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The SKS is a Russian semi-automatic carbine, designed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. It is formally known as the Samozaryadnyi Karabin sistemi Simonova ( Russian: Самозарядный карабин системы Симонова), 1945 (Self-loading Carbine, Simonov's system, 1945), or SKS 45. It was originally planned to serve as the new standard issue weapon for the Soviet military forces, alongside Mikhail Kalashnikov's new AK-47 design, to replace the Mosin-Nagant series of bolt-action rifles and carbines that had been in service since 1891. As mass production of AK-pattern rifles increased, the SKS carbine was soon phased out of service. The carbine was quickly replaced by the AK-47, but it remained in second-line service for decades afterwards, and remains a ceremonial arm today. It was widely exported and produced by the former Eastern Bloc nations, as well as China, where it was designated the "Type 56" (and, in modified form, the "Type 68"), East Germany as the "Karabiner S" and in North Korea as the "Type 63" It is today popular on the civilian surplus market in many countries.

The carbine was chambered for the then-new 7.62 x 39 mm M1943 round, an intermediate cartridge which went on to be used in the Kalashnikov-series weapons.

Technical Specifications

The SKS has a conventional carbine layout, with a wooden stock and no pistol grip. Most versions are fitted with an integral folding bayonet which hinges down from the end of the barrel, and some versions, such as the Yugoslavian-made M59/66 variant are equipped with a grenade launching attachment. As with the American M1 Carbine, the SKS is shorter and less powerful than the semi-automatic rifles which preceded it - most notably, the Soviet SVT series and the American M1 Garand. Contrary to popular belief it is not a modern assault rifle. This is because it does not meet all of the criteria of a true assault rifle (though, there are some variants that fall closer to the definition). It does not possess the capability for selective fire, and the basic design does not possess a removable magazine. Some selective-fire variants were produced in the PRC, however, the basic design of the SKS is semi-automatic in nature. The carbine's ten-round box magazine is fed from a stripper clip (see below), and rounds stored in the magazine can be removed by depressing a magazine catch (thus opening the "floor" of the magazine and allowing the rounds to fall out) located forward of the trigger guard.

Design

A standard SKS is semi-automatic and has a fixed/hinged 10 round magazine which is loaded from the top of the rifle manually singly or with a disposable 10-round stripper clip. It is a gas-operated weapon that has a spring-loaded operating rod and a gas rod that work the action via gas pressure pushing against them. Also, it has a "tilting bolt" action locking system. Norinco had at one point manufactured the SKS-M, SKS-D, and MC-5D models which were engineered from the factory to accept AKM magazines without problems. The SKS also has a slightly longer barrel than AK-series rifles, with a fractionally higher muzzle velocity.

While early Russian models had spring-loaded firing pins, most variants of the SKS have a free floated firing pin within the bolt. Because of this design, care must be taken during cleaning (especially after long storage) to ensure that the firing pin does not stick in the forward position within the bolt. SKS firing pins that are stuck in the forward position have been known to cause accidental "slamfires" (uncontrolled automatic fire that empties the magazine). This behavior is less likely with the hard primer military-spec ammo for which the SKS was designed, but as with any rifle the user should properly maintain their firearm. For collectors, slamfires are more likely when the bolt still has remnants of cosmoline embedded in it.

In most variants (Yugoslav models being the most notable exception), the barrel is chrome lined for increased wear and heat tolerance from sustained fire and to resist corrosion from high sulfur corrosive primed ammunition, as well as to facilitate cleaning. Chrome bore lining is common in military rifles, although it can diminish accuracy. Yugoslav models do not have chrome lined barrels due to the fact that there are no significant deposits of chromium in the country, and even though Yugoslavia was allied communist at one time, had unreliable relations with the USSR. The USSR was one of the largest exporters of chromium.

All military SKSs have a bayonet attached to the underside of the barrel, which is extended and retracted via a spring-loaded hinge (some are removable whereas some are permanent). The SKS is easily field stripped and reassembled with no tools. The rifle has a cleaning kit stored in a trapdoor in the buttstock, with a cleaning rod running under the barrel, in the same style as the AK-47. In common with other Soviet-era designs, the SKS trades accuracy for ruggedness, ease of maintenance, ease of use, and low manufacturing cost. In short, it is a simple design that is highly effective and rugged.

For some shooters, the rear sight on the SKS has too small of a notch for accurate shooting, even in good light. Replacement with an inexpensive peep sight is easy and popular. Another popular, and even less expensive workaround for this issue is to apply a tiny amount of bright colored nail polish to the front sight post (or replace the front sight post altogether with a bright colored secondary market (commercial) post. For other shooters, the original buttstock is too short. However, this can be easily replaced with a better fitting composite buttstock as well.

History

During the first part of World War II it was determined that existing rifles, such as the Mosin Nagant, were too long and heavy and fired too-powerful cartridges, creating excessive recoil. These cartridges were effective to ranges of up to 2,000 metres; however, it was noted that most firefights took place at ranges between 100m and 300m. Both the Soviet Union and Germany realized this, designing new weapons for smaller intermediate power cartridges. The German result was the production of the Maschinenkarabiner, or machine-carbine, which later evolved into the Sturmgewehr, or assault rifle, while the Soviets produced an entire family of weapons designed around the new 7.62x39mm M1943 cartridge. Among these were a bolt-action carbine, which was never produced beyond the prototype; a select-fire assault rifle which became the famous Kalashnikov AK-47; a light machine-gun or squad automatic weapon which became the Degtyarov RPD, and a semiautomatic carbine, which became the SKS.

In 1949, the SKS was officially adopted into the Soviet Army, produced at the Tula Armory until 1955 and the Izhevsk Armory until 1954. Even then, though, its days were numbered. Gradually over the next few years, the AK-47 increased in number until the SKS was primarily used by non-infantry and second-line troops. This continued to be the case even as late as the 1980s and possibly the early 1990s. To this day, the SKS is used by some ceremonial Russian honor guards, and is nearly as ubiquitous as the AK-47 in civilian hands as well as third-world militias and insurgent groups.

Service

Although the SKS was a front-line Soviet issued rifle for only two years, it has played a documented role in the two major Cold War conflicts - the Korean War and the Vietnam War - and several subsequent 'dirty wars'. The SKS fell out of service amongst its client nations during the 1960s and 1970s, although the Chinese police and military forces continued to use it during the 1990s, and chromed, polished ceremonial versions are still used today in parades. Many surplus SKS rifles were disposed of in the 1990s, and photographs and stories exist of SKSs used by guerilla fighters in Bosnia, Somalia and throughout Africa and South-East Asia [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/24/1042911548582.html?oneclick=true during the 1990s and 2000s.

During the Cold War, Russia shared the design and manufacturing details with its allies. total, SKSs were manufactured by Russia, China, Yugoslavia, Albania, North Korea, Vietnam, and East Germany (Kar. S) with limited pilot production (Model 56) in Romania and Poland (Wz49.) Physically, all are very similar, although the NATO-specification 22mm grenade launcher of the Yugoslav version, and the more encompassing stock of the Albanian version are visually distinctive. Early versions of the Russian SKS and later Chinese Type 56s (produced 1965-71) used a spike bayonet, whereas the majority use a vertically-aligned blade. Many smaller parts, most notably the sights and charging handles, were unique to different national production runs. A small quantity of SKS carbines manufactured in 1955-56 were produced in China with Russian parts, presumably as part of a technology sharing arrangement. Many Yugoslav M59/66 series rifles were exported to Uruguay and Mozambique; the Mozambique versions having teakwood stocks, the wood supplied by that nation. The vast majority of Yugoslav M59 and M59/66s have elm, walnut and beech stocks. SKS carbines have also made appearances in recent conflicts in Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Nations that utilized the SKS but did not receive manufacturing rights included Afghanistan, Congo, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Morocco, the United Arab Republic (Egypt) and the Yemen People's Democratic Republic.

The SKS has also been featured prominently around the world during times of civil unrest. In the United States, the SKS was used successfully by Korean shopkeepers to fend off looters during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Variants

After World War II, the SKS design was licensed or sold to a number of the Soviet Union's allies, including China, Yugoslavia, Albania, North Korea, Vietnam, East Germany, Romania and Poland. Most of these nations produced nearly identical variants, with the most common modifications being differing styles of bayonets and the 22mm grenade launcher commonly seen on Yugoslavian models.

NOTE: All SKS variants except for the Yugoslav M59/66 are carbines. This is due to the additional length that the flash hider/grenade launcher attachment gives to the SKS.

Differences from the "baseline" late Russian Tula Armory/Izhevsk Armory SKS:

  • Early (1949-1951) Russian: Spike-style bayonet instead of blade-style. Squared-off gas block instead of the rounded one more commonly seen. Spring-return firing pin on earliest models.

  • Soviet Honor Guard: All-chrome metal parts, with a lighter-colored wood stock.

  • Chinese Type 56: Numerous minor tweaks, including lack of milling on the bolt carrier, partially or fully stamped (as opposed to milled) receivers, and differing types of thumb rest on the takedown lever. The Chinese continually revised the SKS manufacturing process, so variation can be seen even between two examples from the same factory. All of the Type 56 carbine rifles have been removed from military service, except a few being used for ceremonial purposes. Type 56 carbines with serial numbers below 9,000,000 have the Russian-style blade-type folding bayonet, while those 9,000,000 and higher have a "spike" type folding bayonet.

  • Chinese Honor Guard: Mostly, but not all, chromed metal parts. Does not generally have the lighter-colored stock as the Soviet Honor Guard variant.

  • Chinese Type 63, 68, 73, 81, 84: AK-47 style rotary bolt and detachable magazine. The Type 68 featured a stamped sheet-steel receiver. The 81 is an upgraded Type 68 with a three-round burst capability, some of which (Type 81-1) have a folding stock. The Type 84 returns to semi-auto fire only, is modified to accept AK-47 magazines, and has a shorter 16" paratrooper barrel.

  • Chinese commercial production: Blonde wood stock instead of dark wood, spike bayonet instead of blade, bayonet retaining bolt replaced with a rivet. Sub-variants include the M21, "Cowboy's Companion", Hunter, Models D/M, Paratrooper, Sharpshooter, and Sporter.

  • Romanian: Typically nearly identical to the late Russian model.

  • Yugoslavian M59: Barrel is not chrome-lined.

  • Yugoslavian M59/66: Added 22mm grenade launcher which appears visually like a flash supressor or muzzle brake on the end of the barrel. Front sight has a fold-up "ladder" for use in grenade sighting. Barrel is not chrome-lined.

  • Zastava Arms LKP-66: Hunting version. No bayonet or bayonet lug. Sporting stock. Scope mount. 7 round magazine.

  • Albanian "July 10th Rifle": Longer stock and handguard on the gas tube, and AK-47 style charging handle.

  • East German Karabiner-S: Extremely rare; never exported to the US. Slot cut into back of stock for pull-through sling. No storage area in back of stock or storage for cleaning rod under barrel.

  • North Korean Type 63, Vietnamese Type 1: Extremely rare; never exported to the US. Differences unknown.

There is some debate as to the relative quality of each nation's SKS production; Yugoslav types are generally considered to be better made than Chinese, yet the Chinese types typically have chrome lined barrels while the Yugoslav versions do not. East German, Russian and Albanian SKSs bring a higher price than those of other countries, the stock on the Albanian versions being of a slightly different manufacture and being rarer due to low production numbers. There were approximately 18,000 Albanian SKSs manufactured during the late 1960s until 1978, and of those, approximately half were destroyed. Most of the remaining East German SKSs had been sold/transferred to Croatia in the early 1990s.

A sporterized hunting version of the SKS is still manufactured in Yugoslavia, by the Zastava Armory. It is designated the LKP 66, and features a "Monte Carlo" style one-piece stock, receiver mounted scope mount, modified trigger, and flush-fit 7 round magazine. It also has a redesigned front sight with no bayonet mount. This rifle has not yet been imported into the US.

Civilian use

The SKS is popular on the civilian surplus market, especially in the United States, where examples range in price from roughly US $100-$500 depending on type, history, quality, availability, national origin, and location of purchase.

Ballistics

Its 7.62x39mm cartridge is sometimes said to be roughly equivalent to the old Winchester .30-30 round. However, the 7.62 is generally considered inferior to the 30-30 as a hunting cartridge because the lighter bullet and lower velocity deliver less energy at typical hunting ranges. There are good hunting bullets available, but all are lighter than .30-30 loadings. Additionally, the SKS is somewhat heavier than most .30-30 lever-action rifles. Accuracy can be improved by using higher quality ammunition available on the market, or through the use of reloaded ammunition.

Legal Issues

The carbine's integral 10-round magazine is not an issue in those states and nations which prohibit higher-capacity magazines. However, where higher capacity magazines are legally permitted, there are a number of secondary market vendors that sell higher capacity magazines of up to 30 rounds (or more). These secondary market magazines may be installed by first removing the "permanent" OEM magazine (a process that involves the removal of the trigger group assembly) with a pin punch, screwdriver, or similar device. In Canada semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns are limited to hold no more then 5 rounds, although the semi-automatic M1 Garand and the bolt-action Lee-Enfield rifle are exempt from this law.

Unlike other military rifles, the SKS has not attracted a significant degree of negative publicity. Its inexpensive price and wide availability make it a popular firearm and the gun is certainly used by criminals. It was widely and incorrectly reported as the murder weapon in the November 2004 shootings of six hunters in the North American state of Wisconsin.*. The actual firearm was a sporterized Kalashnikov variant made by Saiga/Izhmash and chambered in 7.62x39.

External links

See also

Semi-automatic rifles | Cold War weapons of the Soviet Union

SKS-45 | SKS | SKS | SKS | Karabin SKS | SKS (ase) | 西蒙洛夫半自动卡宾枪

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "SKS".

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