From The Battlefield: Burnt Up VSS
Recently a very burnt VSS 9x39mm marksman’s rifle turn up on a Ukrainian auction site. The remains of the rifle are described as a trophy and photographs show most of the major metal components of the weapon including its bolt, main spring, receiver and suppressor shroud. The weapon’s stock, plastic forend and top cover aren’t present, however, the cover is probably lost and the stock/pistol grip and forend are probably destroyed by fire. The remains of the metal tab for the sling are still attached to the sling loop.
VSS @ TFB:
- Molot Arms SAPSAN – 9mm PCC Based on AS Val / VSS Vintorez
- POTD: Russian Recon Soldier with VSS Vintorez (6P29)
- Civilian VSS Vintorez Clones in Russia [Arms & Hunting 2018]
- Civilian Versions of VSS “Vintorez” Rifle Hit the Russian Market
- Three Special Firearms Designed by Pyotr Serdyukov – Creator of VSS Vintorez and AS VAL
The auction listing offers no details on where the rifle was obtained but has some great photos which give us a good look at the remains of the gun, including close-ups of the helical ports cut into the rifle’s barrel and the receiver and bolt group. Inside the suppressor shroud itself is a simple set of three baffles and large expansion spaces. Introduced in the late 1980s, the Vintovka Snayperskay Spetsialnaya (VSS) fires the 9x39mm subsonic cartridge which is said to reduce the report of the weapon to around 130 dB.
The Ukrainian soldier’s social media post didn’t give much context about where or when the weapon was found but from the damage, the weapon may have been recovered from a burnt-out Russian vehicle or from a position captured by Ukrainian forces.
The weapon’s markings are still visible on either side of the rifle on the magazine well, ‘TB-00430’ on the left side and possibly ‘KP-0244’ can be made out on the right. At the time of writing, the remains of the VSS are currently bid to around $540.
Considerable numbers of VSS, AS Val and ASM 9x39mm chambered rifles have been seen in use with Russian forces in Ukraine.
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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We need a "AK-12 and Vintorez in exchange for guns" program. Basically just have an auction website where you can buy the trophies that Ukrainians take, and then they can spend the money raised on buying whatever weapons they actually need. I'm sure a bona fide AK-12 would go for several grand, and if you add a certificate of origin from the Ukrainian MoD (detailing where, when, and by whom it was captured), that can easily be six figures territory for serious collectors.
Sorry guys but you have to sell MORE scrap metal to buy a new electric transformesr MWAHAHA.