So you read around the net at the various SKS sites and all of them identify three distinct styles of rear takedown levers.
The early hoop used on '49s and transitional 50s (click on images to enlarge):
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1949_Tula/E152_receiver_cover_top3.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1949_Tula/E152_takedown_latch.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1949_Tula/AB1481_takedown_lever.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1949_Tula/P2340_right_rear2.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1949_Tula/A1119_receiver_cover.jpg)
The long stamped used on mid '50s:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/796_receiver_cover_top.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/796_right_rear.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/CO1648_right_rear.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/665_receiver_cover.jpg)
and finally the short stamped used on late '50 onward:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1957_Tula/BM5559__receiver_cover.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1951_Tula/44_receiver_cover.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1954_Tula/AM49_receiver_cover.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/B659_demil_stamp.jpg)
So I found this one while cataloguing a gun this morning:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/K946_receiver_cover_top.jpg)
Looks just like an early hoop yes?
Well not quite:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/K946_receiver_cover.jpg)(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1950_Tula/K946_impot_stamp.jpg)
Look at how that sucker is fabricated. Clearly a stamped part, it even has the swage at the center of the pivot for the takedown pin. It is very distinct from the early hoops as the hoop is at the top, not at the center. It is also distinct from the long/short stamped in that the part of the lever that fits into the detent is a finger clearly forward of the tab (like was used on the early hoops), not a stamped dimple beneath/behind the tab like was used on the long/short stamped levers.
Maybe it's a homemade replacement and not an official part? (Edit: The more I look at it, the more I think this is a factory part) Maybe a failed attempt at easier fabrication superseded by the long stamped version in early '50? Thoughts?
Not sure I'm seeing what your seeing... Maybe I need to look at it on a bigger screen.
I'm lost! Which doesn't take much at all to do.
Sorry, my photos are not the best, I picked them quickly. I'm having trouble with the flash from photobucket crashing my CPU...it's done it three times today.
Here's a comparison:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/survey/russian/examples/receiver_cover_lever_early_comp.jpg)
Top set of arrows points to the different area where one has a swage at the pivot pin and the other doesn't. The early hoops are all likely one piece forgings or maybe stamped in a complicated process from a single pin stock while the later one is clearly swaged onto a separate pin.
Bottom set of arrows shows the difference in the hoop itself. Early hoop is at the center of the lever, later hoop is bent at the top of the lever, much like the later stamped long/short tab versions.
The latching feature for both is a hook at the end of the part that falls into the dimple on the receiver cover. With later tabbed version, the latching feature is a corresponding dimple a bit back from the front of the handle you grasp.
Edit: By the year guns we see these on as well as the feature progression, it would make sense that the transition goes from Early Hoop -> Late Hoop -> Long Stamped Tab -> Short Stamped Tab
The light just came on for me running-man! There is nothing wrong with your photos, I was simply slow picking up. Thanks for your time and effort with this. There are so many tiny details that are so easily overlooked but significant.
Gotcha now... Interesting
Wow, nice catch RM....