In 1970, the most common NVA/VC weapons we captured were SKS and AK, also scary number of M16’s. Unit had a locker of some earlier finds, a French MAT 49(?), Swedish K, and some US M1 and M2 carbines. One of the M2’s had a cut down barrel, we fired the thing…nasty barrel rise, muzzle flash was horrendous, difficult to keep anywhere near target…lousy weapon. The K gun was nice weapon, didn’t fire the MAT.
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@HeavyArty thank you for the recommendations. I have this what if dio for a 1980s red dawn inspired scene that i have the vehicles for but not the figures.
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I actually had a trophy SKS (or what ever the Chicoms called them ). Part of the stock was discolored (blood stained?) Damn accurate , at least with my skills. Only issue (I found out at the range.) was the chamber was pitted. Fire it and the brass of the shell case molded to the pits and it would not cycle. Had to wang on the bolt handle with a wrench to get it to eject. Great single shot rifle. Moderately faster than my 1863 Springfield.(repro)
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Chicom Type 56 carbine was the official nomenclature of the SKS rifle. Then the Type 3 AK47 was also called the Type 56 Rifle.
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Most of the SKS’s we picked up were Chinese, now and then a Soviet or Eastern Bloc one would turn up, they seemed to be better made. A properly functioning SKS was a very effective weapon.
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Speaking of Vietnam-related topics, YouTube suggested this in my feed yesterday:
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I really appreciate that suggestion. I’ve been pondering how to make 1970’s-1980’s pre-BDU soldiers in Europe and I didn’t really consider the newer WWII offerings.
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One can always put your new figure desires in the “2024 Wish List.” With 2024 about 2/3rds over, there is still time to wish for new figure kits that hopefully figure manufacturers and sculptors will read.
With 3-D design and printing, perhaps the time to make new kits is less. Already we’ve been surprised by new figures, AFVs, weapons, and accessory kits that used to take years to design and make but now take a much shorter time to make and release.
So wish away!
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Year of adoption? Like IJA/N and JSDF stuff?
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1956 was the adoption date of the SKS into the PLA; I can assume that shipments of these arms started pouring by 1964 into North Vietnam, since China was the biggest supplier of arms to the North Vietnamese.
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