SKS

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

Article

18 sections

Contents

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.