Matching Chinese Type 53s

[mievil]

OK, so a few of you know what I paid for the beater gun, and a few of you think I paid too much. Meh. I stated my opinion pretty firmly and have never seen a trials T53 for sale, much less an actual matching numbered example. I feel like I paid what I was willing to pay to add to my collection, even though it may have been a bit high. But again, I personally have never seen this variant come up for sale, so I jumped in.

Top is an all matching, prefixed, trials rifle. All SNs are completely matching, and all parts are stamped with a 1955 rebuild stamp. I pulled off the butt plate and there is a hand etched SN matching the last 4 of the full SN in the Cyrillic format as we see on the refurbed Russian Mosins. It also has the early star stamp on the stock. So, I would speculate that this is a Chinese trials early manufacture T53 which went through some sort of refurb by the Soviets or in supervision of the Soviets in 1955. Pretty happy with the rifle. The bore is really nice for a Chinese gun.

Here she is with my all matching 1955. Now I need an all matching 1960 to complete my kit then I need to start digging into the other years. But, a 1960 is next.

[Frisco3Gun]

Nice rifles. It doesn't matter what other people think about what you paid, they were worth it to you.

Never dug around too much in the Chinese Mosins but these look clean. Heck I wonder what my old 91/30 is doing right now. Always a hoot.

[thetruecheese]

Very nice. I paid 140 about for mine a couple years back, very beat to **** but mechanically sound, good bore, sighted in. Probably one of my all time favorites, i'd love to find another sometime.

[huntingsocal]

Well done. I sold my non matching example last year to make room for one that is all matching.

Still looking

[omega]

I always wanted a CHI COM TYPE 53 , but they're hard to find in nice condition

I rarely see them at gun shows

[Beetle Bailey]

Congrats, and sorry you were made to feel you had to justify the purchase. A lot of us Type 53 owners are resigned to owning examples with mis-matched bolts. You've done well.

[mievil]

No need for apologies. I logged into CG, saw the "OMG look how much that gun is!" and went and called for it to make sure the numbers were full and matching. Talked to the dude about the rifle for about 10 minutes and then purchased.

Like I said, I knew I wanted that gun as soon as I saw it. Mismatched T53s are a all over the place, matching are very rarely encountered, and I have never seen a SHI T53 for sale. I'm digging it. Was actually surprised it wasn't all pitted under the woodline and the bore is pretty dang nice for a Chinese gun.

[Enfield47]

Looks like your off to a nice start with what you are focusing on in your collection.

[mievil]

Focus? lol. I've been through so many guns trying to find a focus that the focus has defocused and refocused a couple 2 or 5 times by now. Had multiples of SKSseseses Mausers, Mosins....... I've regretted more sales than probably anyone on this board. lol

[SVT-40]

Nice guns. I've never heard of any T-53's being referred to as a "trials" rifle. Where is this information documented?

Your rifle with the darker stock was produced in December of 1953, like mine below.

Since production of these rifles started in mid 1953, I don't see how any rifle produced months later could be some sort of "trial" rifle. The earliest date rifle that I have seen was a July of 1953 production...(1953.7.) The earliest date that I have heard of was June of 1953 (1953.6.) and had serial number A000432.

I'm not trying to crap on your rifles, because they are very nice!! I'm just curious about you referring to "trials" rifles, and where that nomenclature came from. Also cost is irrelevant. If you are happy with your purchase thats all that matters!!!

AFAIK the Chinese have never released any production data, and all that collectors know has been deduced from looking at rifles that have made it into the US.


In my collection the earliest rifle I have is a December of 1953 (1953.12.) dated rifle. Produce a few thousands after your rifle.

[SVT-40]

I also have a 1955 dated rifle.

This is a older Navy Arms rifle which was not import stamped. It's been through a arsenal refinish, however is still all stamped matching. I really like the gouge milling marks on the top rear of the stock.

[SVT-40]

This rifle is all original stamped matching and not refinished. No import marks either. It came out of the crate, and had the little bag of anti-rust compound under the sight leaf.

[echo1]

Nice T53s everyone. PAX

[mievil]

Nice guns. I've never heard of any T-53's being referred to as a "trials" rifle. Where is this information documented?



I'm not trying to crap on your rifles, because they are very nice!! I'm just curious about you referring to "trials" rifles, and where that nomenclature came from.

Hey, SVT40, as always your collection puts all of us to shame.

As for the trials rifles, take a look on your 53, just to the right of the serial number. The Chinese character there is "试" in simplified, and "試" in traditional Chinese and romanized as SHI, and literally translates to "try" "test" or "trial". No documentation needed, your rifle was stamped as such.

The trials guns also started with the letter A in the SN as your rifle also indicates. You will always find an "A" preceding the SN and followed by the "SHI" character. This is well documented on gunboards and every other forum talking about the T53.

The 55 being a rebuild date is something J&G said, but I really am not certain about it. It is on every part of my gun, but yesterday browsing Bungroper I saw a T53 with what was either a 40 or a 48 stamped on multiple parts. No way that thing was rebuilt prior to manufacture. So maybe it was some sort of a final QA stamp? Who knows?

BTW, if you ever consider selling any of your Chinese guns, please let me know.

[SVT-40]

LOL... Funny thing I participated in some of those conversation on Gun Boards... I Must be slipping.