History of the Chinese M14 Clones
I came across a PDF, with no date or author, about the history of the Chinese M14 clones. It is a very interesting read!
UPDATE: H2O MAN in the comments below let me know that the text comes from “M14 Rifle History and Development” by Lee Emerson. Thanks H2O MAN.
A persistent rumor states that M14 rifles produced by the People’s Republic of China were reverse engineered from enemy captured M14 rifles in Viet Nam. China North Industries Corporation, known as Norinco, is reported to have produced M14 rifles by the early 1970s. The story continues that 100,000 Chinese M14 rifles were produced for an armed revolution in the Philippines. In preparing for this work, the author interviewed a very reliable source with extensive firsthand knowledge of Chinese and Taiwanese production and export of small arms was interviewed for this work. This gentleman wishes not to be identified. He is referred to as Other Source # 12.
Chapter 6 contains the History of the Chinese M14 Clones. The PDF can be downloaded here.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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My POLYTECH M-14S allows SPRINGFIELD ARMORY Mounts to screw into the receiver, so the "scope mount hole" thread appears SAE...sorta.
it's a tad tight, just lube the bolt/screw well and thread it in a few times, clean out the hole and apply your thread locker..DONE!
Please note that my post referenced above from ar15.com in March 2008 is not totally accurate. Based on subsequent research, only the year and the month can be derived from the numbers stamped under the stock line (aka "lotto" numbers) on Chinese M14 receivers. After the first 2000 Poly Technologies receivers were made, the "lotto" number format changes. It's not a simple cipher, so to speak.