SKS carbine
From The D Archives
The SKS is a Russian semi-automatic carbine, designed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. It is formally known as the Samozaryadniy 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 entirely 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 round, an intermediate cartridge which went on to be used in the Kalashnikov-series weapons.
Civilian Use
The SKS is popular on the civilian surplus market, especially in the United States, where examples overwhelmingly range in price from roughly US$130-500 as of Jan. 2007 depending on type, history, quality, availability, national origin, and location of purchase. Chinese models have a going rate of $250 as of Jan. 2007, Russian between $400-600. Typically Yugoslavian, Romanian, and Albanian models price substantially less than the Russian. Genuine Russian models range in value based on stock composition and accompanying original accessories like cleaning kit, bayonet, oil can, shoulder strap and ammunition pouch. Because of their historic and novel nature, SKS rifles are classified by the BATF as "Curio & Relic" items under US law, allowing them to be sold with features that might otherwise be restricted.
In the early 1990s, the Chinese SKS rapidly became the "poor man's deer rifle" in some Southern areas due to its low price making it cost much less than such old favorites in that role as the Marlin 336. Importation of the Chinese SKS into the USA was banned in the 90s and prices have risen dramaticaly over the years. In the early 90s they could be bought "new in box" for $69. Today, "NIB" often go for upwards of $250.
Due to its low cost and wide availability, the SKS has spawned a growing market for both replacement parts and accessories. Many aftermarket parts are available to upgrade the rifle — sometimes so considerably that it bears little semblance to the original gun. This process, known as "sporterizing" (or by the somewhat derogatory term "bubba'd"[3]), may include items such as synthetic buttstocks, extra capacity magazines, replacement receiver covers (which allow the mounting of scopes, lasers, etc.), different muzzle brakes, recoil buffers, and more.
Specifications
Weight: 3.85 kg (8 lb 8 oz)
Length: 1,021 mm (40.2 in)
Barrel length: 521 mm (20.5 in)
Cartridge: 7.62 x 39 mm
Action: Short stroke gas piston, tilting bolt, self-loading
Rate of fire: Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity: 735 m/s (2,410 ft/s)
Effective range: 400 m (433 yd)
Feed system: 10 round internal box magazine, 10-round stripper clip-fed or individual
Round loading:
Sights: Hooded post front sight, tangent notch rear sight to 1,000 meters
