Romanian SKS??

TexasD · 01-07-2008, 10:32 AM

Are there any definite clues to identify a Romainian SKS? I have found what I think is one because on the left rear of the receiver is a mark of a triangle with an arrow in it, but it has no circle around it. It is in a plastic stock so no help there. I cannot find any importers mark or anything but the serial and the mark I have already mentioned. The pawn shop has it listed as a Norinco but it does not have the 3 chinese symbols on the receiver. The metal parts appear in good to very good condition and the bore looks to be chrome lined. He has a price of $249.99 on it is that a fair price? Thanks, David

Earl Easter · 01-07-2008, 11:48 AM

TexasD
Perhaps the most difficult to accurately figure out the correct year as it is not stamped anywhere on the weapon. The original SKS was first made at the Jianshe Arsenal in 1956. The Jianshe Arsenal used a 26 inside a triangle as it's factory stamp. These are referred to as the Sino-Soviet models and are characterized by a 4 digit serial number preceded by a non numeric letter or symbol. These early SKS's had no Chinese characters stamped on the receiver. These characters translated to Type 56, the model designation of the Chinese SKS were found on later SKS's. These guns were referred to as a Type 56 Carbine by the Chinese.
Romania
Used the entire year stamped after the serial number. They were manufactured at the Cugir plant in Romania from the late 50's into the early 60's. The only dates that have been verified were from 1957, 1958, 1959 & 1960. There are reports of Romanian SKS's without the year stamped on them. They are more than likely, as in the case of the Albanian's, either prior to 1957 or after 1960 with the latter being the most reasonable. The same thing was also found in the Russian SKS's. Romanian SKS's are referred to as a Model 56.

Check out This Address
http://www.yooperj.com/sks-24.htm
The info above is from that site, but you know how that goes.

Philip · 01-07-2008, 04:37 PM

bad link

GlockMeister · 01-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Try these sites to maybe help identify it. The first link shows pictures of the various country SKSs.

Collecting and Shooting the SKS Carbine - HISTORY

Yugo SKS Variations

G_Meister

Big Dog · 01-07-2008, 06:47 PM

"Triangle with an arrow in it" - sounds like a Russian. Basic Izzy arsenal mark.

TexasD · 01-08-2008, 02:29 AM

Earl & G_Meister

Thank you all for the information and links.

Big Dog

It isn't like an Izzy mark, at least the ones on my Mosins. It is just a very plain arrow with no feathers inside the triangle and no circle.

Thanks again, David

Well I just found the code and it appears to be Chinese. It is the second mark from the right at this link:

chcode

Thanks again

Big Dog · 01-08-2008, 07:29 PM

Ah! You're the first one I've heard of to own an SKS with that mark!

TexasD · 01-13-2008, 08:52 AM

Now I am really confused because I have found another site that shows the same arsenal mark for a Romanian

ROMANIA:

ROMANIA
(1957 - 1962)

I was once believed that Romania did not manufacture the SKS carbine. If a rifle were discovered in the past with the Romanian stamp, it was assumed the rifle was Chinese because the firing pin on the two rifles look very similar. Mr. Poyer, co-author of The SKS Carbine, writes in the recently published Guns and Ammo Surplus Firearms #7 annual magazine about his surprise when he eventually did confirm Romania's involvement in SKS manufacture. Both he and his co-author were told by the Romainan embassy in Washington D.C. that NO SKS carbines were EVER manufactured in that country. Since these rifles are rather new on the U.S. SKS market, not much else is known about them at this time. The most interesting aspect of Romanian SKS's is the year it started production. One year after the Chinese began manufacturing SKS's, the Romanians started their production. Now I'm curious to know the start date of Yugoslavian production. Did the Russian technicians do a "road tour" of newly emerging communist countries starting SKS production plants to shore up the governments of these new allies?

Now I am back to square one.

Big Dog · 01-13-2008, 07:39 PM

I believe the Yugoslavians began in 1959 - as in "M59" SKS. So, a few years AFTER the Russkies left China.

01-07-2008, 10:32 AM	#1
TexasD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 130	Romanian SKS?? Are there any definite clues to identify a Romainian SKS? I have found what I think is one because on the left rear of the receiver is a mark of a triangle with an arrow in it, but it has no circle around it. It is in a plastic stock so no help there. I cannot find any importers mark or anything but the serial and the mark I have already mentioned. The pawn shop has it listed as a Norinco but it does not have the 3 chinese symbols on the receiver. The metal parts appear in good to very good condition and the bore looks to be chrome lined. He has a price of $249.99 on it is that a fair price? Thanks, David

01-07-2008, 04:37 PM	#3
Philip Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 149	bad link __________________ i am not trying to jam a round up a fly's butt @100 yds. --- billy

01-07-2008, 06:00 PM	#4
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 9,676	Try these sites to maybe help identify it. The first link shows pictures of the various country SKSs. Collecting and Shooting the SKS Carbine - HISTORY Yugo SKS Variations G_Meister __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke"

01-07-2008, 06:47 PM	#5
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,920	"Triangle with an arrow in it" - sounds like a Russian. Basic Izzy arsenal mark. __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

01-08-2008, 02:29 AM	#6
TexasD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 130	Earl & G_Meister Thank you all for the information and links. Big Dog It isn't like an Izzy mark, at least the ones on my Mosins. It is just a very plain arrow with no feathers inside the triangle and no circle. Thanks again, David Well I just found the code and it appears to be Chinese. It is the second mark from the right at this link: chcode Thanks again Last edited by TexasD; 01-08-2008 at 02:45 AM.

01-07-2008, 11:48 AM	#2
Earl Easter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,133 Images: 20	TexasD Perhaps the most difficult to accurately figure out the correct year as it is not stamped anywhere on the weapon. The original SKS was first made at the Jianshe Arsenal in 1956. The Jianshe Arsenal used a 26 inside a triangle as it's factory stamp. These are referred to as the Sino-Soviet models and are characterized by a 4 digit serial number preceded by a non numeric letter or symbol. These early SKS's had no Chinese characters stamped on the receiver. These characters translated to Type 56, the model designation of the Chinese SKS were found on later SKS's. These guns were referred to as a Type 56 Carbine by the Chinese. Romania Used the entire year stamped after the serial number. They were manufactured at the Cugir plant in Romania from the late 50's into the early 60's. The only dates that have been verified were from 1957, 1958, 1959 & 1960. There are reports of Romanian SKS's without the year stamped on them. They are more than likely, as in the case of the Albanian's, either prior to 1957 or after 1960 with the latter being the most reasonable. The same thing was also found in the Russian SKS's. Romanian SKS's are referred to as a Model 56. Check out This Address http://www.yooperj.com/sks-24.htm The info above is from that site, but you know how that goes.

01-08-2008, 07:29 PM	#7
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,920	Ah! You're the first one I've heard of to own an SKS with that mark! __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

01-13-2008, 08:52 AM	#8
TexasD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 130	Now I'm really confused Now I am really confused because I have found another site that shows the same arsenal mark for a Romanian ROMANIA: ROMANIA (1957 - 1962) I was once believed that Romania did not manufacture the SKS carbine. If a rifle were discovered in the past with the Romanian stamp, it was assumed the rifle was Chinese because the firing pin on the two rifles look very similar. Mr. Poyer, co-author of The SKS Carbine, writes in the recently published Guns and Ammo Surplus Firearms #7 annual magazine about his surprise when he eventually did confirm Romania's involvement in SKS manufacture. Both he and his co-author were told by the Romainan embassy in Washington D.C. that NO SKS carbines were EVER manufactured in that country. Since these rifles are rather new on the U.S. SKS market, not much else is known about them at this time. The most interesting aspect of Romanian SKS's is the year it started production. One year after the Chinese began manufacturing SKS's, the Romanians started their production. Now I'm curious to know the start date of Yugoslavian production. Did the Russian technicians do a "road tour" of newly emerging communist countries starting SKS production plants to shore up the governments of these new allies? Now I am back to square one.

01-13-2008, 07:39 PM	#9
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,920	I believe the Yugoslavians began in 1959 - as in "M59" SKS. So, a few years AFTER the Russkies left China. __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield