Tula is the largest armory/manufacturer in Russia.
The SKS was manufactured until 1956, when it was replaced by the AK-47
the SKS was surplanted by the AK in 1947, they still made SKSs for decades....the one my friend had was Chinese and cost him less than $100. the store owner did not tell my friend that there was a tool needed to adjust the front sight and the thing was shooting around a foot off, vertically (can remember high or low). He finally found out about the tool and zero’d it in for 100 yds. not very accurate but minute of deer...so good enough...for what that is worth.
never jammed....pretty reliable....he went and sold it a few years later for what he paid for it....I never found the piece that interesting....