SKS Year?

djmay71

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So since I've started working on my Chilean M98 Mauser, I've officially caught the milsurp fever, and am thinking of picking up a SKS (or two...) this summer.

Anyways, the 1st SKS I get, I'm thinking of getting a symbolic year, but I don't know if SKS's in these years exist, so maybe you can help me out.
The years I'd be interested in would be: 1956 & 1923...more to come, need to do some research.
 
Sorry to say, the SKS did not show up to the party until 1945. You could get a Mosin Nagant from 1923. The SKS is the very first original rifle produced by the Soviet union, so a nice 1945, spiked bayonet model would be pretty historical! Also, the last year of WW2.
 
I believe 1945 was the official year of adoption into the armed forces in Russia.

The only year ranges I've actually seen for sale are 1949-1956.

To select an SKS, I'd really suggest doing some reading.

Chrome lined vs. non chrome lined
Gas block appearance and other nuances.
solid vs. laminate stock
Country of Production: Russian/Chinese/Yugoslavian/Romanian/North Korean/Vietnamese
Factory within country; for example a Russian, but mfg'd at Tula, or Izhevsk?

Various ranges of years have implications for slightly different parts. Being that the vast majority of (edit: Russian) SKS are indeed refurbished (no matter who tells you they are "new"), this also adds variables to what you will end up with. Additionally, some changes were implemented mid-year.

A really good page to read is here:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298930
 
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For the SKS, for the year 1956 (and some 1955) there is no year stamping, hence no way to know for sure if it's a 1956.
 
Cool beans. 1956 it is then. Or 1976. Or 1991. (that would be a hard find, I'd assume)

JackiechanBlackSS.png



http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298930
 
The only Soviet SKS rifles that were made in 1945 were frontline test rifles for the ending months of WWII. The rifles proved to be very effective so the first batch of SKS rifles were hammered together in 1949. The 1949 and early 1950 SKS have spike bayonets. Up until mid 1951, they changed the SKS from a return spring firing pin to a free floating firing pin (Not sure why. Cheaper to make?). You will not get a slam fire from a return spring firing pin unless you put the firing pin in backwards. Many minor changes were made to the gas block from the test rifles all the way up until their last year of production 1956.

Chinese SKS rifles started production in 1956. I'm not 100% sure but the Chinese SKS is still manufactured today but only as civilian models. I don't know to much about the Chinese SKS. Don't need one when you have a nice Rusky SKS. Although, id like to have a Chinese SKS just to say I have one.
 
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