I was scanning the national news and saw a photo of Putin walking along a row of soldiers. They were at attention and I only saw the top half of their rifles, but they really appeared to be spike bayonet style SKS's. Are they still using SKS's? I would have thought AK 74's would be standard issue. Just wondering. Don
Russian military still using SKS?
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Jack Package
Member
Carl N. Brown
Member
For ceremonies and parades the Russians tend to bring out the dressier versions of the SKS.
But in London, the Buckingham Palace Guard in their old style red tinics and bearskin hats carry the current issue infantry rifle. Strange contrast.
But in London, the Buckingham Palace Guard in their old style red tinics and bearskin hats carry the current issue infantry rifle. Strange contrast.
"...strange contrast."
"strange contrast."
That's putting it rather well.
Perhaps it's because those Brits consider themselves to be "real" guards,,,
As contrasted with some of the European guards who are kept for the tourism benefit.
They hold tradition in dress for many reasons,,,
But in reality they are some serious bad-arsed soldiers,,,
They require weaponry with the same good qualities as the wielder.
I say, it's a good thing.
Aarond
.
"strange contrast."
That's putting it rather well.
Perhaps it's because those Brits consider themselves to be "real" guards,,,
As contrasted with some of the European guards who are kept for the tourism benefit.
They hold tradition in dress for many reasons,,,
But in reality they are some serious bad-arsed soldiers,,,
They require weaponry with the same good qualities as the wielder.
I say, it's a good thing.
Aarond
.
1911 guy
Member
Yep. Check out the history of how the palace guards got those funny bearskin hats.
And I suspect that the other posters are right, the SKS is easier to do a manual of arms for parade and the chromed up ones look nice for said parades.
And I suspect that the other posters are right, the SKS is easier to do a manual of arms for parade and the chromed up ones look nice for said parades.
The hats worn by the Queens Guard are called bearskin. Originally they were worn by grenadiers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin
1911 guy
Member
The bearskin hats were originally worn by Napolean's elite troops who had a reputation of never retreating. The Coldstream Guard routed them them took their hats. They've worn them ever since.
FWIW Our Honor Guards are authorized the use of the M-14, M1 Garand and 1903 Springfield. In a deployed environment the use of the M-16 or M-4 is warranted.
Saw some pictures of both Ukrainians and Russian irregulars using the SKS in the recent unpleasantness in the Eastern Ukraine
Saw one the other day in a picture taken around the plane crash in Ukraine being carried by an irregular, rebel, or whatever you want to call him. It was an old school SKS that had the original 10 round magazine, no AK mag. Guys family had probably been hiding that gun for this moment since the end of the cold war.
wojownik
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The SKS is used in ceremonial duties throughout the former East Block. Saw them un use by Polish and Romanian honor guards in 2011. Russia and Ukraine both use them in honor guards.
As noted, a variety of pictures are being posted out there of pro-Russian separatists toting SKS rifles in Ukraine. I was told that the SKS is/was sold as a hunting and sporting rifle in Ukraine, so these are probably all over the place. FWIW, one could pick up an AK rifle (full auto) for around $350-$400 locally, at least before the current troubles.
As noted, a variety of pictures are being posted out there of pro-Russian separatists toting SKS rifles in Ukraine. I was told that the SKS is/was sold as a hunting and sporting rifle in Ukraine, so these are probably all over the place. FWIW, one could pick up an AK rifle (full auto) for around $350-$400 locally, at least before the current troubles.
They hold tradition in dress for many reasons,,,
But in reality they are some serious bad-arsed soldiers,,,
They require weaponry with the same good qualities as the wielder.
I say, it's a good thing.
Aarond
.
I didn't think the L85 was known for good qualities
British grenadiers were wearing bearskin hats long before Waterloo. The Grenadier Guards might have started wearing them after Waterloo but the Grenadiers of the Old Guard were not the first to use them..and actually they never advanced at Waterloo anyway. The Grenadier Guards engaged other units of the Middle Guard. The Old Guard was pretty much annhilated covering the retreat.
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Panzerschwein
member
This is not news.
The Russians, along with numberous other ex-Soviet Bloc nations use SKS's today... but only for ceremonial guard duty. They are not used as combat weapons by and major military anymore. There are rumors that some remote corners of the Chinese military and others still have them in reserve, but in 2014 the only place your going to find an SKS on the battlefield is in the hands of some militia/terrorist group who are using everything they possibly can and would ditch the SKS in a heartbeat if someone handed them an AK-74 or M4 carbine instead.
The Russians, along with numberous other ex-Soviet Bloc nations use SKS's today... but only for ceremonial guard duty. They are not used as combat weapons by and major military anymore. There are rumors that some remote corners of the Chinese military and others still have them in reserve, but in 2014 the only place your going to find an SKS on the battlefield is in the hands of some militia/terrorist group who are using everything they possibly can and would ditch the SKS in a heartbeat if someone handed them an AK-74 or M4 carbine instead.
They were reworked maybe a decade or so back by HK and are excellent weapons now.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
I may be wrong, but I believe those guards may be actual guards with live weapons, as opposed to ceremonial guards with stage props.
Nice lies the English love to tell.
At Waterloo, it was Dutch troops (trained by the French, btw) who broke the advance of the Imperial Guard. The English only engaged the Chasseurs de la Garde, and not the grenadiers. -but they love to tell big lies about how they won the battle single-handed!
Bangladeshi SKS
The SKS is still a very important rifle in the Bangladesh Army. They were manufactured there for awhile, presumably with Chinese help.
The SKS is still a very important rifle in the Bangladesh Army. They were manufactured there for awhile, presumably with Chinese help.
I certainly hope the British "guards" don't ever need to use the bayonets on their rifles. Why get dressed like for a parade and then carry that rifle? I guess I understand that they are "real guards" and all that and want real weapons but that just looks silly.
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