Also known as Simonov carbine
The SKS () is a semi-automatic carbine designed by Soviet small arms designer Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov in the 1940s.
Key facts
- Weapon.name
- SKS
- Weapon.image
- Simonow SKS 45 noBG.jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.caption
- An SKS from the collections of the Swedish Army Museum
- Weapon.origin
- Soviet Union
- Weapon.type
- Semi-automatic carbine
- Weapon.is_ranged
- Yes
- Weapon.service
- 1949–present
- Weapon.used_by
- See Users
- Weapon.wars
- See Conflicts
- Weapon.designer
- Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov
- Weapon.design_date
- 1941–1944
- Weapon.production_date
- 1949–1958 (Soviet Union) 1956–1980 (China)
- Weapon.number
- 5,000,000–15,000,000
- Weapon.variants
- See Variants
- Weapon.length
- (with bayonet folded)
- Weapon.cartridge
- 7.62×39mm
- Weapon.action
- Gas-operated (short-stroke, tilting bolt)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 3.753
- Image
- SKS - Ryssland - AM.045810.jpg
Show 6 more facts
- Commons category
- SKS
- service entry
- 1945-01-01
- total produced
- 15000000
- Commons gallery
- SKS
- service retirement
- 1970-01-01
- inception
- 1945-00-00
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~43 min read
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Design
- Development history
- Service history
- Variants
- Soviet and Russian
- Chinese
- Other European
- Other Asian
- Conflicts
- Users
- Former users
- Commercial sales and sporting use
- United States
- Canada
- Russia
- See also
- References
- External links
The SKS () is a semi-automatic carbine designed by Soviet small arms designer Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov in the 1940s.
The SKS was first produced in the Soviet Union but was later widely exported and manufactured by various nations. Its distinguishing characteristics include a permanently attached folding bayonet and a hinged, fixed magazine. As the SKS lacked select-fire capability and its magazine was limited to ten rounds, it was rendered obsolete in the Soviet Armed Forces by the introduction of the AK-47 in the 1950s. Nevertheless, SKS carbines continued to see service with the Soviet Border Troops and second-line and reserve army units for decades.