Thread: History of SKS/SKK rifles in NZ?

I'm curious about SKS/SKK rifles in NZ, when did they first come in? How many are there? I was reading about 300,000 of these rifles going into Australia from the 1980's on (and about 20,000 being handed in during the 1996 semi-ban buy back!). Did NZ import in anywhere near these quantities?

Also, are SKS still being manufactured, or are the 'new' SKS rifles being sold now ex-military or stored rifles?

Is there any reason why the SKS rifles with AK magazines are called 'SKK' in NZ and Australia, but not anywhere else?

Are non-Chinese SKS rifles common in NZ?

None of this is important, just idle curiosity. I don't know where to look to find this information.

trademe will answer one question..eg whats about now.....I remember them popping up for sale in late 80s early 90s as a cheap tool type offering for on the farm. prices seem to stay about the same...they were all the rage for a time then guys seemed to realise they were no better off than with the old bolt action sitting in the cupboard and if deer was 200 yards away.....well the bolt wins hands down.

I was told that they stopped making the SKS and the NHM90s as there are so many of them in circulation all ready.

I've never seen or heard of a non Chinese SKS in NZ. Not to say they don't exist.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

I've never seen or heard of a non Chinese SKS in NZ. Not to say they don't exist.

There are a few Russian ones here. Not common and most people keep them once they have them.

I suppose the first ones might have come in as War Trophies from Korea and Vietnam.

The first SKS I had on my books was an ex-Vietnam trophy, Russian-made, and I bought it off a US Navy Deep Freeze guy on 15 March 1976. His NZ registration certificate was issued on 26 May 1972.

Chinese ones started coming into the country big time in the mid 1980's. You were able to by them by the crate if you were so inclined. Really it was the golden time if you wanted to get something along those lines, I remember getting offered a couple of UZi's which I foolishly declined. So basically there were thousands imported, lord knows what happened to them all, most would be considered Ecat now.

Molot make new SKS rifles to a commercial standard of quality. We will probably never see them due to the embargoes against Russia. I do remember Norinco SKS's creeping up in asking price in the early 2000's to silly money. Gun City then started importing them again circa 2008, for $500, and I snapped one up then as it was the cheapest I had seen them in almost a decade. It was a great rifle to me, shot a deer and countless rabbits with it. Used to be able to by Barnaul soft points from the local hunting a fisting for $12/20 rounds back then which made it cheap shooting for a centre fire.

Originally Posted by jim160

There are a few Russian ones here. Not common and most people keep them once they have them.

I was one on Trademe about six months ago. Went for $700. They are rare.

I had an early Chinese import which had military markings ie not norinco it was a great little rifle. The Russian ones were very nice, some seemed to have laminated stocks. I have seen some rough looking made on the cheap Chinese ones terrible finish, no idea how they shot...

Russia shipped tooling and engineers to china when the started making them, so the early ones to all intents could be considered russian made.
Ive owned several chinese ones (type 56) named after the year they started mnf. All have shot as well as the open sights have allowed me to.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Russia shipped tooling and engineers to china when the started making them, so the early ones to all intents could be considered russian made.
Ive owned several chinese ones (type 56) named after the year they started mnf. All have shot as well as the open sights have allowed me to.

Yep spot on, I have had an early one as well that was most likely produced while the Russian engineers were in China helping set up.
There are some pretty informative sites out there on date and location of production but it's not all that easy to decipher some of the stampings.

Mine shot well and for what it was it was pretty accurate. I like the engineering, clever, simple, robust and they work.

The only thing collectible thing about the Chinese ones is once you buy one your stuck with it , took me about a year to get rid of it. Shoots ok but the stocks are way short and unless you drill and tap the receiver your not going to get a good scope mount that holds zero. One thing to watch for is if the barrels screwed on (good) or pinned(not so good).
I've still got one in the grease and kept the 2" butt extension but can't see me hauling it out from the back of the safe anytime soon.

Thanks for all the replies. My interest in them is for controlling goats in the bush, and hares out beyond maximum easy 22LR range. Low cost rifle and ammo always helps too.

Are the Russian rifles much different (better) than the Chinese?

So anyone know much about the SKK versions? It seems these are the same things the Americans call SKS-D. How many came into NZ, and how popular were they? Was it only a short introduction period? From what I read it seems the Chinese did not manufacture them for very long, makes me wonder why. I've seen one youtube video of an American guy who could not get one to cycle properly, but any youtube video search always shows the Aussie guys culling feral pigs, I haven't watched much of these but Steve Lee seems to have an SKS (SKK) which functions perfectly.