WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY 25 & 26 July 2020

189 History THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR · 25 & 26 JULY 2020 351 Circa 1958 USSR SKS carbine. Decommissioned, with certificate. Collection of Pat O’Hagan, Belfast. Condition: Very good. The SKS(Semi-automatic carbine of Simonov) is a Soviet semi-automatic carbine chambered for the 7.62×39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. Its complete designation, SKS-45, is an initialism for Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 (Self-loading Carbine of (the) Simonov system, 1945). The SKS-45 was manufactured at Tula Arsenal from 1945 to 1958, resulting in a total Soviet production of about 2.7 million carbines. In the early 1950s, the Soviets took the SKS carbine out of front- line service and replaced it with the AK-47; however, the SKS remained in second-line service for decades. It is still used as a ceremonial firearm today. The SKS was widely exported. Examples this weapon have been recovered from the IRA in Northern Ireland. Estimate €600-€800 (approx £550-£730) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 351 352 Circa 1970-1980 Chinese Type 56 Carbine (a version of SKS). Decomissioned with certificate. Collection of Pat O’Hagan, Belfast. Condition: Very good. The SKS(Semi-automatic carbine of Simonov) is a Soviet semi-automatic carbine chambered for the 7.62×39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. Its complete designation, SKS-45, is an initialism for Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 (Self-loading Carbine of (the) Simonov system, 1945). The SKS-45 was manufactured at Tula Arsenal from 1945 to 1958, resulting in a total Soviet production of about 2.7 million carbines. In the early 1950s, the Soviets took the SKS carbine out of front- line service and replaced it with the AK-47; however, the SKS remained in second-line service for decades. It is still used as a ceremonial firearm today. The SKS was widely exported, and was also licensed for production by then Eastern Bloc nations Romania and East Germany, as well as China, where it was designated the “Type 56 Carbine”. Examples have been recovered from the IRA in Northern Ireland. Estimate €600-€800 (approx £550-£730) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 352