7.62x39mm. 20.5" barrel. SN: 2416C. Blued finish with bright bolt, chromed spike bayonet, chromed bore, and red painted Asian hardwood stock. Short stroke piston driven tilting bolt semi-automatic rifle fed by an internal magazine charged with stripper clips. Top of the dustcover shows the circled Star over 63 with the Korean marking for Type, indicating North Korean manufacture. Serial number on left receiver is obscured by the grenade launching sight, with the number remarked in electropen. The crude gas cutoff appears to use a brass axis pin and repurposed stamped metal, suggesting it was a modification performed by North Vietnam. The mounted rear sight is American made, and marked SIGHT, GRENADE LAUNCHER, M15 on the underside. Some North Korean Type 63 rifles were series produced with gas cutoffs and rear sights intended for a copy of the M8 Grenade Launcher used on the M1 Carbine, but these used Korean markings. Rifle lacks importer markings. Bolt carrier is numbered 24401 and the bolt 05233. Serial numbers of the gas tube, piston, and push rod are mixed. Triggerguard and magazine floorplate match the rifle. Comes with an unmarked canvas sling, cleaning rod below barrel, and an incomplete buttstock cleaning kit lacking the brush.

It is believed that North Korea began producing the SKS rifle specifically to arm the "Workers and Peasants Red Guards," a paramilitary organization that was subordinate to the regular Army. Rifles made by North Korea are rarely encountered outside of those nations that have received military aid from the DPRK. This rifle, void of importer markings and showing signs of field modifications, was most likely captured in Vietnam. North Korea dispatched tens of thousands of their Type 63 rifles to North Vietnam, including the grenade launcher equipped versions. North Vietnamese armorers are believed to have undertaken assorted modifications to increase the number of grenade launchers available. A rare Vietnamese modified version of an already rare rifle. {C&R}

Good. Bore is Very Bright with sharp rifling throughout. Metal finish shows a brown patina on the bolt carrier, mottled finish on bolt with flaking and light pitting to right receiver. Brown flecking forming overall with scattered nicks to the metal work. Stock shows handling wear and dents with some flaked losses to the red paint finish. Split forming through the wrist to the right of the tang. Action functions when cycled by hand.