Starting work in 1959, the North Vietnamese constructed a factory for the production and overhaul of small arms north of Hanoi, with assistance provided from the Chinese No. 296 arms factory, which began operation in 1962. From then to 1965 the factory produced roughly 6,000 SKS-45 pattern semi-automatic rifles for the North Vietnamese Army, before the facility was destroyed by U.S.A.F. strategic bombing. The small production numbers during that period make North Vietnamese produced SKS rifles the rarest variant of the classic Soviet design, made even more so by the fact that the only examples in the United States made their way in as war trophies. This example was manufactured before the factory's destruction in 1965, as indicated by the first two digits of the serial number. Features hooded post front and adjustable tangent rear sights, "star 1" mark on the left of the receiver, and folding knife bayonet. Witch matching serial numbers on the bolt carrier and dust cover, with the bolt and trigger housing numbered to different rifles. Fitted with smooth oiled birch handguard and stock, with the butt numbered to a different rifle and a trapdoor metal buttplate. Includes a web sling with leather keepers.