Type 63/68

[NICO56]

I present to you the bayonet of a little known rifle, type 63/68. This weapon is the cross of type 56 (SKS) and type 56 (AK). It looks like an SKS but its system is taken from that of the AK. It is therefore closer to a point seen technically closer to Ak than to SKS.
Its bayonet has a dimension close to that of the SKS but with an Ak type fixing.
The end is pointed unlike the other two bayonets

[Mr. B.]

Thank you. Nice presentation! I have been familiar with the Chinese Type 63/68 for many years. I had never considered it as a Kalashnikov rifle, but just an SKS clone on steroids. You bring up some interesting points and I agree with you that it has many similarities with an AK type weapon. Perhaps we should accept it as a cousin similar to the Czech VZ58. The basic system is more similar to an AK than SKS. It uses the same 7.62 x 39 ammo and magazines interchange . The bayonet and mounting are also similar to the Chinese Type 56 (AK-AKM).
I am very interested in knowing more about the bayonet and have many questions about it. Mike

[Mr. B.]

Here is another thought. In my research I just noticed that the Type 63 was exported in large quantities to Albania. Could this be the mysterious Albanian AK folding spike bayonet that has been refer to? Could it actually be a Chinese Type 63 bayonet or an Albanian copy? I also wonder if all of the Type 63 bayonet blades are the same or are there variations in style and finish? Mike

[NICO56]

I found very few documents on this weapon. To tell the difference between a Chinese and an Albanian model will surely not be easy. What is certain is that my bayonet is identical to the one presented in this reference book

[Mr. B.]

I also have that reference and I agree. It looks the same. I have seen Type 63/68 rifles in a collection, a military museum and various pictures. The ones I have seen all had bayonet blades that appeared to be similar to the ones on the Chinese Type 56 SKS rifles. I just assumed that they were all the same. Yours and the one above are the same and very different at the point. Interesting! Early vs late production? Mike

[Mr. B.]

Here is a picture of the Chinese Type 63/68 rifle as a reference for those not familiar with this rifle. It was produced and used by the PLA from 1963-78 as a replacement for the Type 56 SKS rifle. It added the option of full auto fire and replaceable magazines. It was not intended as a replacement for the Type 56 (AKM). Mike

[Mr. B.]

I have a question about the differences between the SKS, AK and Type 63 bayonets. Over the years I have owned several SKS rifles from various countries. Including both the blade and spike versions. I have also owned several Type 56 both AK and AKM versions with the folding spike bayonets. I had always wondered if the blades were interchangeable between the sliding hilts. They were not. The diameter of the round blade section where it meets the hilt are different sizes. The AK versions were on a smaller diameter.
I can not till from the pictures presented above. Is the Type 63/68 bayonet blade the same diameter as the SKS or the AK bayonet? The sliding hilt appears the same as the ones on an AK. is it the same internal diameter as an AK or SKS? Mike

[Mr. B.]

Here is an interesting reference for the unusual bayonet blade on the Type 63/68. The Type 56 (both AK and SKS) folding spike bayonets had the same general shape and appearance. The were triangular in section and had chisel, (screw driver), points. The Type 63 bayonet pictured at the start of this thread has a shape needle shape. There is a precedent for this blade size and shape from China. I acquired an Chinese Type 53 rifle, (Bolt action, 7.62 x 54r, carbine w/folding bayonet), with an unusual bayonet in Viet Nam. The usual ones were like all the other M44 carbines. They had a quadrangular section and a chisel point. This one had a triangular section and a very sharp point very similar to the Type 63 blade. Evidentially the Chinese had experimented with different blade shapes in the past.
Pictures from my previous collection comparing a standard Type 53 bayonet with the unusual sharp pointed ones. Mike

[NICO56]

The diameter of the bayonet type 63 is very close to that for SKS but much larger than that of the AK

[Mr. B.]

Thank you. Great pictures and information. Just as I suspected. The AK is a smaller diameter blade and hilt than the SKS and Type 63/68 bayonets. I would also suspect that the early versions of the Type 63/68 would have used the same blade as a carry over from the Type 56 SKS. The sharper pointed blade would possibly be a later version. Or perhaps the Chinese version would have the original SKS blades and the export, (Albania and others), would have the different sharp pointed blades. ???? Maybe a way to tell them apart. ??? Mike

[NICO56]

In this picture of Chinese soldiers, it looks like the bayonet is pointed

[NICO56]

In these photos, of the looting of the barracks of the Albanian army, we can see in the photo of the man alone, that the bayonet seems pointed.

[Mr. B.]

I agree. From these pictures it appears that both Chinese and Albanian ones had the sharp pointed ones. The ones I remember were from S.E. Asia, (Viet Nam), in the mid to late 1960's. They were rare, but just seemed to be SKS conversions and my memories were that the bayonet blades were the same as the SKS. I had not given them much thought until your presentation. I also remember seeing various references and pictures of strange "Albanian" ?, folding spike bayonets over the years. They had different lengths, shapes and points as well as different finishes. Some were very similar to the Chinese versions others were more roughly machined. Some had the dull chrome finish, others were bare metal or blued almost black. They all reminded me of the bayonet I found on the Type 53 I pictured above. I think you have opened a whole new field of research. Thanks, Mike

[Mr. B.]

Here is some additional background information about Albanian rifles and bayonets. Albania originally imported SKS and AK rifles from China. As time went on they started manufacturing their own versions of these weapons. Here is the difference between the Chinese and Albanian SKS bayonets. Slightly different shapes, lengths and finishes. The Chinese one on top with the flat chrome finish and the Albanian with the blued/black finish below. Mike

Albanian SKS Bayonet 2jpg.jpg (38.29 KiB) Viewed 17857 times

[Mr. B.]

I also went back through my files and found this picture from Gun Websites. These were listed as different AK folding spike bayonets. I identified them as follows, (top to bottom). The top one is a Chinese bolt on conversion for AK and AKM rifles made without bayonets. The second one is a standard Type 56 for the AK and AKM rifles. The middle one is what I believe is an Albanian made copy of a Type 56 (AK AKM) bayonet with a blued / black finish. The forth one is what I believe is a late style of a Chinese Type 63/68 with the sharp pointed blade. The bottom one is the carry over or early style Chinese Type 63/68. Mike

[Mr. B.]

Regardless, I would like to have the bottom three examples in my collection. Mike

[NICO56]

The same five bayonets

[Mr. B.]

My apologies. I had reservations when I posted that first Gun Website picture. I had questions and concerns about what I could and could not see. After seeing that second Gun Website picture, my concerns were confirmed. Only the Type 63/68 on the right side is real and correct. The on a one on the left is a FAKE. It will not mount on any Type 63/68 or any other rifle. The sliding hit piece may be correct, but the blade appears to be from a Type 56 (SKS). The blade is not milled /cut to be able to engage the legs under the front sight base. There is no way to support or lock in place the front part of the bayonet. The spring is also too long and apparently from an SKS as well. It would also prevent the hilt from engaging the FSB legs and locking in place. The SKS bayonet is designed to be mounted and locked in place using a muzzle ring like the clamp on AK bayonet on the far left.

There are also discrepancies on two of the Type 56 (AK-AKM) bayonets pictures. The one with the black blade is also a FAKE.
Mike

Misc. China and Albania Folding Spike Bayonets 2 (4)_LI.jpg (45.55 KiB) Viewed 17798 times