There is a lot of controversy about Norinco's and Bayonet legality. If you look at TFL archives, there are several good threads about the subject.
I pulled out one post by Gewehr98, which I think summarized the issue well:
Gewehr98
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-30-2000
Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Posts: 2,207 I've only had my FFL for three years...
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But I bought a Norinco SKS in 1989, then a Yugoslavian SKS last year. Here's another way to look at the problem.
There are three groups of Chinese SKS's you have to deal with:
1. definite pre-ban, bayonet allowed
2. The "fuzzy years" between the bayonet ban and at least 1992
3. 1992+ imports through to Bubba Clinton's import ban on all Chinese munitions and
materials under the guise of punishing them for human rights abuses.
The group (3) 1992 and beyond is easy...many have bayonet lugs ground off, and
all serial numbers start with (usually) a 92xxxxxx. I dont remember any other
prefix years other than 92 though I vaguely recall maybe seeing a 91. Bayonets
on these, provided there is something to attach one to, makes u an instant
crimminal...not that I've heard of anyone ever getting busted for that alone.
Play with these at highest risk
The (1) and (2) groups are where the question lies, as often they are
indistinguishable without a bayonet attached. The only way FOR SURE, is to do a
serial number trace with ATF importation records.
In general though, if you know the rifle was bought originally with a bayonet
prior to '90 or so, or it has little or no markings other than in chinese (i.e.
no "Norinco" stamping) and no year prefix on the serial number, you can fairly
safely assume it is a preban and can have a bayonet and all the other evil stuff
like detach mags, folding stocks & whatever. Most SKS's sold after say 1990
thru the Chinese import ban, saw the bayonets being removed regardless of when
they were actually imported. A similar thing was going on with "assault
weapons" during this period which is where the hybrid "Dock Guns" (intermediates
between true '89 pre-ban "AW's" and later PC versions) came from. This was done
via negotiations with ATF on release of these from customs, and it took 2 or 3+
years before Dock Guns began to appear. Anyway, this is the result of stupid
unclear laws and dumbing down to the path of least resistance (no SKS bayonet).
This is why there are 10's of thousands of chinese sks bayonets out there
forsale; they were stripped off groups 1 and (mainly) 2 SKS's before leaving
commercial warehouses and/or customs warehouses.
If this sounds confusing it is, because the laws and guidelines are.
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Now, at issue here is the fact that the guns in question were at a pawn shop. What is the liklihood that a pawn shop is going to have paperwork certifying that these guns are legal Pre-bans?