Need some help on this one. Kinda different from my others. Only markings are a small "a" in front 4 numbers. And a very light stamped factory /26\. Looks to have an early bolt and one-piece gas tube. Rifle is all matching. I just have never seen these markings or rifle without many. Thanks ahead of time. Picked it up rather cheap.
(https://i.ibb.co/k3tndbN/1s.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/3mQ3sff/2s.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/YcRSTtk/3s.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/3rXDnz1/4s.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Rvnxqy2)
(https://i.ibb.co/BZjPhwx/5s.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/D5SqH32/6s.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/pQDJyCk/7s.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8b36cFQ)
Looks to be a Chinese letter gun manufactured in 1959 or 1960. Many other sites call these carbines "Sino-Soviet" guns and claim they are the earliest built. This is incorrect, they were produced *after* the Ghost guns (Type 56 SKSs without arsenal stamps having early features and and in a known S/N range built in 1956/57), the six digit /26\ (early 1957), 2 mil (year 2, mid/late 1957) /26\, and 3 mil (year 3, 1958) /26\.
The photos are coming in as small / low resolution so I can't 100% make out some of the details, but most of what I can see points that way. Looks like it may be a refurbishment, likely it has a replacement stock. It should have a side swivel with the same A20XX S/N. Is it all matching? The third numeral on either the receiver or bolt carrier look a bit funny to me (either a 3 or a 4?)...perhaps a multiple or mis stamp? Looks like it is in relatively good shape. Congrats! thumb1
Looks too nice to be a vet, very pretty my precious....PAX
Definitely a beauty! Probably refurbished given its age and excellent condition but a beauty nonetheless. The receiver still has the dual tone from the original heat treatment, so that hasn’t been reblued.
OP your avatar looks like the trail to Mordor, PAX
Quote from: echo1 on November 07, 2023, 11:58:37 AM
OP your avatar looks like the trail to Mordor, PAX
Taken from Fire Lookout MT next to MT Hood(Mountain) in Oregon. The foreground tree just was there for the taking. "Thank You All" for the help on this one. I researched and I was getting mixed comments on it being a ghost gun. As Running-Man cleared that up. Import marking on front left side of the barrel behind FSB.It had me stumped because of the small "a".