Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Album by willyp. Photos by sksnut. 1 - 51 of 51 Total. 27401 Visits.
Type63 SKS right view The SKS mfg in N Korea known as the Type63, it's almost identical to the very late Soviet mfg side rail mkd guns, this rifle is an original, all matching & correct Type63, N Korean SKS's can be found w/a gas shutoff for a grenade launcher but this one does not have one. Assuming the Type63 relates to the N Korean year 63 that would date the type adoption date as 1974!, well after the Type58 or AK47 in N Korean service.
Type63 right w/bayonet extended It's "assumed" (again) that the Type63 is patterned after the late era Soviet rifles as the N Koreans had extremely close ties to the Soviet Union & this rifle is identical to the Soviet guns as compared to Chinese.
Type63 right buttstock Type63 rifles were fitted w/laminate stocks
Type63 right action view Compare the pics of the Type63 w/the Soviet 1953 Tula shown further down for comparison.
Type63 right forend
Type63 right front band Standard type (as compared to Soviet)for the blade bayonet model.
Type63 R gas port Note, this particular rifle is not equipped for a grenade launcher
Type63 right muzzle w/bayonet extended
Type63 right muzzle w/bayonet folded Slight machining difference in bayonet mount vs the Soviet (below).
North Korean oiler bottle Same style as Soviet w/N Korean characters. Note: this is a web photo not mine.
Type63 left muzzle w/bayonet extended
Type63 left muzzle w/bayonet folded
Type63 stock cutout for bayonet
Type63 Bayonet folded into cutout
Type63 left forend
Type63 Rear sight Another minor difference is the battle sight markings, on the Soviet guns it's a Crylic character similiar to n
Type63 left action
Type63 left side markings Marking are in same location as the Soviet guns but the N Korean has a star in a circle & serial number, no Crylic characters are seen on the rifle.
Type63 Receiver cover marking Star in circle (N Korean marking) & 63 w/Korean character (assumed to indicate Type). Again the marking locations are the same as the Soviet as opposed to the Chinese whose covers aren't marked.
Type63 TriggerGuard
Type63 mag
Type63 left buttstock Showing markings, note the side mounted sling swivel, this is Chinese styla as opposed to the Soviet swivel location which is on the bottom of the buttstock.
Type63 butt marking detail
Type63 left side bayonet extended
Type63 left side bayonet folded The N Korean Type63 is an extremely rare SKS type to be found in the US & it most likely the few here were all bringbacks from Viet Nam as thee never has been any known imports of this type.
Comparison of Type63 & Soviet SKS The following pics show a direct comparison between the Type63 & a Soviet 1953 Tula (mid production). The major differences are the Type63 uses a laminate stock & a side swivel. Most of the machining is identical w/very minor differences in the take down lever & the bayonet mount.
T63vs53 Tula right w/bayos extended The Type63 appears to be based on the Soviet late SKS (the one in the pics is a mid, 1953), the late Soviet guns were marked on the side rail, not on the covers but did use laminate wood starting in late 55-56.
T63vs53 Tula buttstocks, right side
T63vs53 Tula Takedown Levers Minor difference in takedown levers is more of a dfference in the welding connecting the lever to the crosspin.
T63vs53 Tula right side action view The North Korean rifle is basically the same pattern but the machining & overall appearance are a bit "cruder" than the Soviet.
T63vs53 Tula rear sights
T63vs53 Tula rear sight leafs
T63vs53 Tula forends
T63vs53 Tula gas ports Again, about identical to the Soviet mid/late style gas port
T63vs53 Tula front sight & bayonet mount There are very minor differences in the machining of the bayonet mount.
T63vs53 Tula right side muzzles w/bayos folded
T63vs53 Tula right bayos extended
T63vs53 Tula left muzzles w/bayos extended
T63vs53 Tula left muzzles w/bayos folded Here you can see the slightly different "cut" on the bayonet mount of the guns.
T63vs53 Tula left gas ports
T63vs53 Tula left side forends
T63vs53 Tula bayonet cutouts
T63vs53 Tula mags
T63vs53 Tula triggerguards
T63vs53 Tula left side, actions
T63vs53 Tula buttstocks Again the Soviet (on the bottom) has the sling swivel on the bottom of the stock vs the N Korean which is on the left side, similiar to some (but not all) Chinese SKS's.