This Tula SKS was manufactured in early 1950 and is chambered in 7.62x39mm. All numbers
match, applied during arsenal refurbishment rather than carried as original factory
markings. Overall condition is excellent and the bore is mirror bright. The carbine
carries the folding blade bayonet and comes with a sling and a cleaning kit.
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, with a short secondary
run at Izhevsk beginning in 1953. Tula rifles are identified by an arrow within a star
stamped on the top of the dust cover above the year of production. Early Soviet carbines
carried a cruciform spike-type folding bayonet, which gave way to the folding blade
pattern around 1950. 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, early production
Model: SKS
Action: Semi-automatic, gas operated
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Matching: All numbers matching, applied during arsenal refurbishment
Condition: Excellent
Bore: Mirror
Bayonet: Folding blade bayonet
Included: Sling; cleaning kit
