SKS Rules

[Bwana Earl]

While looking for a knockabout rifle to throw in the truck or hide at the cabin for emergencies, I checked out a few used SKS's.
I know just enough to be scared. What are the rules about stocks (folding, locked folders, pistol grips, thumbholes,etc), magazines (detachable, high capacity), bayonets, compensators which look like "flash hiders" and other frills I see on some of these. Are there some combinations that make the rifle illegal? I know some things are legal only if they were installed before a certain date (1994?), but how do you know if the gun was even manufactured before that date? I am sure the BATF would know, but I don't. Folding stock would be right handy, but it ain't worth 5 or 10 years!

 

[Hkmp5sd]

There are two classes of SKS rifles. The first class is called C&R. This is "Curio & Relic" which basically means the SKS is a military rifle that meets the requirements to be classified as collectible.

These are the Russian, Yugo and other SKS's that you see advertised. They also can legally have the folding bayonet installed. These rifles can only retain their C&R status if they are left unaltered, in their original configuration.

The second class of SKS is the "modern" rifle, one that has recently been manufactured. This is like those from Norinco.

Here's the legal mumbo-jumbo. In 1989, they re-classified rifles being imported to remove the non-Politically Correct guns. This decision determent that a "modern" SKS with an attached bayonet was not a sporting firearm and could not be imported.

To make them sporting firearms, the manufacturers stopped installing the bayonet. What this means is that any "modern" SKS imported prior to 1989 can have an attached bayonet. Any "modern" SKS imported after that date may not.

ATF has ruled that you may not install a folding stock on any SKS because that would result in a rifle that is not legal for importation. This includes both C&R and modern SKS's.

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_letter4.txt

 

[Bwana Earl]

Thanks Hkmp5sd for your research and insight. I am sure that all this seems reasonable to somebody. If I do choose an SKS, original configuration seems the safe route to go for a knockabout. It is the "evil gun" syndrome and it seems that even a legal alteration could bring about a misunderstanding, and a mistake could be a real problem.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I am sure that all this seems reasonable to somebody.

If you ever meet that person, be very careful.

Since the SKS does not have a detachable magazine, it is not covered by the 1994 Assault Weapon ban. You can modify the an SKS without worrying too much. The only thing you cannot do as install a folding/collapsible stock or modify it to accept detachable magazines. You can install non-folding pistol grip stocks, flash suppressors, muzzle breaks or whatever else you can come up with.

If you do decide to customize a C&R SKS, remove the bayonet. You can legally modify a C&R SKS, but as soon as you do, it is no longer a C&R and cannot have the bayonet. It is now considered a modern firearm that was imported after 1989 and must meet the criteria to a sporting rifle.