• Public Gallery  • Help  
• Join Now!  • Log In  • Feature Tour
 willyp | Home > Soviet/Combloc Section > Soviet Union > Weapons > 
1945 SKS Siminov (7.62x39)
The SKS was developed late in WW2 & introduced on a trial in the closing stages of that war. After the war the Soviets were developing the AK47 & they put the SKS into production in 1949 as a back-up to the AK. It didn't see wide-spread use by the Soviets but eventually equipped & was mfg by many of the ComBloc countries including China, N Viet Nam, N Korea, Romania, East Germany & even Albania! The Soviet guns went thru a series of modifications, the original 1949 guns were mfg w/a spike bayonet similiar to the original 1945 trials guns, in 1950 they switched to common blade style, they were mfg in the Soviet Union from 1949-1956/57.
Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 73 of 73 Total. 88429 Visits.
Start SlideshowTo order prints and photo-products: 1. Select photos. 2. Click Order. 3. Select products. 
Enlarge photo 1

1949 Tula SKS
1st production year, early guns were improved versions of the original 1944 trials guns that saw very limited service in WWII, early production is primarily 1949 into early 1950 & these rifles have some substantial diffeences from later guns.

Enlarge photo 2

1949 w/bayonet extended
Obvious physical (visible)differences are the early guns had:
1) Spike bayonets
2) stocks were shallower in front
3) front band
4) take down lever
5) machining differences in rear sight bases, front bases/bayo mounts, floorplates, mag latches etc.


Enlarge photo 3

49 Buttstock right
All original mfg SKS's from 1949 to late 55-56 were fiteed w/hardwood stocks, this particular example has been rearsenaled but appears to have all of it's original parts.

Enlarge photo 4

49 Tula right side action
Carefully compare this view w/pics of the later guns & the comparison views later in the album for the visible differences.

Enlarge photo 5

1949 Top cover marking
Here you can see the early Tula star, date of 1949, serial (interestingly this ones serial is 1949!), also note the small rework indicator stamp os a diagonal line in a box, also note the takedown lever which is shorter has a hole in it & the pin that goes through the receiver doesn't have an "obvious" weld mark, possibly a 1pc assembly?

Enlarge photo 6

49 rear sight
Note the black paint finish, as originally these rifles had a high gloss blue finish & bright bolts, some of the rifles were refinished in black paint during refurbs some weren't, some rifles were refitted w/later parts during refurb some weren't.

Enlarge photo 7

49 rear sight closeup
Rear sight base machining is different compared to later production, you can also see the forend of the stock is much shallower, the grips are shorter & shallower also.

Enlarge photo 8

49 bayonet cutout
Here is the bayonet cutout on an original spike bayonet 1949 stock, much longer than the later blade bayonet style.

Enlarge photo 9

49 Forend, right side
Another obvious difference is the gas port on the early rifles which were 90%, the port itself appears almost square, later mfg was much more angled.

Enlarge photo 10

49 w/spike bayonet extended

Enlarge photo 11

49 w/spike bayonet extended left side

Enlarge photo 12

49 left forend

Enlarge photo 13

49 Tula gas port
A better view of the early 90%, square gas port, this port will also be found on early-mid 50's production guns, also note the different machining of the sling swivel bar, more squared on the early guns.

Enlarge photo 14

49 Tula left upper band-forend
View of the front band, much shallower than the later blade bayonet style.

Enlarge photo 15

49 Tula left forend

Enlarge photo 16

49 Tula action left view
Note the serial#, 1949!, this rifle has 2 obvious repairs to the wood.

Enlarge photo 17

49 Tula bottom trigger-mag

Enlarge photo 18

49 Tula left side buttstock
Original mfg guns would have the Tula star, date & serial number here (same markings as top cover), this rifle has the remains of the markings (couldn't get them to show in the pic as they're VERY light) which were mostly sanded off during refurb.

Enlarge photo 19

49 Tula left side bayonet extended

Enlarge photo 20

49 Tula left view

Enlarge photo 21

1953 Tula mfg SKS45
The SKS was produced by Tula arsenal between 1949-1956/57 & by Ishevsk in 1953/54. The guns were the same except for markings, Tula denoted by a star, Ishevsk by an arrow in a triangle within a circle. Approximately late 1952-1953 production standardized on what I would term mid-production form, Tula, 1952-1955 & Ishevsk 1953/54 being the same except for the markings.

Enlarge photo 22

53 Tula right buttstock
All SKS45 production rifles between 1949 & 1955 by Tula & Ishevsk were originally mfg with hardwood stocks. One of the clues to a rifles original configuration is the presence of the acceptance or final inspection stamp on the RIGHT of the stock which can be seen faintly in this pic.

Enlarge photo 23

Tula acceptance or final proof mark.
The Tula marking consisted of the Crylic character shown within a circle (Ю), the character would be U in English, the Ishevsk marking consisted of 2 Crylic characters within a circle (next pic). All original guns mfg at both arsenals would have these stamps in the right buttstock, stocks w/o these stamps are later replacements. This marking could also be (Т over О,cryllic mkgs)

Enlarge photo 24

Ishevsk Acceptance or final proof mark
For Comparison to previous pic, this is the marking found on the right side of the buttstock on original production fitted stocks for Ishevsk arsenal mfg, basically same as Tula except for different Cryllic Characters (АП)in the circle. This is a pic of an as issued 1954 Ishevsk gun. This could also be (ИП).

Enlarge photo 25

56/57 Tula "side rail" mkd laminate stock marking
All original production SKS's from 1949 thru at least mid 55 production were fitted w/hardwood stocks as original, w/the previously shown acceptance mark on right butt for Tula. In either late 55 or 56 thru the end of mfg in the Soviet Union SKS's were originally fitted w/laminate stocks, these original mfg laminate stock guns will show the same Tula acceptance stamp (Ю)on the right side as shown & will have the serial# on the left side but w/no Star & date mkg, a laminate stock on one of these late "side rail" marked guns w/no acceptance stamp on the right side and/or multiple serials, or the remains (look closely at any you're checking) are replacement stocks NOT original mfg.

Enlarge photo 26

53 Tula right side action
Machining differences denote the "mid" (my term) variants in the rear sight mount, bolt carrier, & take down lever areas.

Enlarge photo 27

53 Tula right side import markings
A large number of genuine Soviet SKS's were imported in the 80's-90's, most were arsenal reworks although they were a number of original condition guns to be found, this 53 Tula I believe is a rifle in it's original configuration, parts & finish. This particular rifle was imported by Century Arms.

Enlarge photo 28

53 Tula right side rear sight

Enlarge photo 29

53 Tula right forend Forend

Enlarge photo 30

53 Tula right w/bayonet folded
The "mid" production gas port & blade bayonet. The bayonets have been seen in dull silver, polished & blued, the blued bayonets are thought to be replacements, there will also be found minor machining variations in the bayonet mount.

Enlarge photo 31

53 Tula muzzle w/bayonet extended

Enlarge photo 32

53 Tula left w/bayonet extended

Enlarge photo 33

53 Tula left bayonet folded

Enlarge photo 34

53 Tula stock cutout for blade bayonet
The bayonet & cutout were the same for late 1950-1955, 1949 & very early (possibly) 1950 guns used a spike bayonet & the cutout was longer, also the stocks for the spike bayonets were slimmer in the forend & the front band was shallower. In late 55-56 the stocks were laminate wood but the cutout was the same as the late 50-1955 guns.

Enlarge photo 35

53 Tula left forend

Enlarge photo 36

53 Tula top view of rear sight
Soviet sights are characterized by the n type character denoting the battle sight setting.

Enlarge photo 37

53 Tula left action
Original production rifles were finished in a high gloss blue on most metal parts, the receiver top covers exhibited a distinct 2 tone appearance about where the top cover marking would be if in their original finish. Rework guns would have a dull even black/blue & in many cases a painted black finish.

Enlarge photo 38

53 Tula left side receiver markings
From 1949-1955 the SKS45 serial was marked on the forward part of the left receiver rail, numerous & variable inspection markings would be found in the chamber area & in many places on the stock. Note also the bright finish of the bolt, all original production guns had bright bolts.

Enlarge photo 39

53 Tula closeup of rail marking
Here is a closer view of the markings, one of the "clues" to an SKS's originality is the bolt finish, some guns during rework had the bolts painted black, some rifles did not, an original gun would have to have a bright bolt but a bright bolt alone does not mean it wasn't reworked.

Enlarge photo 40

56 Tula closeup of rail marking
In late 55 or 1956 Tula mfg SKS (no Ishevsk mfg is known other than 1953 & 1954), were switched from hardwood stocks to laminate stocks, the arsenal marking (Star) was applied to the left receiver along w/serial# & a Crylic character which is believed to be a date code & the top covers on the "side rail" marked guns was left unmarked except for the serial in the normal location at the rear. Check the other pics for clues on how to determine the originality of the laminate stock on a particular rifle by matching the markings & styles shown in the other pics.

Enlarge photo 41

53 Tula magazine marking
As on most Soviet arms the parts of the rifle that were serialized always had the full serial including Crylic prefixes on the individual parts, this would include the receiver, top cover, stock, bolt carrier, bolt, magazine & trigger guard, the gas tubes, firing pins & at times bolts could sometimes be found w/etched numbers.

Enlarge photo 42

53 Tula trigger guard

Enlarge photo 43

53 Tula markings on wrist area

Enlarge photo 44

53 Tula Top Cover Mkg
Tula star w/arrow w/date 1953 on top cover, the 2 tone finish didn't show up in this pic.

Enlarge photo 45

54 Ishevsk Top Cover mkg
Here is the markings for an original as mfg 1954 Ishevsk mfg SKS as opposed to Tula, instead of the star it has an arrow in a triangle within an oval & the date, note the 2 tone blue finish of the cover which is an indication of original finish on Soviet SKS's.

Enlarge photo 46

56 Tula Top Cover, no markings
This is a pic of the top cover of the late "side rail" marked Tula mfg guns, no markings other than the serial at the rear of the cover but the 2 tone finish is still present.

Enlarge photo 47

53 Tula left buttstock
Original markings for Tula SKS's consisted of the same markings as the top cover, the Tula star, w/the matching date (in this case 1953) & the serial number. To check a stock for originality there should be ONE matching serial, the correct arsenal mkg & date AND the correct (for arsenal) acceptance marking on the RIGHT stock. You have to check the stock closely for line-outs or sanded off numbers. A stock w/the matching serial but no arsenal/date on left & no acceptance mark on right is a replacement as are ALL laminate stocks prior to late 1955/56.

Enlarge photo 48

53 Tula left butt marking
These are original, as mfg Tula markings for 1953

Enlarge photo 49

54 Ishevsk Left Butt Mkg
For comparison here is a pic of the butt markings, left side of an original as mfg 1954 Ishevsk SKS, same as the Tula except the arsenal marking of an arrow in a triangle within a circle, these same markings will also be on the top cover.

Enlarge photo 50

56 Tula original laminate left Butt Mkg
This is a pic of an original as mfg 56 Tula laminate stock, it is the original serial on the stock & the factory acceptance/final proof is on the right side of the stock. The circular marking on the right butt is THE indicator of originality on these stocks as even a replacement stock may very well have only 1 serial on it as many of the laminate stocks used as replacements were new stocks, these new replacement stocks would NOT have the acceptance marks on the right side as they were NOT fitted at Tula or Ishevsk as original fittings. If the stock being used as a replacement was a takeoff from an original mfg gun it would have the right side mkg (or more likely the remains of one) but there would be another serial# on the wood (the gun it was originally fitted to at mfg).

Enlarge photo 51

53 Tula left w/bayonet extended

Enlarge photo 52

53 Tula left w/bayonet folded

Enlarge photo 53

1949vs1953 Tula SKS's
The following group of pics show an early (1949-early 1950 mfg) rifle versus a mid (late 51/early52-mid 55 mfg) gun. There appear to be about 4 major mfg variants of the Russian SKS (for collectors purposes) but different features seem to have been phased in as time went on rather than all at once & some or all of the features can be found on guns, the originality & time frame of the changes can only be ascertained by examining enough verifiable original examples as possible.

Enlarge photo 54

49vs53 w/bayonets extended right side
Top: 49
Bottom: 53
Other than the bayonet the general outline of the rifles is a bit different due to the stock dimensions & the early/spike gun is longer w/the bayonets extended.


Enlarge photo 55

49vs53 right side buttplates
Left: 53 Tula
Right: 49 Tula
The 49 buttplate appears to be a bit "straighter" in profile & is thicker than the later rifle.


Enlarge photo 56

49vs53 right action
Top: 49 Tula
Bottom: 53 Tula
Note: the 53 is in original finish, the 49 is in rework finish although consisting of all it's original parts. Compare machining variations, take down lever, stock etc.


Enlarge photo 57

49vs53 right side takedown levers
Left: 49
Right: 53
My reason for using the 49 vs 53 for comparison is the 53 is probably the main style, the style between the 49-50 & late 52 is mostly a combination of both!


Enlarge photo 58

49vs53 Tulas Rear sight area

Enlarge photo 59

49vs53 Tulas forend area
Better closeup of the rear sight bases & forend for comparison.

Enlarge photo 60

49vs53 Bayonet cutouts
Here you can see the dimensional differences, a later, blade bayonet stock would have to be heavily modified & recontoured to fit the spike bayonet, also the front band is very different.

Enlarge photo 61

49vs53 Tulas right muzzle areas
Some of the "non" visible, "non" obvious differences are:
1) early guns had non chrome bores
2) early guns had 90% gas ports in the barrel
3) early guns had spring loaded firing pins
4) early guns had no disconnector as part of the trigger group
5) various machining differences in internal parts.


Enlarge photo 62

49vs53 Tulas right forends
Top: 49, 90% block
bottom: 53, 45% block
Between these 2 variants there is another that was similiar to the 53 but the machining on the outeside of the port was a bit different.


Enlarge photo 63

49vs53 left w/bayonets extended

Enlarge photo 64

49vs53 left forends

Enlarge photo 65

49vs53 bottom view bayonet hilts/mounts
Left: 49 spike bayonet
Right: 53 blade bayonet


Enlarge photo 66

49vs53 left view, gas ports
Left: 49 90%
Right: 53 45%


Enlarge photo 67

49vs53 front bands
Left: 49
Right: 53
Note the 49 is shallower, a bit narrower & has no cutout or "slit" for the blade.


Enlarge photo 68

49vs53 Forends
Top: 49
Bottom: 53
49 is much shallower in the forearm


Enlarge photo 69

49vs53 Tulas bayo cutouts
Top: 49 spike blade
Bottom: 53 blade


Enlarge photo 70

49vs53 rear sight bases
Top: 49
Bottom: 53


Enlarge photo 71

49vs53 mags/trigger assemblies
Top: 49
Bottom: 53


Enlarge photo 72

49vs53 Buttplates
Top: 49
Bottom: 53


Enlarge photo 73

49vs53 Left sides
Top: 49
Bottom: 53


 
 Select All.  
 Email a Comment
 Your Comment is
 immediately emailed
 to the album owner
Name:   Enter your comment
  
Email: 
Subject: 
 
Album Properties. Email Album. Send Invitation. Share URL