(SKS)
MODEL 1945

Russia

A BRIEF OVERALL HISTORY

The

RECEIVER COVER MARKINGS

On the top of the receiver cover is the manufacture mark and long with the production year. The arrow in a star represents the Tula Arsenal. Located in Tula Russia, it is about 150 miles south of Moscow. Below the manufacturer is the manufacture date, this being 1954. The character following the year, “Г”, is Cyrillic and is an abbreviation for year (Gohd[a]) in Russian

REFERBISHMENT MARK

On the top of the receiver cover, between the Tula star and date is a diamond shaped marking with bisecting line (two triangles). This is a refurbishment mark from 5th GRAU (Arsenal No.5) in Alatyr, Russia, about 400 miles east of Moscow. This is one of the less common refurbishment marks fond on the SKS.

RECEIVER COVER

Further inspection of the receiver cover identifies this as the 3rd type of receiver cover. Indicated by the more squared off lug, large squared groove within the hole for the latch and the lightening cuts on either side of the lug. This style receiver cover was adopted in 1953.

RECEIVER

This receiver can be identified as post, mid 1952 by the lack of a milled step below the extension rod tunnel. The short tab receiver cover latch identifies it as being produced post 1951.