Hey guys. I saw this forum and it seemed like a good place to go to get my question answered. I recently bought an SKS Type 56 Rifle (Chinese), and I was curious about its legality. More specifically I am refering to the folding blade bayonet it has on it. This isn't a replica or anything, its a real unissued rifle. I hope that it's fine, because I'd rather not have to remove the bayonet or worse, get rid of the rifle. Thanks a bunch.
SKS Type 56 Rifle
- Thread starter Erethon
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TrafficMan
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- Oct 17, 2005
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No Worries. It's Fine. 
Limeyfellow
Member
It depends on the date it was imported. Those imported after 1989 had to have their bayonets removed to become legal under the new ban on assault rifle type features introducted by the Bush government. Now you have two ways that it can have a bayonet legally. If it was imported before this date its considered preban and the bayonet is legal. Of course the ATF will demand proof of this since they kept no records of serial numbers that are preban and postban. Unfortantly very few of the importers put dates with their importion marks either and once again the atf has no list of all the importers either. Typical federal department.
The other is to have no more than 10 foreign parts on the rifle and the rest to be all US parts. Again you will need to proof they are all US parts.
Of course they are not classed as Curio and Relics that would allow their import with bayonets since the 1992 ban on all chinese firearms imports after sanctions were made due in response to Tiananmen Square. protests a few years before.
The current laws on foreign military rifles imports are rather strict like that.
The other is to have no more than 10 foreign parts on the rifle and the rest to be all US parts. Again you will need to proof they are all US parts.
Of course they are not classed as Curio and Relics that would allow their import with bayonets since the 1992 ban on all chinese firearms imports after sanctions were made due in response to Tiananmen Square. protests a few years before.
The current laws on foreign military rifles imports are rather strict like that.
Well the man we bought if from said it had been in a warhouse for like 20+ years or something like that. I believe he said that it was imported before the Clinton thing, which is why this was more rare, due to further imports not being allowed.
EDIT: I thought I would put the stuff which is stamped on the gun also. On the left side of the gun near the chamber there is some triangle symbol thing and next to it is some chinese writing. To the right of that is a number stamped (8016943) on it followed by "Interstate Arms Billerica, MA." On the right side also near the chamber it says "SKS Made in China by Norinco." Under that it says "Cal. 7.62x39 MM CSI ONT CA." On the bottom of the integrated clip and also on the trigger guard is another number: 16943. Also there is the same number from the bottom on the cocking thingy (sorry, not very verse in the names of parts).
EDIT: I thought I would put the stuff which is stamped on the gun also. On the left side of the gun near the chamber there is some triangle symbol thing and next to it is some chinese writing. To the right of that is a number stamped (8016943) on it followed by "Interstate Arms Billerica, MA." On the right side also near the chamber it says "SKS Made in China by Norinco." Under that it says "Cal. 7.62x39 MM CSI ONT CA." On the bottom of the integrated clip and also on the trigger guard is another number: 16943. Also there is the same number from the bottom on the cocking thingy (sorry, not very verse in the names of parts).
Erethon, you can check http://www.sksboards.com/forum for a good list of laws regarding the SKS.
jmm
jmm
possum
Member
I got one exactly like it, no worries pal your good. shoot and have fun they are alot of fun and even though ammo is getting higher it is still relatively cheaper than anything else to shoot. I love mine and wouldn't get ride of it ever.
50caliber123
Member
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- Oct 31, 2005
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do you still have to play the parts game to customize it? I have a Yugo and would have to do that, but I know where I can get a Chineese type 56.
MCgunner
Member
Heck, I got one I added a folding stock, flash hider, and 20 round mag to along with some other stuff. It's a paratrooper carbine. I never worried about the legalities of it. I got it before 1989 November, honest...
By the way, I thought I'd clarify on the numbers. The one on the left side near the chamber (next to the chinese symbols) is 8016943. The one under on the gun on the clip and tigger guard (and also on the cocking thing on the chamber) is 16943. Also, does it help that the bayonet is a blade bayonet and not a spike bayonet?
Limeyfellow
Member
The Chinese symbols say Type 56 carbine and then you have its serial number afterwards. The blade bayonet usually indicates rather an early Chinese SKS and by the sound of it since it was imported before 89 you can change it at will. Its only the ones imported between 89-92 that aren't allowed the bayonets or other banned assault rifle type features on foreign imports but can be changed overwise like a different stock and so on.
Okay, thanks a bunch for the info. Now let me ask you something Limey. Are you saying I can modify my gun as I will (within reason obviously)? Isn't there a 10 item rule or something, where to modify it you have to have less than 10 items made in the US on the gun?
Limeyfellow
Member
It would be legal to alter a Yugo 59 by removing the bayonet and bayonet mount, though if you keep these features you can't change anything due to Curio and Relics status. The 59/66 is a little harder since it has the grenade launcher and under that the barrel is designed to screw on accesseries which to alter from curio and relic status would make it illegal without changing alot of parts.
MCgunner
Member
I thought the assault weapons ban was left to die?
My friend told me yesterday that in fact that is true MCgunner. I was telling him that I only have one item on that list of pre-reqs for assault weapons (bayonet attachment) so it should be fine, but then he just pointed out that the ban died and they didn't renew it.
Limeyfellow
Member
Theres more than one assault weapon ban. The one on foreign imports is still in place and infact been strengthened last year to ban the import of barrels and recievers.
One on all rifles with certain features that everyone is more common with applied to domestic rifles alone and that no longer exists so unless you 10 or less foreign part on your rifle to make it be classed as a US firearm you still have to obey the earlier 1989 ban and extra laws introduced in 2005.
One on all rifles with certain features that everyone is more common with applied to domestic rifles alone and that no longer exists so unless you 10 or less foreign part on your rifle to make it be classed as a US firearm you still have to obey the earlier 1989 ban and extra laws introduced in 2005.
Well I'm just happy that my gun is legal, even with the bayonet. I don't plan on modifying it anyways. I love it how it is.
EDIT: Decided to just add this instead of starting a new topic. If something happened to my blade bayonet but I decided I wanted a spike bayonet instead of another blade one, would it fit fine or would I have to buy something else?
EDIT: Decided to just add this instead of starting a new topic. If something happened to my blade bayonet but I decided I wanted a spike bayonet instead of another blade one, would it fit fine or would I have to buy something else?
Limeyfellow
Member
No it wouldn't fit. The spike bayonet is much longer and would require a stock designed for it.
Not only is the groove in the stock...
for the bayonet different, the stock attach fitting next to the gas block is different. The blade bayonet fitting has a slot where the spike bayonet fitting has a V notch.......Chinese SKS are not that expensive so just buy one with a spike bayonet.......chris3
for the bayonet different, the stock attach fitting next to the gas block is different. The blade bayonet fitting has a slot where the spike bayonet fitting has a V notch.......Chinese SKS are not that expensive so just buy one with a spike bayonet.......chris3
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