Tag Archives: Russian SKS

VE-Day, Russian style

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This week saw the huge annual parade on May 8, across more than 30 Russian cities, to celebrate the end of World War II in Europe. Termed Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War rather than VE-Day in WWII, the Russians/Soviets have long gone majestic on the great celebration. After all, the country lost over 20 million during the conflict.

On display was lots of old gear.

Dig the SKS-45s, which were manufactured between 1950 and 54. These have been given blonde ceremonial stocks, chromed bayonets, and white leather slings. Note the dog-collar style cinches around the pistol grip

As well as lots of new gear.

The new AK-12/15/200 series were on hand, which takes the 5.45x39mm AK74M and slathers it with rails and a more M4-style adjustable stock. Note the EoTech style day optics and grenade launchers. The Russians just ordered 150K of these from Kalashnikov.

The break down in my column at Guns.com.

More Russian rebel gatt images, fresh from the Ukraine

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If you have been following along at home, you may have seen my earlier post on pro-Russian rebels (who have nothing officially to do with Moscow of course), and their right out of Sputnik armament choices.

Well here are two more, the first showing a rather halfway decent roadblock defended by a classic Tula SKS-45 rifle (although there appears to be a AK-74 in the rebel’s lap) and several (I guess they found a case that no one was keeping track of) single-use RPG-18 Mukha (Fly) anti-tank rockets, Moscow’s answer to the U.S. M72 LAWs. Then of course, in the second image, we see that, yes, Vladimir, their PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle (designed by Simonov a few years before the SKS) can still bring the heat.

Pro-Russian rebels stand next to newly dug trenches at a fortified front line rebel position near the eastern Ukrainian town of Slaviansk May 16, 2014. (REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis)

Pro-Russian rebels stand next to newly dug trenches at a fortified front line rebel position near the eastern Ukrainian town of Slaviansk May 16, 2014. (REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis)

A pro-Russian militant test-fires an anti-tank weapon preparing to fight against Ukrainian government troops at a checkpoint blocking the major highway which links Kharkiv, outside Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, May 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

A pro-Russian militant test-fires an anti-tank weapon preparing to fight against Ukrainian government troops at a checkpoint blocking the major highway which links Kharkiv, outside Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, May 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)