This Tula SKS is an early production example dated 1950 and is chambered in 7.62x39mm.
It is offered as new old stock, still in its factory box with its paperwork, and comes
with a sling, cleaning kit, oiler and pouch, and ammunition pouch. All numbers match as
factory refurbished. The folding blade bayonet is present. The bore is mirror bright,
and the rifle appears to be unfired since that refurbishment, with no sign of brass or
carbon residue in the bore or on the bolt. Mechanical condition is excellent.
The SKS was designed by Sergei Simonov and adopted by the Soviet Army in 1949 as the
Samozaryadny Karabin Simonova, or Simonov self-loading carbine, chambered for the
7.62x39mm M1943 cartridge. Soviet production was centered on Factory No. 536, the Tula
Arms Factory, which built SKS carbines from 1949 to early 1956 and was the only Soviet
producer until Izhevsk began a short secondary run in 1953. A 1950 rifle therefore falls
in the second year of Soviet production. Early Soviet carbines carried a cruciform
spike-type folding bayonet, which was replaced by the folding blade pattern around 1950,
placing rifles from this year at that transition. Tula rifles are identified by an arrow
within a star stamped on the top of the dust cover above the year of production. Many
Russian SKS carbines were factory refurbished before being imported, work that commonly
left non-original details such as a blued bolt or bayonet where these parts were
originally finished in the white.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Tula
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1950
Model: SKS
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Matching: All numbers matching as factory refurbished
Bayonet: Folding blade bayonet present
Condition: New old stock, in factory box with paperwork
Bore: Mirror, no brass or carbon residue
Included: Factory box and paperwork, sling, cleaning kit, oiler and pouch, ammunition pouch
Mechanical condition: Excellent
