SECTION 20: In this section I will try to show the differences between
the same part from different years and countries. The only purpose of
this page is to help make the collector aware that differences do occur and
about anything could be possible. These are ALL from my personal observations
and not from any books.
The various pictures below show the Slings from various makes
and models of the SKS. I am finding out that this is not an easy
undertaking. The slings that I will be showing are NOT necessarily SKS
original but are what I have received with and seen on various makes of the SKS.
Some of the slings were also used on different weapons from the same country of
origin. Currently these are the only differences I have noticed.
Some are only cosmetic, some have different stampings, some are shaped slightly
different and some are just plain different. NOTE:
This is just from my observation and may or may not be original to the gun!
If you have comments or have different sling pictures you would like me to post
send me an email and I will respond. THANKS!!
Albania
There seems to be a lot of variation from this country. Being so poor and backward they used whatever they could. Some of the slings resemble Chinese slings and some are unique to Albania. Lengths and widths varied between slings as noted in the pictures below.
48" long by 1 1/8" wide. Woven fabric 55" long by 1 3/8" wide. Sewn canvas material.
53" long by 1" wide. - Woven material w/cartouche - 56" long by 1" wide.
54" long by 1 1/4" wide. Light woven material 59" long by 1 1/4" wide. Woven material w/cartouche
These are some other markings found on Albanian slings that came with the SKS.
China
China seems to have used 2 variations for sling design for MOST of it's military design. The Honor Guard rifle used a leather sling, the others were a woven fabric that attached to the weapon by either leather tabs or round coil springs. The latter was also used on the sub machine gun and is believed to be more correct for that application. Many of the spring connected slings were used with SKS's that were retrofitted with the Chinese synthetic type of "Jungle" stock.
This picture shows the various slings used on the Chinese SKS. Notice the color difference, the buckle size, and the color of the metal. All these slings have cartouches or markings on them. These slings can also be found without any of the markings. The top picture also shows the Spring type of sling attachment--------bottom sling. I believe the later design is the darker green with the green metal but I am not 100% positive.
The picture below shows the different cartouches I have noticed on the green colored slings with the green metal. Some are hard to make out and I don't know exactly what they mean.
All the Chinese SKS slings with the metal tabs seem to measure the same 55" long by 1 1/8" wide and are made from a heavy woven type of canvas material. The colors and metal hardware vary but the dimensions do not.
These slings with the spring type of connectors were the standard issue for the Chinese sub machine gun and later found on the SKS. It also can be found with different color of material with and without markings on them.
The Honor Guard sling is 53" long by 1" wide. It is constructed of leather with chrome plated metal parts.
East Germany
The DDR made weapons used a leather sling similar to the ones used on the K98. DDR stamped Russian weapons used a blue-gray sling that was also used for the German made AK.
This is the sling used on the East German made SKS. It is of leather construction approx. 1" wide. It is fastened at the butt stock similar to the K98 and is looped through the front sling band and fastened by the typical metal stud.
This sling is primarily used on the East German AK but can also be found on the East German DDR stamped SKS's. These guns are marked with a 1 in a triangle on the forward left side of the receiver near the serial number
This sling measures 60" long by 1 3/8" wide. The color is a blue grey and the material is woven similar to the Russian slings. Some of these slings seem to be of a heavier material than other East German slings.
North Korea
Shown below are two examples of the slings found on the North Korean SKS. I don't have any measurements for these. The sling is a canvas constructed sling. Also found on these are the leather AK slings.
I hope to get measurements of an North Korean sling in the near future but they look to be similar to the Russian.
North Vietnam
The slings used here were similar to the Chinese made slings. I currently do not have any to show, so look at the Chinese ones. Most of the SKS's used there were of Chinese origin and the slings would more than likely have been Chinese.
See the Chinese section above. These may be of an unmarked variety of the Chinese made slings.
Romania
Romania use a leather sling with attached tabs measuring 48" long by 1 1/4" wide. A very well constructed sling.
The Romanian sling was a very nicely constructed sling of quality leather.
This is the only style that I currently have. It measures 48: long by 1 1/4" wide.
Russia
Russia used a woven fabric type of sling that was probably also used on their AK rifle. They measured 59" long from the end of the snap to the edge of the buckle. These slings were 1 3/8" wide
The regular Russian SKS sling varies only by the shade of color. The metal is all the same, some of the slings had the metal painted silver. Honor Guard and Naval slings were generally a different color. See below
The Naval sling was a dark blue/black colored sling measuring 59" long by 1 3/8' wide. Notice the color and cartouche.
The brown leather sling measures approx 60" by 1 3/8" wide. Note the markings.
The Honor Guard/Parade sling measures 61" long by 1 3/8" wide. There is no cartouche or markings on it. The sling is made out of a white vinyl outer face that is bonded to a canvas backing.
This picture shows some of the various markings found on the Russian SKS slings. The are hard to see on some slings and easy to see on others. These are the only ones I have now, BUT do have more slings to look through so additions may be coming.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia used several types of slings. Most of these interchanged with the AK rifle. The light gray woven ones were 47" long by 1 1/4" wide. These were primarily used on the Model 59/66. Leather ones were used on the M59's and were approx. 60" long by 3/4" wide.
The leather sling was used on the model 59 rifle along with the later canvas type slings. It measures 60" long by 3/4" wide with a metal buckle and brass stud.
The gray woven sling shown here was with a model 59/66 but I am sure other types were also used and interchanged with the AK weapon since both were made during the same time frame. The pictured one measures 47" long by 1 1/4" wide.
Miscellaneous
Egypt used a sling that they also used on the Rashid, Hakim and AK. It was a vivid green woven material measuring 50" long by 1 1/2" wide. Egypt did use Chinese made SKS's that were often times fitted with a Laminated stock probably from Russia.
Go to SKS page 21 more info on the NO DATE TULA Receiver Cover SKS.
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This page is still under Construction!!
YooperJ
Started in
1999 by [Yooper John's]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
04 Mar 2016 12:54:28 -0600
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