Type-63 with GL and sights 

Contributed by Martin08

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My Type-63 Carbine, with early style Chinese khaki canvas sling and leather keepers, is pictured below. The distinctive roll-stamped receiver cover logo is the most noticeable outward identifier for the firearm, and sports the Circle-Star logo of the North Korean military.

One of the first things you may have noticed is the US M-15 styled grenade launcher disc mounted to the left side of the receiver. A large percentage of recorded examples are retrofitted with grenade launcher capabilities. To utilize the launching sight, the front gas block is drilled through, and a pinned lever-styled valve is installed to block gas flow in the grenade launching mode. Unlike the Yugoslavian M59/66, which employs a gas shut-off cylinder, the retrofitted Type-63 shut-off is a simple flap that covers the 5/32" gas port which is drilled into the top of the barrel. Some gas port levers are serial numbered to the gun, mine is not.

Internal images of the gas valve open and closed.

The grenade launcher itself is a hybrid of two US designs. The spigot is M8 launcher model, made for the M1 .30cal carbine. The attachment clamp is taken from the M1 launcher model, designed for the M1903 Springfield (may also be the M2, for the M1917 Eddystone). The front sight slot was widened for application with the SKS. The two pieces are crudely welded together and ground down. Though this particular launcher is not perfectly aligned with the bore, the fit is absolutely snug to the gun. Other launchers have been documented, but this or other hybrid styles are most commonly reported. The M15 launcher sight is utilized for this function.