Manufactured in China at Factory 26, this Type 56 Carbine was one of many to be sent south during the Vietnam war by the Chinese as aid to the communist North Vietnamese, and such carbines were used extensively throughout the conflict. Two documents are included. One is a reduced photocopy of Form 603-1 which records a Chinese SKS serial number "42376" (two digits off from this example, as marked on the bolt and dust cover; client notes state this is a typo) claimed as a war trophy by a David Roy Haglund of Company B, 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Battalion (sic), dated 15 September 1970. The second is an attached handwritten tag that states that David Roy was a Major in the 158th Battalion and received this carbine as a token of appreciation from a SOG (Studies and Operations Group, a multi-service special operations/unconventional warfare unit active in Vietnam and surrounding countries) unit he helped extract under fire from "Mia Loc" (sic, possibly meaning Firebase Mai Loc, a joint U.S. Army/ARVN base in Central Vietnam) in 1970. Hooded post front and tangent rear sights, "26 in triangle" marking on the left side of the receiver, and matching numbers on the dust cover, bolt, bolt carrier and magazine. A hinged "pigsticker" style bayonet is attached to the barrel. Smooth hardwood stock with a tan canvas sling.

Fair, with 50% of an applied paint finish present on the carbine, showing areas of exposed metal with gray and brown patina, dents on the magazine and mild spotting and handling marks overall. Stock is fair as sanded and cleaned, with holes and pinned repairs in the forearm and ink staining on the right side of the buttstock. Mechanically excellent.