sporter
this is not an m
Receivers are stamped sporter
All these rifles are brand new. They are not rearsenaled. Most have a thumbhole stock. The thumbhole stock has a sling mount cut into the left side of the stock. This is only found on Sporters. Go to the 63 section and see a side by side comparison of the different thumbhole stocks.
They have a stamped trigger group with AK style mag release and a metal liner carved into the stock.
Again only found on the Sporter. A black cutout on the pistol grip.
The 16.5 inch pinned barrel is standard as well as the cleaning rod holder in the front sight block and a 13.25 inch cleaning rod.
88 00000 to 88 018XX
What most folks don't know is there are three different versions of the Sporter all based on serial number. Yes that is a military style stock. This stock is very similar to a D stock. It does not have a bayonet groove or serial number. Receivers are stamped Sporter. Please note the distance between the front sight and the cleaning rod holder. I call it stubby. This short distance allows the use of a standard length gas tube and piston. This version is extremely rare and hard to find.
89 00000 to 89 047XX
Here the Chinese changed over to the thumbhole stock. This is the stock that will remain on the Sporter for the rest of its production run. These rifles are equally rare and hard to find. Again note the stubby FSB.
92 342XX and up
At the end of 1989 the Chinese stopped production. There are no serial numbers with a 90 or 91 prefix. The Chinese used what they learned from producing the SKSS Paratrooper in early 1992 and used this info to retool the new Sporter. The shorter gas system is easier to make than the stubby fsb. As you can see the the pic below the distance between the front sight and the cleaning rod holder is longer (or standard with other AK mag rifles) and the gas tube and piston have been shortened. These mods will take the Sporter to the end of very long production run. These rifles are not rare.
All of the rifles came through one importer. Labanu Inc. Ronkonkoma, New York and boy were they busy in 92 and 93.
Sporter roll call.
88 00000
88 018XX.................................................................... A total of approximately 1200 rifles
89 00000
89 047XX.............................................................A total of approximately total 4530 rifles
SKSS production.
92 342XX
92 461XX............................................................A total of approximately total 11900 rifles
93 00000
93 314XX............................................................A total of approximately total 31380 rifles
Estimated total 49010 rifles
The total is based on the hi and low serial numbers I have a photographic record of.
Thanks.....
[email protected]
All of the rifles came through one importer. Labanu Inc. Ronkonkoma, New York and boy were they busy in 92 and 93.
Sporter roll call.
88 00000
88 018XX.................................................................... A total of approximately 1200 rifles
89 00000
89 047XX.............................................................A total of approximately total 4530 rifles
SKSS production.
92 342XX
92 461XX............................................................A total of approximately total 11900 rifles
93 00000
93 314XX............................................................A total of approximately total 31380 rifles
Estimated total 49010 rifles
The total is based on the hi and low serial numbers I have a photographic record of.
Thanks.....
[email protected]