I remember buying Norinco rifle in the late 1980's.   I was always told the Chinese rifles were junk.  I look at it now and I think this is a fine rifle, the SKS.   Was that just brainwashing and propaganda to make Americans believe China did not build good weapons?  

I don't know but I would think that it's probably because a lot of what China produces is cheap crap and therfore people would assume that guns produced there would be as well. I have heard that they are tough and reliable, also I have a Jane's infantry weapons book from the 90s and according to it the SKS has a longer barrel then the AK. so it has a slightly higher muzzle volacity and effective range than the AK. 

 that's good information!  Thank you!  That confirms what my thoughts on the SKS.  What does Jane's say about early to mid-90's MAK90? which is  another rifle i looked at as cheap but look back now and it looks to me like solid good quality craftsmanship, just like the SKS - both rifles were relatively inexpensive in early 90's.  The Vietnamese used the sks to great effect during the war. 

Doesn't have any info for that rifle, it mainly has military rifles listed. Something I saw noted in another book about the Chinese sks, is that it's mainly the design that makes it tough. I wonder if the original Russian ones or the versions made in other countries are higher quality or not. 

Of course.   Jane's is military.  But interesting question you raise.  I have a hard believing they surpass soviet/russian quality, its always been such a durable rifle.  But i do feel like the Norinco SKS/MAC90 receive are recognized as quality weapons when, at least as I saw it, they were called junk and cheap Chinese knock offs.  China manufacturing has improved dramatically in many areas over the last decade or two, but in retrospect I believe Norico was making quality guns back in the early 90's that were relatively inexpensive.