Simply, SKS have folding bayonets. Earlier SKS had blades, later had spikes.

 

Blade bayonet is consistent with SKS variants used in Vietnam. Do you know the rifle's nation of origin?

Most likely it will be Chinese, and 2nd likely option is Russian. Variants from East Germany, Romania, and North Korea also had blade bayonets-- however they are extremely uncommon to find.

 

My RVN SKS had a blade bayonet. I did not get to bring it home however. I was med-evacuated and it stayed behind :-(

 

…it has a regular blade bayonet rather than the folding/hinged bayonet.

Haze:

I’m confused. 🤔

The “blade bayonet” is not affixed to the rifle in the normal SKS fashion such that it folds open and closed? Correct?

Is the “blade bayonet“ a traditional “knife” style bayonet (such as an AK bayonet) that attaches to the rifle with some type of improvised bayonet lug or fixture?

Without more details I’m having trouble envisioning what you’re describing but it sounds interesting. The Viet Cong crafted some very weird Rube Goldberg contraptions so there’s very little that would surprise me.

 

My understanding is that its is the same mechanism but a blade instead of a spike.
Once I have it in hand will put pictures up.

 

I'm sure what the seller meant is that it has the earlier folding blade type bayonet instead of the later cruciform "spike" bayonet. The early Chinese SKS were basically just copies of the Soviet ones. Later they gradually started changing stuff like doing away with milled lightening cuts and switching over to the spike bayonet. A couple of months ago I found a rifle that sounds much like what you are describing in a local gun store. It's a 1958 model with plenty of use and no import marks. During some point in its life the original stock was replaced. It's supposed to have a stock with a matching serial number stamped into the butt and a side-mounted sling swivel. Instead it has an unnumbered replacement stock with the sling swivel moved to the bottom. If I had to guess, I'd say the original stock was damaged "in country" and given this replacement stock and continued its service. Due to the shape it's in and lack of import markings it makes me THINK it's a vet bring back, but without the proper documentation it's just a really used SKS that lacks import marks.

 

Thank you for your service.

 

I've got one with no paper, but I have no doubt it's legit. The vet's widow wasn't asking a premium, $100 bucks, and just wanted it gone. She only said: "He brought it back from over there" and I left it at that. Looks the part, well used '65 matching except the bolt carrier (common for a field capture), well-worn and about shot out. I bought the story, the rifle was cheap. PAX

 

I've got one with no paper, but I have no doubt it's legit. The vet's widow wasn't asking a premium, $100 bucks, and just wanted it gone. She only said: "He brought it back from over there" and I left it at that. Looks the part, well used '65 matching except the bolt carrier (common for a field capture), well-worn and about shot out. I bought the story, the rifle was cheap. PAX

No expert but looks tha part.

 

Crabber. your quote "I'm sure what the seller meant is that it has the earlier folding blade type bayonet instead of the later cruciform "spike" bayonet. " is not exactly correct. Only early Russian SKS rifles had Cruciform bayonets. All other spikes Chinese, and Albanian, were triform bayonets with only 3 "edges" and 3 "flutes" or grooves. The 1948, 1949, and some 1950 SKS Russian Tula rifles had true "Cruciform" or 4 edged 4 flute bayonets like the Mosin M44 but thinner.

Cheers,

Darin

 

I'm aware of the very early Russian spike bayonets on their SKS but there's zero chance the rifle OP is talking about is one of those. I don't even need a picture to know this rifle is of Chinese manufacture which is why I responded with that comment.

 

Crabber, I understand what you are saying. I was correcting your misuse of the term “Cruciform bayonet”. Really no possibility the bayonet would be Cruciform as that means “cross” or 4 sided. There was never a “later cruciform” either, as all cruciform bayonets were only on the earliest SKS rifles, and of course then only Russian examples.

the correct term would be “tri form bayonet”

simple correction to prevent confusion.

cheers

 

Gentleman ,

I have purchased the rifle.

Here are the pics, do your thing!

h

 

Excellent find! The M21 No variants are known bring-backs from Vietnam. Likely, the leading 9 is the year of production, 1964, at Factory 296 (triangle 26, Jianshe).

 

Haze:

Very nice. It looks like a Vietnam bringback to me. Congrats!

 

Early M21 with no import stamp -- no documentation needed IMHO. That's a Vietnam bringback for sure.

Nice catch!

 

Very niec git, PAX

 

Nice M21! Welcome to the M21 club!

d