Guns International #: 102774687
Seller's Inventory #: CM24-
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Guns International #: 102774687
Category - SKS Rifles
- Norinco Rifles
1993 Vintage PRE-BAN Norinco SKS-M Model Carbine in 7.62x39
* Factory-Built SKS Designed to Use AK Magazines!! *
Description: This is a very-cool and scarce PRE-BAN 1993-production Norinco SKS model variant called the SKS-M chambered in the typical 7.62x39 cartridge. The SKS-M was the brainchild of the Chinese Norinco firm, which based the new weapon off of the standard Russian-designed SKS rifles/carbines that they had started manufacturing in 1959 directly from Sergei Simonov's original design from 1945. Norinco took their copy of the SKS that they had built for the Chinese Army/Military, and then used it as the basis from which they designed the new "M". These were brand-new carbines made from parts built specifically for this new weapon. They were NOT made from left-over parts or modified standard SKS parts. They started by redesigning the receiver itself, reducing the distance between the rear arm that houses the latch that secures the rear-end of the trigger group and the forward arm that extends down from, the receiver that the front crossbar of the trigger group latches into, and reshaping the opening on the underside of the receiver that the top of the AK magazines have to pass-thru to align the cartridges with the mouth of the barrel's chamber. The next move was shortening the barrel, which was secured into the receiver by a pin rather than by being screwed-in. They then redesigned the trigger assembly, which had been milled or stamped during various production periods, and designed a new trigger / triggerguard assembly which were all made of stamped sheet metal, shorter in length than the original, and which did away with the standard rearward-sliding latch completely, replaced with a totally new paddle-style magazine release modeled after the standard AK-47 style magazine release, and which functioned the same way as the AK's version. The magazine well was then fit with a stamped and welded steel liner positioned inside the stock and secured with three screws, which added strength and gave the detachable AK magazines more lateral support at the top. This new detachable magazine system was designed to accept ANY of the very plentiful and inexpensive military-issue/style stamped sheet metal AK magazines in circulation from the 5-round shortie that came with it, up thru the 20, 30, and 40-round curved mil-spec high-capacity magazines, all the way up to the 50, 75, and 100-round drum magazines being made in the various countries where the AK was a standard issue weapon for that country's military. Norinco also removed some of the features that were only originally incorporated into the SKS to meet military requirements like the folding spike or blade bayonet, the integral extension on the front edge of the bolt that had the stripper clip slot milled out of it, and then mounted the gun into a handsome Monte Carlo-type stock with a slightly raised comb, this type of stock almost always used on sporting rifles and not military rifles or carbines. These changes neccesited the use of a new steel lower stock ferrule without the notch for the bayonet, and eliminated the need to cut a relief slot in the bottom of the forearm to securely house the blade or spike of the deleted bayonet. These new features had never been integrated into any SKS model or variant, regardless of what country made it, or when it was made. The result was the unique variant called the Norinco Model SKS-M, designed as BOTH the ultimate design-improved SKS, as well as the perfect version of an SKS to export to the commercial gun market in the U.S.. The gun-buying public was hungry for SKS's after they became aware of how great a weapon it was following the Vietnam war, whether they faced it in battle, or handled and shot one that was brought home by one of our soldiers as a "war trophy". Because of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban these SKS-M's had a VERY SHORT PRODUCTION-RUN, manufactured for only 2 years starting in 1993 and ending in September of 1994 when the ban went into effect. Norinco was still able to import some SKS rifles after the ban by making some changes to the features and deleting certain "military-features", but the SKS-M was no more in this configuration. Even when the ban expired ten years later in 2004, The Norinco SKS-M features the same battle-tested, super-durable, and extremely-reliable semi-automatic gas "piston-actuated" action you see in all of the various SKS designs, with the only difference being the gas tube and piston are slightly shorter in length on the SKS-M than the standard SKS. This system diverts some of the hot gases generated by firing (that are pushing the bullet) to push the bolt rearward at a high velocity, which ejects the spent case during the rearward travel, then chambers the next round when rebounding forward, powered by the substantial recoil spring that reside inside and to the rear of the bolt. A piston, located inside the gas tube on top of the barrel, is the tool or means that coverts the siphoned gases from the barrel into energy that powers the piston into the bolt face at high speed and start the cycle. As mentioned earlier, this SKS-M has a shorter gas piston and gas tube than the standard model, but just by .75" of an inch (standard SKS is 9.25" / SKS-M is 8.5"). The shorter length increases the felt recoil ever so slightly, but the SKS-M is just as reliable as a standard version. The features that set this Norinco "M" apart from all of the other SKS models starts with the gun's magazine. All of the other Russian and Chinese SKS designs at that time had a 10-round integral magazine that was non-detachable in the field. This 10-round integral magazine was hinged at the front and could only be opened once the latch in front of the triggerguard is pulled rearward, but this does not generally aid in reloading the weapon. The main function of the hinged body was to quickly dump-out any rounds in the magazine, and for better access to clean out that part of the gun and/or replace/repair any worn or broken parts in it. The correct way to load an SKS with the original fixed magazine design was to lock the bolt open, inserting a full stripper clip into the clip-slot at the front of the bolt, then push the 10 rounds downward to slide them off the stripper clip into the fixed magazine, then remove the empty metal clip and pull the bolt rearward then release it to chamber a round and make it ready to shoot. The SKS-M eliminated that issue completely, by redesigning the trigger guard and magazine housing to ACCEPT ANY-SIZE GENUINE AK-47 MAGAZINES!!! This took the SKS from being a dinosaur in terms of magazine capacity and reloading speed all the way up to being equal-to or superior than any of the other military-issue battle rifle being fielded at that time. The new design kept the magazine release in basically the same place as it's predesessor, but instead of the sliding latch it used the AK-style paddle/tab that you push forward as you grip the magazine and rock it forward to remove it. This motion to insert and remove the magazine is the SAME MOTION USED WITH THE AK-47. That made it super easy to manipulate for anyone with experience handling an AK, as well as cross-train troops on handling both weapons. The other improved features of the SKS-M continue with the fitting of this Monte Carlo-style stock to this SKS variant, (which is actually what the "M" stands for in the model name of "SKS-M") which was also made longer with a length of pull of 14.25" inches. This more robust and longer stock was much better suited to the larger American shooters than the 12.5" inch LOP of the original military design, which was optimized for the smaller-statured Chinese soldiers. The raised comb of the stock still allowed for quick acquisition of the iron sights, but added just enough height to allow for a better sight picture when using optics, if the gun was so-equipped. The pistol grip of the new stock was made much larger and more pronounced in shape than the standard military-issue stock, and the vertical narrow recesses located at the rear of the pistol grip area made it very comfortable to hold and control when firing. The right side of the stock was made with a oblong recess into the wood just above the trigger, for easier access to the trigger with gloved hands, and the keel of the buttstock was fit with an inlaid sling swivel bail to match the upper sling swivel-bar mounted on the left side of the elbow connecting the barrel to the gas tube. The stock also featured a horizontal steel crossbolt that the action hooks into, and which strengthened the most vulnerable area of the wooden stock, and the buttstock was fit with a hard plastic buttplate with a serrated section in the middle for securing it in the shooter's shoulder pocket. The barrel on this model was shortened to 16.5" Inches, down from the original 20" inch length, but still features a hard-chrome-lined bore, impervious to rust and corrosive primers. The head of the gas piston that powers the action is plated with this same extremely-tough hard chrome coating to resist erosion and fouling from the super-heated gases that it isd exposed to with every shot fired. The military-required folding bayonet was deleted, as was the receiver-mounted bolt hold-open. The SKS-M bolt can only be locked back by using an empty AK magazine with the follower type that has a flat rear face that serves as a hold-open. If that type of magazine is used, the bolt will stay locked back after the last round is fired, but will close immediately if the magazine is removed from the gun. The rest of the gun remained the same as the original SKS, including the adjustable battle sights consisting of a hooded front post, and a 100 to 1000 meter adjustable rear sight with a notched blade, as well as the triggerguard mounted safety lever on the right side of the trigger. The cleaning rod remained located under the barrel and captured, and the field stripping process remained tool-less and the same as the original except for the magazine, obviously. All of the weapons functions and adjustments remained the same, and the action works the exact same way. This particular example is a 1993 manufacture piece, the first year they were made, and as mentioned earlier, is in like-new, beautiful shape with mechanics in perfect working condition. It appears to have been test-fired only, or at most had a couple of magazines fired thru it at most. The internals are just as pristine as exterior, and nothing on or inside the gun shows any mechanical wear to it. The beautiful commercial-quality factory gloss blue finish rates 98% plus, the bore is FLAT-MINT, and the stock is in superb condition with no visible cracks, chips, repairs, or major damage of any kind. The only deductions come from some scattered, extremely-minor handling/storage marks/dents in the wood. The action is super-slick, the bolt is precise in it's travel, and the action locks-up into battery with the barrel perfectly, and all of the controls on the gun feel like-new, function perfectly, and are even still stiff-feeling from not having been broken-in yet. We would be VEZRY suprised if this "M" has had more than a magazine or two fired thru it since leaving the factory in 1993. It is entirely possible that it is even unfired since being test-fired in China. Either way, this SKS-M still has 99% of it's usable service life still intact. This Norinco SKS-M is truly as good as they get, and it would be all but impossible to upgrade from this one in ANY respect. Whether you have been looking for a fun new gun to add to your collection that will be a ton of fun and inexpensive to shoot, or if you have been looking for a investment-quality SKS to add to your collection as a long-term investment, this "M" model Norinco would be a SUPERB choice. These will almost certainly NEVER be cheaper than they are right now, at this very moment, and they certainly do not get any cleaner or more-untouched than this one!!! Wait and pay more for a lessor gun on down the road, or buy this one now and be the one accumulating the appreciation they are generating, INSTEAD of the one paying for that appreciation! Price: $1,095.00 Rifle Caliber: 7.62x39mm Manufacturer: Norinco Model: SKS-M (M=Monte Carlo Stock / Detachable Magazine) Serial Number: 93 65 Barrel Length: 16.75" Inches Bore Info: Hard Chrome-Lined Bore Condition: Excellent Metal Condition: Excellent Wood Condition: Excellent Bore Condition: Mint Action: Semi-Auto Stock: Factory Monte Carlo Stock w/ Sling Swivels Butt Pad: Factory Hard Plastic Buttplate Finish: Gloss Blue Finish Sights: Iron Battle Sights w/ Adjustable Rear 100 to 1000 Meters Manufacture Date: 1993 Extras: Factory Norinco 5 round Magazine (AK mag) Contact Seller |
Guns International #: 102774687
Seller's Inventory #: CM24-
Guns International #: 102774687
Seller's Inventory #: CM24-