Simonov SKS (Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova)

History of Simonov SKS (Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova)

The Soviet-made SKS or Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova was a design by Sergei Gavrilovish Simonov, sometimes called the Simonov SKS. The system is a simple, self-loading, short-stroke, gas piston-operated toggle pin weapon that fires a 7.62x39mm M1943 rifle cartridge.

The SKS was actually the first Soviet weapon to be built using the 7.62x39mm M1943 cartridge (also known as the "intermediate" cartridge). Many believe that the development of this cartridge stemmed directly from experiments and research on captured German MP44 guns in World War II, which used a similar 7.92mm "short" cartridge.

The SKS system itself is a simple weapon system with very little flair. It's a sturdy and well-built weapon that has proven easy to use, although some have questioned the weight of the weapon for such a small cartridge. The 7.62mm cartridge can be loaded from a standard 10-round magazine or manually loaded with a single shot. An integrated bayonet system is hinged under the barrel and can be deployed or retracted at will.

Thanks to a well-thought-out design, the weapon can also be disassembled in a short period of time, whether for repairs, replacement of parts or cleaning.

SKS was mass-produced in the USSR and its satellite states, and has a place in the history of weapons. To date, the SKS has become an increasingly popular sporting or self-defense weapon in the United States, where it is classified as an antique, so it can be sold with most military accessories intact.

The weapon's 10-round capacity has been increased to 30 rounds in some regions with aftermarket magazines and minor system changes.

SKS is also the M59 produced in Yugoslavia, the Type 56 produced in China, the Type 63 produced in North Korea, and the Karabiner-S produced in the former East Germany, all of which retain the basic components of the Soviet SKS.

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