SKS with Bring Back Papers
I've had this SKS for about 15 years. A good friend and former Special Forces who just passed away gave me this gun with the papers. I hadn't looked at it in over 6 years but, maybe I was thinking of him, decided to pull it out. I have no idea if it is Chinese or not. It doesn't have the Star that I've seen some of the Russian made SKSs have. It also doesn't have a "triangle" with "26" or any other number. It simply has a five digit serial number on about five places. There are a couple of stamps on the barrel, one is a small circle with a dot in the middle. The gun itself is pretty beat up, has a flat bayonet, the cleaning rod is just one short piece with a threaded end and there is nothing in the butt of the rifle where the cleaning kit or whatever was. Like I said, it is pretty rough looking.
The question I have is this. What sites should I look to to identify this weapon? I can dig out the bring back papers. I've haven't looked at them in years. There are several pages and I recall the serial numbers match the papers.
The question I have is this. What sites should I look to to identify this weapon? I can dig out the bring back papers. I've haven't looked at them in years. There are several pages and I recall the serial numbers match the papers.
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Post some photos right here, we have plenty of members who will be able to identify your rifle. 0 -
The site at this link
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS.htm
has a lot of excellent information and photos on the various SKS's made/used by the nations of the communist bloc.0 -
Less words. . .more pictures! [;)] 
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Ok, hopefully these photos will help... 0 -
I also found the bring back papers. They are the DD603, DD603-1, the Temporary Export License, and the Firearms Export License. The first three documents are all dated July 1, 1969. The forth document is in Vietnamese dated 28 thang 9 nam 1969 0 -
The "Bring-Back" papers are a definite plus value wise. If the individual's service record named in these papers can be obtained showing him to be a member of a noted SF unit, it would add substantially to its value to a collector.
I would suggest you go to the link I gave you in the previous post. It has links to a number of SKS collectors and forums. Research these sources for information on your SKS, as it almost appears to be a sterile version, i.e. no obvious country of origin. This might also point to use, by some sort of clandestine unit?0 -
I collect older military service weapons, and let me just say this...
Don't ever say one of them looks "rough looking". You are holding in your hands a noble and righteous firearm. It served it's soldier well.
It killed many of his enemies. It helped decide politics that affected
millions of people. It should be caressed and displayed with honor next to the M14"s , M16"s, M1"s, SMLE"s, AK"s, K98"s and every gun any GI of any country took into battle. To me that gun is prettier than a new
Holland & Holland. Image if it could talk...the stories it would tell.... JMHO bob0 -
Doug, you've done a good job of analyzing the rifle, but I don't think we will ever know FOR SURE where your rifle was made. After all, we lost the Viet Nam War, so we never got a chance to root through NVA records.
Most arms used during the war by the NVA were made in either Russia or China. We know what Russian SKS's look like, as all those imported into the US were made for the Russian military. On the other hand, all Chinese SKS's imported into the US were made for export, so all markings were for the benefit of commerce; rifles made for the Chinese military & their allies are only seen in the form of "bring backs" like yours, & wouldn't be expected to have identifying markings. It is likely that your rifle is Chinese.
The "bring back" papers certainly add to the value, but will not provide any meaningful information. Even if they show a country of origin, that will just be some officer's guess.
Neal0 -
DWilson, sorry to hear of your Vet friend's passing, however long ago. For him to give to you this hard earned piece of hardware is where all value lays. That said, agree with above posted links for further study. The Ruskies did produce SKS's without factory markings/stamps. However, this is not a "clean" weapon, (ie for special op's), for it does have ser. # and other markings. My guess, from limitied study and as also stated above, limited records or access to Commie block stuff, I'd say this is a Ruskie SKS. The wood finsh more simulates with other Ruskies, as well as the font of the lettering, rather than the Chinese. Ah, but also, from somewhere I read that North Vietsham had a factory producing SKS's, that was later bombed into a parking lot. So.... ?
Hope the posts here, DWIlson, aid with your endevor.
45er. Oh, PS--- Safety... I would not attempt to shoot this piece, as per the very corroded reciever face would not trust for a full lock-up on the cartridge, which could speil hot gasses into one's face, or worse. To end... that above comment,"After all, we lost the Viet Nam War...", I highly debunk such rubbish. It was South Vietsham who lost their little war after it was passed back to their ever-lousy care. Well known fact U.S. fine soldiers won every major battle, disregarding the politicians efforts to tie up there hands to do so. Done right, this might have been over with, ala Korea, in a sort time. Enough said.0 -
Hey DWilson,
You find out more, let us know please. As can tell, lots of interested folks here in your keepsake history. It's not all, "how much is my here pea-shooter worth?" just for the auctions sake!
And nmeyers, I calmed down abit after reacting to the "lost the war" bit. Please don't take personaly, as I've read your posts here for quite some time now and respect most what you say. The Nam is just a topic gets me fired up too fast, for highly personal reasons. Hope this gives an inkling idea where I come from, and forgive any mis-forgivings. Least in this country, we each can even give such opinions, yes?
Best,
45er0
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