Soviet Russian 1952 SKS and AK-47 Sling with Leather Tab

The Soviet AK-47 went into mass production in 1949; The SKS in 1950. This is the correct sling for all early Soviet SKSs and AK-47s made prior to Mid 1952. These early SKS and AK-47 slings, like this one, had a leather tab holding on the D-Ring/Clip, not metal. These leather end tabs were not as durable and were replaced by a steel band in mid 1952. The markings on these early slings, were often done sloppily, definitely not for us collectors. This one  includes the Hammer and Sickle mark and 52r. The small “r” next to the two digit is the Russian abbreviation for year. Soviet slings also include OTK which is the Soviet military acceptance mark. Some slings made in this era, like magazine pouches and other web gear, is a nice khaki brown while others are khaki-green. This is a new old stock sling in a green khaki hue.