http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/127561000/127561825/pix507017437.jpg
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/126859000/126859990/pix70643953.jpg

The second weapon also carrying the /66\ arsenal mark, but no Norinco "star," and having the "MS" prefix in the serial.


Which one is older?

Is either one more desirable than the other?

Anything else worth noting?

I have already researched this as best I could but could not find any info.

You must understand there wasn't just one factory in China producing those Type 56 rifles for commercial sale.  There were a great many.  As in the photos, you can see both rifles were Sile imports.  However, the commercial rifles Norinco chose to release for export came from several different factories that were doing a few different styles of stampings during different eras.  

I see.

In other words, there is NO difference between the guns other than the stamping on the receivers?

Obviously without seeing photos of the full rifles, there's not too much of a difference generally speaking.  Different factories but more-or-less the same manufacturing process.  Sometimes just differences in stampings/markings.

I thought all Chinese AK's were blued?  Maybe it's just the photo, but the second one looks parked?

Looks parked to me.  Also, need more pictures.  Area near trunnion on second rifle.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2449/dsc00975.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3300/dsc00974h.jpg

The pics I originally posted were just generic pics I yanked off the net to illustrate my query.

These two pics are of my rifle, which I just acquired this past week.

I have included the pic of the forward part of the receiver as well, as suggested by MAK. Yes, the area there amongst those three rivets has been machined off; a casual observer may never notice it, but it is obvious to me, and can even be felt if a finger is run across it.

What are the markings under the tape other than the serial number? Or is there only the serial number.  No 56S-1?

I've seen Norinco rifles marked in many different places and ways.  One I had just had Made in China, Norinco on the underside of the receiver forward of the magazine well.  Trunnion markings were ground off and new serial number characters into added to the serial number.


There is no registry of import dates that I know of other than telling if a rifle is preban or postban. Clayco was about the earliest of importers. Sile imported rifles both 1989 preban and postban. There were many importers over about a 10 year period.


Can you post complete pictures of the rifle showing the whole rifle in a picture and then pictures of the front end?

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9663/dsc00976q.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1083/dsc00977m.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5900/dsc00978z.jpg

Here are some additional images. Yes, barrel is threaded and there is a bayonet lug.

Unlike many Chinese rifles I have seen, you will note that the carrier is blued instead of polished. All numbers match.

There are no markings on the underside of the receiver.

I am curious about what was ground off there on the receiver below the serial.