Czech 7.62x45mm cartridge At first glance, this rifle appears to be a variant of the Soviet SKS. Closer inspection reveals nothing could be further from the truth. Disassembly reveals an interesting mix of American, German, and Czech designs. The trigger group is surprisingly similar to the U.S. M1 Garand, right down to the safety lever and trigger guard takedown apparatus. The gas system is an annular piston around the barrel, closely machined to an exact tolerance, much like the German MKb 42(W). The piston drives an operating rod that is little more than a C-shaped piece of stamped steel. This operating rod propels two small steel "fingers" on a separate carrier, which impart motion to the bolt carrier on firing. The bolt is a tipping design, as in the Tokarev, FN-49, and SKS, but differing in the fact that it locks with 4 distinct lugs in the front of the receiver,vs. the rear as in the aforementioned rifles. The box magazine is a detachable ten round unit, and its follower engages a bolt hold-open plunger after the last round is fired. The sights are quite simple: A tangent rear, with range marks incremented to 900 meters, and a front inverted V mounted on a tall base, with grooves for a hood. The barrel is threaded at the muzzle end, which is protected by a knurled cap. Under the barrel is a heavy forend cap that secures the barrel to the stock, and also serves as the base for the permanently mounted pivoting bayonet. The bayonet folds and locks along the right side of the rifle, flush with the stock via an inletted portion of the right forearm. At the opposite end of the rifle, the buttplate is a stamping that is removable to reveal an inner buttplate with storage for a cleaning kit. The sling mounts from the left side, with mounts inset into the stock, much like the M1 Carbine and Mauser 98K. TEN ROUND STRIPPER CLIP OF 7.62x39 LEFT RIGHT Czech (7.62x45mm) Five round Stripper Clip. TOP PHOTO:
