Some of the codes were difficult to decipher because they were like jig-saw puzzles fitted within a triangle. Just the factory codes alone numbered in 150. Writing this sticky was a daunting task because the amount of information was overwhelming. Faced with an over supply in a saturated North American market, several new variants were created and marketed. The main driving force for the changes was purely economics, a need to produce more at a lower cost. During this period, we've seen how it has evolved from the original design to the many variations. INTRODUCTION:Ĭhina has been manufacturing SKS for over 50 years producing more SKS than any other nation. Note the differences in the sear block and the clip release mechanism for the removable AK style magazine. Russian 1952-1955/6 and all other countries used the 'Late Trigger Housing' arrangement. The Early Russian 1949-1953 assemblies used a different Sear and Spring arrangement. The Early Russian 1949-1953 assemblies did notuse a Trigger Arm Mount, also note elongated hole below trigger.Īll other countries used the 'Late Milled Housing' and China also used the 'Late Stamped Housing'. Stamped - Late Chinese 1970's-1990's - Note the lack of grooves on safety lever and absence of milling marks at rear of housing. Stamped - Late Chinese 1970's-1990's - Note the seam between trigger guard and housing bottom.ģ. Stamped - Late Chinese 1970's-1990's - Note the seam between trigger guard and housing bottom. Milled - Late Russian 1953-1955/8, Early Chinese 1956-1980, Romanian, Albanian, East German, Yugoslavian, North Korean - Note the raised hump.ģ. Milled Early Russian 1949-1953 - Note flat base.Ģ. Milled - Late Russian 1953-1955/8, Early Chinese 1956-1980, Romanian, Albanian, East German, Yugoslavian, North Korean.ĥ. Late year rebuilds along with early year rebuilds may use either Russian type of trigger housing.Ģ. NOTE: 1953 Russian SKS's seem to have both the early and late housings. Some are only cosmetic, some have different stampings, some are shaped slightly different and some are just plain different.
Currently these are the only differences I have noticed. The commercial SKS model D and M could have either ones configuration depending on when they were converted or made. The various pictures below show the Trigger Assembly exploded from various makes and models of SKS's.