1) What does the mark most look like.  Note that your mark may not exactly match these options.  If your mark is not here or you are in doubt, select 'other', type a description and consider providing a photo of the stamp at the end of the survey.


    • All rectangle factory stamp renderings courtesy of Mitch Speth & Running-Man Ⓒ 2017, All Rights Reserved.

      Photos from various auction sites and internet postings used under 17 U.S. Code § 107, fair use, not for profit educational purposes.

    • End of Rectangle Section 
    • Oval Section 

    • 2.1) What does the mark most look like.  Note that your mark may not exactly match these options.  If your mark is not here or you are in doubt, select 'other', type a description and consider providing a photo of the stamp at the end of the survey.


    • All oval factory stamp renderings courtesy of Mitch Speth & Running-Man Ⓒ 2017, All Rights Reserved.

      Photos from various auction sites and internet postings used under 17 U.S. Code § 107, fair use, not for profit educational purposes.

       

    • End of Oval Section 
    • Diamond Section 

    • 2.1) What does the mark most look like.  Note that your mark may not exactly match these options.  If your mark is not here or you are in doubt, select 'other', type a description and consider providing a photo of the stamp at the end of the survey.


    • All diamond factory stamp renderings courtesy of Running-Man Ⓒ 2017, All Rights Reserved.

      Photos from various auction sites and internet postings used under 17 U.S. Code § 107, fair use, not for profit educational purposes.

    • End of Diamond Section 
    • Text Only Section 

    • 2.1) What does the mark most look like.  Note that your mark may not exactly match these options.  If your mark is not here or you are in doubt, select 'other', type a description and consider providing a photo of the stamp at the end of the survey.


    • Photos from various auction sites and internet postings used under 17 U.S. Code § 107, fair use, not for profit educational purposes.

    • End of Text Only Section 

    • 3) On receivers with threaded barrels, on the left side (side opposite charging handle), near the front on the flat before the round transition begins where the barrel meets the receiver, there is often a number stamped.  Is there a stamped number on your receiver?  If so, please identify it.  If not, indicate "none".

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    • What is the number you see?

    • 4) Besides the marks discussed above, the serial number, and the obvious import stamp (discussed later), are there any other legible markings on the left side (side opposite charging handle) of the receiver?  If so please document them as best you can.

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    • 5) Now lets look at the other side (right, or charging handle side) of the receiver.  Are there Chinese characters on the right side that look somewhat like this?

      公安= gōng ān.  Translates to: "Security Forces"

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    • 6) Besides the marks discussed above, the serial number, and the obvious import stamp (discussed later), are there any other legible markings on the right side (side with the charging handle) of the receiver?  If so please document them as best you can.

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    • 7) Now turn the receiver upside down to loook at the bottom surfaces.  Besides the marks discussed above, the serial number, and the import stamp discussed in question 10 below, are there any other markings on the bottom side of the receiver?  If so please document them as best you can.

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  • Receivers (cont.)

    This section deals with aspects of the receiver.

  • 8)  There are three basic types of receivers: milled, stamped, and cast.  Milled receivers were the original design received from the Russians in 1956.  The Chinese experimented with stamped receivers in 1970 and 1971 on [0138] arsenal guns.  These have conspicuous reinforcing rivets.  Cast receivers came out in the early to mid 70's and are generally recognized by their 'orange peel' surface finish, mold parting lines, and extra (usually vertical) reinforcing pins used to secure barrels to the receiver.  Milled receivers cover 99% of everything out there and will often have horizontal pins to hold in pinned barrels.  If in doubt, leave at milled.

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  • 9)  Most US imported guns are required by the government to have an import mark consisting of the name of the importer, the type of firearm, the caliber, and the company home office location.  For Chinese SKS rifles imported in the 80's and 90's, the import stamp is often on the receiver though it can realistically be anywhere on the gun, including under the receiver cover.  Please look over your barreled receiver and find the import mark.  Pick the closest match to your import mark.  If your stamp is not in the list, please select other and enter the information as best you can.

  • 10)  The takedown lever attached to the rear right of the receiver comes in two main forms: an early version with the tab on top of the lever, and a late version with the tab on bottom.  Aftermarket receiver covers and tech sights will often contain a bolt or other type of attachment method that replaces the takedown lever alltogether.  Please indicate the type of takedown latch you have.

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  • Barrels

    This section deals with aspects of the barrel.

  • 11)  SKS Barrels come in three different styles: Threaded Long Lug, Threaded Short Lug, and Pressed & Pinned.  Please indicate what type of barrel you have.

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  • 12)  At the bottom of the barrel on many models, there is often a number stamped.  Please see if your rifle has this stamp and enter it below.

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  • 13)  If there are any stampings anywhere else on the barrel, please type a description of them here.

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  • 14)  Chinese SKS barrels were all originally manfactured as 20 1/2" length from the crown to the bolt face.   Exporters and importers in the 80's and 90's often customized these original barrels to make shorter rifles, often cutting them down almost to the legal rifle limit of 16" which were quite common.  18 1/2" guns are very uncommon and often have nuetered bayonet mounts as well.  What is the length of your barrel?

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  • Barrels (cont.)

    This section deals with aspects of the barrel.

  • 15)  The front ferrule attached to the barrel gives us important information about what original bayonet was on the rifle.  Please indicate the configuration of the bayonet notch in the front ferrule

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  • 16)  The gas block directs gas from the barrel into the gas system to cycle the gun.  As time went on, these gas blocks changed from a milled piece of hardware to something that was cast.  What type of gas block do you have on your firearm?

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  • 17)  The front sight block contains the bayonet lug where the bayonet attaches to the rifle.  Please indicate the type of bayonet lug you have on your rifle.

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  • 18)  The rear sight block contains the rear sight as well as the op rod.  There were 4 main types of rear sight blocks used in the Chinese SKS.  Please choose the type you have from the choices below.

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  • 19)  The rear sight ladder is attached to the rear sight block.  During different periods, the Chinese used tens of different rear sight ladders with minor marking variations, but generally utilized 4 major distinct battle sight settings along with special rear sight ladders for certain commercial guns.  Pease indicate which rear sight ladder you have below.

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  • Stocks

    This section deals with aspects of the stock.
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  • 20)  What size is the font for the S/N?  Measuring with calipers is the most accurate, but a ruler is OK too.  Please give your best estimate.


  • 21)  Stocks have a rear sling swivel attached to them.  The Chinese changed from one type to another on these swivels on at least three different occasions.  Please indicate what type of sling swivel you have on your stock

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  • 22)  Some Chinese Stocks have a larger cutout above the trigger group safety lever to to facilitate the easier operation of the safety. Please indicate whether you have a short or long safety cutout in your stock. 

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  • 23)  Stocks are often proof stamped at the factory with a triangle and number stamp.  Other times such as during refurbishment or for quality control, stocks can have other features stamped on them.  Please look over the stock and indicated any factory stampings you see (if any).

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  • Other Components

    This section deals with aspects of all the other components of the firearm.

  • 24)  Besides the receiver, other components of the firearm should have stamped or electropencilled numbers on them that match some portion of the receiver number.  The Chinese often utilized the last X digit numbers from the receiver on the non-receiver components of the firearm for tracking and fittment purposes.  For each individually numbered component that matches the last digits of the receiver S/N, please fill in the number of digits in the radio box below.  If a component is blank or does not match, you may leave the checkbox blank or enter "does not match".

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  • 25)  Turn the handguard right side up.  Look closely at the joint between the metal of the gas tube and the transition to where it gets covered by the handguard.  A single piece gas tube will have a large fillet with no seam.  A two piece gas tube will have a very small fillet and a visible seam in this area.  Please identify which type of gas tube you have.

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  • 26)  Trigger groups come in three styles, milled, stamped, and cast.  The differences are subtle, but unmistakeable.  Which type do you have?

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  • Other Components (cont.)

    This section deals with aspects of all the other components of the firearm.

  • 27)  What style is your magazine?  Note that the follower of the late style magazine has a noticable twist to it and the spot welds in the late magazines are unfinished and are highly visible.

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  • 28)  Look at the side of your bolt carrier near the charging handle below the guide slot.  Early carriers had an oval shaped 'lightening' cut here to help improve the function of the rifle and reduce overall weight.  This feature was eliminated as the design matured.  Does your bolt carrier have this feature?

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  • 29)  What type of bayonet do you have?

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  • 30)  Look at how your bayonet attaches to the bayonet lug.  Is there a removable, but peened in place screw, or is there a permanent rivet holding the bayonet in place?

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  • Final Photo Upload and Submit

    This section deals with final photo uploads, user comments and final survey submission.

  • 31)  Excellent, you are now done with the survey!  If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please enter them here now.  If there are any glaring errors in this survey or things that I may have left out, please help me address them.  We keep seeing new things with each entry!

    Note: If you have a specific question you'd like an answer to about your rifle, you can leave an email address or an SKS-Files/Gunboards ID here and I'll do my best to get in touch with you.  This is, obviously totally optional and I'll do my absolute best to keep your infomation strictly confidential.

    You can also contact me directly via private message at www.sks-files.com or send me a direct email at running-man@sks-files.com.

    Thank you for entering your data, you contribution to the knowledge set of these cold war artifacts are greatly appreciated!

    -RM

  • For the final step, if you have any additional photographs that you want to upload along with the survey showing unusual features, interesting variants, or something that doesn't quite conform to the usual configuration, please upload them here.  

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