Found this one at a Pawn shop today for cheap, it's all matching and does not appear to be refurbished. It's a poly-tech import from back in the 80s. Looks like it's right out of the war zone, sling is dated 1968.

I'm definitely not an SKS expert but looks like any other I have seen of Chinese descent.  What makes you think its unique?  Just curious because I would like to learn more about them too.

I know some of the Chinese arsenals are more uncommon than others. I'd never seen this one before.

Its a commercial production model made for export.  Looks like a pressed and pinned barrel.  The wood on the stocks is just really soft so looking at it dings it.  

No, it's threaded and screwed into the receiver. No pins. Wood does feel cheap though.

http://yooperj.com/SKS.htm

That's a milled gun from the same factory (138) that also made the fairly uncommon STAMPED receiver SKS rifle.



I have one of the stamped guns. They are cool.

Made at arsenal 0138 which made export firearms. All Chinese issued guns will have the arsenal numbers in a triangle not a rectangle or oval. Barrel is an earlier screwed in type, trigger guard looks stamped so I'd say it's a "transitional" one made in the late '60, early '70's. Is it cut for a blade or spike bayonet?  (Probably spike).  Looking at the serial number, it may have been made for an export order that never shipped but who knows with those crazy Chinamen. I highly doubt it went through any combat/military service any where except maybe some local redneck militia.

Anyone who says they're an expert on Chinese SKS's is most likely an expert on BS as well. Not a whole lot is known about them as far as arsenals and serial numbering goes. Arsenal /26\ is the only one we really know anything about. The reason Chinese SKS's are not C&R eligible is because of China not releasing any information on their weapon making. As far as I know, China is still making SKS's for export, too bad not for us

I spent a few hours cleaning all the cosmoline out of it, I do not believe it has been fired since importation. The piston tube was packed full of it, and the piston face is not charred at all from firing, looks new. Bolt face looks new too and bolt is full of cosmo. With all the finish wear, that's just... weird. The stock is nasty and also full of cosmo so I'm going to freshen it up with some BLO.

The stock was sanded at some point.  Do the numbers on the gas tube and rear sight leaf match?  Factory marking of 0138 in a rectangle indicates the weapon was made for export according to Joe Poyers SKS collector book.  The book also says 0138 weapons were probably made at Arsenal 26.  Your SKS looks pretty good, except what appears to be a sanded stock.  No big deal, shoot it and enjoy.

Survivors sks board is what I use for all the info on my sks... when I'm not tinkering with my ar

I don't know if it is an "export" gun, but it certainly has some late features.  Notably, a barrel that is not very refined in terms of final machining that is a short shank screwed in barrel, and a stamped trigger guard.  It also looks like the bolt does not have the lightening cut, which would go along with the other late features.  Not a particularly desirable SKS, IMO.

+1 on going to Yooper J's and he just did a major addition to his site recently.  

Also you can try:

http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=3279

or this really good article

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=5329.0

Nothing special about that one.....I have quite a few, myself.

Not for commercial use...It's a standard Chinese SKS made for military use possibly export to other nations for combat use.
The barrel is standard screwed in and the stock looks normal for its age (actualy looks good).

Good looking Chinese SKS.

How "cheap"?

Not trying to start an argument here, but Medic is on the right track but not totally correct in his statement.  This 0138 has more in common with the early Sino-Soviet carbines than a Commercial copy, the screw in barrel, number locations, and machining marks give it away.  I would venture to guess its intended use was "foreign military aid", not a civilian export but even I may be wrong, but this would be my guess.  The stock has definitely been sanded, the finger grooves should be sharper than that and it's doesn't appear to have any type of sealing finish.  It was probably made at factory 26, who made the Domestic Chinese military carbines for many years which is what leads me to believe it was made for a foreign military contract.  I wouldn't call it rare, but the arsenal markings are unusual.  I would have picked it up myself unless it had a retarded price on it.

ETA:  OP take the carbine apart and see if it has serial numbers under the gas tube and under the rear sight leaf.  They should match everything else.  The numbers on the gas tube may be stamped or EPd.  Rear sight leaf should be EPd.  I'm assuming the bolt matches too?