The Russian SKS is a semi-automatic carbine that is of great historical importance in the post-World War II period and the early Cold War.

Origin and development

The SKS was designed by Soviet engineer Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov in the final years of World War II. The design was officially adopted in 1945 by the Red Army under the name Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova (SKS), which means "Simonov system semi-automatic carbine."

It was developed to use the new Soviet 7.62×39mm intermediate cartridge, created to offer a balance between range, control, and firepower.