The never-ending 'SKS in WWII' Conversation

[Matchka]

I'm no expert in Soviet battle dress; pic could be from the 1950's. An interesting read:

https://www.thearmorylife.com/when-the-sks-faced-the-m14/

[owenj492]

I was reading the article and noticed this picture with the caption:

Afghan Mujahideen fighter photographed in 1989, using an SKS against its former Soviet owners. Image: Author's collection





Notice the "French Tickler" handguard? Wow!

[Bacarnal]

From what I can gather with the 90° gas port and the spike bayonet, wouldn't the carbine the Soviet Soldier is holding be an early 1949 piece.

Also read the article and now have another Holy Grail to search for...the tremendously elusive Polish SKS.  Probably issued to the Sasquatch, making it doubly hard to find .

[Larry D.]

The top photo is from Hungary in the 50's, if I recall correctly.

Not a great article from a historical perspective. Seems like it was written for people without much context to draw from.

[Phosphorus32]

The top photo is from Hungary in the 50's, if I recall correctly.

Not a great article from a historical perspective. Seems like it was written for people without much context to draw from.

Agreed. I've always seen that photo of the 1949 SKS-45 attributed to Soviet troops quelling the Hungarian revolt in 1956.

The statements about Mosin models had me squirming, "...Mosin-Nagant M91/30 rifles of pre-World War I vintage..."? 

Many of the inaccuracies regarding the SKS probably result from using Kehaya and Poyer's book as a major reference.

[Shoot The Refurbs]

The top photo is from Hungary in the 50's, if I recall correctly.

Not a great article from a historical perspective. Seems like it was written for people without much context to draw from.

Agreed. I've always seen that photo of the 1949 SKS-45 attributed to Soviet troops quelling the Hungarian revolt in 1956.

The statements about Mosin models had me squirming, "...Mosin-Nagant M91/30 rifles of pre-World War I vintage..."? 

Many of the inaccuracies regarding the SKS probably result from using Kehaya and Poyer's book as a major reference.

I have wondered what is considered by this group to be the best historical reference book in relation to the SKS. I had heard something about someone working on one that should have been done by now if memory serves correct, but you know i've bumped my head a time or 2 getting to the ground the fast way 

[Weldrdave]

I really enjoyed this reading!!!  Thank you, Great stuff. 

[Larry D.]

I've been around on this earth for a couple of years now. I've a great many people in the gun biz. Some buyers, some sellers, some collectors, one museum curator, a couple of authors - one of whom actually asked me for an opinion once, and about a million experts.

All that to say this:  In my never to be humble opinion, the best reference material for the SKS is to be found right here on this forum.
I think that if someone here wanted to put a book together, it could be done fairly easily.
It could be done solo, or (maybe better) as a collaborative effort.

[Justin Hell]

^this

Every book about the SKS is about as close to fact as your average Dick Wolf 'ripped from the headlines' storyline.
Some basis in fact, but should be considered for entertainment value only.

This is where the facts reside.

For a lark I went to the 'other board' a few days ago...waste of time...and not really much happening there considering the recent uptick in SKS supply.

[Shoot The Refurbs]

I hope that you guys didn't take what I said the wrong way.
My doc says it'd help my sleep if I read a book before bed, and he was very specific about no computer screens.
Naturally, i'm thinking a good dry book on sks's would be perfect. 
This is why I posed this question specifically to this community because I'm curious what is y'alls opinion on the current most accurate source. I know we have discussed the inaccuracies of a few books and sources here and there, and knowing this community is more knowledgeable now than the authors were years back when they wrote their books I feel like this would be the place to ask which book is the one for me.

I had also thought I remembered something like 8-9 years back about someone on the otherboards (can't remember who) that potentially migrated here saying something about having been working on a book to be ready in a few years. but again, i've been bumped on the head a few times. 

[Justin Hell]

While quite old, this is a phone book sized SKS tome...with lots of exhausting description.  This is the second edition, I have the first.  I think they removed the full auto modification section from this one...and perhaps added color pictures?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SIMONOV-SKS-45-TYPE-CARBINES-PAPERBACK-BOOK-WYANT-LAMONT-STEPHEN-FULLER-1988/264820771563?hash=item3da88c4aeb:g:WpQAAOSwE-VehZVg

This is the first edition:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOOK-SIMONOV-SKS-45-TYPE-CARBINES-BY-WYANT-LAMONT-STEPHEN-FULLER/303579474176?hash=item46aebf2900:g:HlgAAOSwZrhezdaw

These might make for some decent bedtime reading...and might be easier on the eyesight than the smaller books on the subject.

[running-man]

Yes, that famous photo of the Russian soldier with the '49 SKS was taken in Budapest, Hungary during the short lived Hungarian Revolution of 1956:


For a 'historian', he sure is sloppy with his work. 

Calling the Chinese type 63 as an "SKS Variant" is laughable, they are completely different designs.