Yugoslavian SKS, Model 59/66

The Yugoslavian 59/66 is the modified/upgraded version of the original Yugoslavian M59.  The /66 designation means that the design was changed in 1966.  The changes revolved around the incorporation of a grenade launcher to the rifle.  It is designed to fire a standard NATO 22mm rifle grenade.  There were apparently several different types of grenades they used, from anti-personnel to anti-materiel, flares, etc.  They all were fired by the same method.  The sight ladders have two markings, for launching two differrent types of grenades. To incorporate a grenade launcher, the rifle needed a gas cut-off valve.  This allows the rifle to be changed from a semi-automatic firearm to a manual straight-pull rifle.  Obviously, the charge for launching a grenade will be different from firing a bullet.  So the gas cut-off valve was installed at the gas block.  I think this part is particularly clever.  In order to raise the grenade sight ladder, the valve must be turned off.  This prevents a soldier from inadvertently leaving the gas system on while launching a grenade.  These two examples of the M59/66 show two distinctly different stock woods used by the Yugoslavs.  One appears to be teak, which was what the original M59 used.  The other is a wood unknown to me.  But it sure is neat looking! Here's the first one.  It's an "F" series.

And here's the second one, an "I" series.  It came with complete accessories, including the original leather sling and oiler pouch, brass oiler, cleaning kit, and ammo pouch.

This is a picture of the two of them together, sporting grenades.  You can see that the grenades are designed to slip over the launcher and down around the locking ring in front of the front sight assembly.  The bottom grenade is a dummy (inert) practice rifle greande.  The upper one is an M1A2 grenade adapter with a standard pineapple-type hand grenade on it.  Both can be fired from the M59/66, although I do not believe the Yugoslavs ever used these particular grenades.

This is a closeup of the two grenades, from the "business end".  You can see the sight ladders raised in this picture.

Below is a close-up of the M59/66's grenade-launching equipment, with the pertinent parts labeled.

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