1954 Izhevsk non-refurb w/DDR stampings

[Drago]

Most of you don't know me very well as I recently joined the board, then was distracted since Dec 1, serving as a juror on a murder trial. That finally ended on Dec. 16th, so hopefully I can become a more active member here.

I've primarily focused my entire SKS collection towards Russian SKS's that were loaned/contracted to East Germany (DDR). So much so, that I've sold all of my regular Russian Tula arsenal rifles, 3 of which were beautiful non-refurbs and 3 were "in the blue" letter series. The rest were run of the mill refurbs. Focusing on just this one aspect of the Russian SKS lead towards this Izhevsk a few months back. I paid a lot for it, but would have paid more to get it.

I know some of you have already seen this rifle (on another forum) and I usually don't post many pics of my guns, unless I think it will help a fellow collector see the variety of variants.

This rifle is pretty unique and is still begging some historical questions to be answered. However, I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

Enjoy, (sorry for so many pics):

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[desdem12]

Wow that is pretty.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Not bad at all

[OLD OUTLAW]

I was hoping you would put that one up over here. Guys, here is one nobody can exactly explain about even existing, based on assumed Russian refurb standards.
It seems to be a one of a kind that defies total explanation. If I see one like it, I'm gonna buy it right now.

[Drago]

I was hoping you would put that one up over here. Guys, here is one nobody can exactly explain about even existing, based on assumed Russian refurb standards.
It seems to be a one of a kind that defies total explanation. If I see one like it, I'm gonna buy it right now.

You do have one kind of like it. Not an Izhevsk, maybe, but that sweet '51 of yours is defying some explanations! I posted it here, so people will get to hopefully HELP me/us determine what the story is on her. She's caused me to really, really try to look at the whole Russian refurb/non-furb process through a different lens.

[OLD OUTLAW]

I hear you! The 1990-1992 standard of what a Russian SKS may or may not be is often ridiculous in my thinking. Some of my old time mentors have even recently told me, "There is far more we do not know about a Russian SKS than there is we do know!" But, alas, by the time we learn more I am afraid that few intact rifles will be left to cherish. They are few in numbers of the overall SKS rifles in this Country. Getting harder to find one that has not been abused, modified,
or even worse. Bubba got it and cut the barrel off to represent a commercial Chinese Para! Very sad to see an Historical Russian Rifle with relative few imports here going away so quickly.

[Drago]

Exactly, OO. ie: My '53 Izhevsk non-refurb that someone thought would look cooler with an AK style (cut off) front site hood or my '49 that I "rescued" that someone figured the bayonet needed sharpening....both sides!!! Yikes!

Another thing that has me concerned is that we are running against time for anyone to still be living that might have possibly worked at some of these arsenals and would have some valuable first-hand knowledge of the reason's why some of the markings were placed when and where. Not that we've gained much of that prior to now, anyway, but I keep thinking, if my wife's East German grandfather were still alive, how many pieces of the puzzle could he have aided with? I'll never know, because he passed away about 4-5 years ago and I wasn't into mil-surps or any guns, really, back then. *sigh*

I am still hopeful that someone from the Museum of Military History in Dresden (formerly East Germany), Germany will get back with me on some questions I gave them. I may have my wife translate my questions into German. That might help get me further with them. I doubt they will helpful past what kind of weapons did the Wehrmacht use or what was the main battle tank during WW2, you know. I would be amazed if they had data on why the East Germans contracted or received Russian SKS's, but I am holding out still.

[MN Fan]

You should have worn your avatar on a t-shirt when you arrived for jury section day

Man, that is one clean looking rifle. I didn't realize you and Outlaw knew each other and I found myself browsing very closely at the photos looking for an elusive "77" mark!

The picture quality is excellent and the subject matter is jaw dropping!! That's one gorgeous rifle! Thank you for posting the photos.

[Longcolt44]

That baby needs to under glass with white gloves.

[Drago]

You should have worn your avatar on a t-shirt when you arrived for jury section day

Man, that is one clean looking rifle. I didn't realize you and Outlaw knew each other and I found myself browsing very closely at the photos looking for an elusive "77" mark!

The picture quality is excellent and the subject matter is jaw dropping!! That's one gorgeous rifle! Thank you for posting the photos.

I actually have T-Shirts, coffee mugs, keychains, stickers and poker chips with my Avatar logo. I sell them at gunshows. I also considered wearing one of the T-Shirts during the trial, but thought that would be a tad inappropriate!

I know Old Outlaw very well. He was pretty much my mentor when I first started into the SKS thing and have learned a lot from him. Now, I have to re-school him on all of the "modern" theories!! j/k!

[martin08]

That would be a flagship in any Iron Curtain fleet, Drago.

The '54 Izhevsk with matching numbers and original bluing /furniture is a beauty in itself. But adding the mysterious East German arsenal refurbishment, places this one a cut above the rest of the DDR Russians. In my many years of collecting and studying the SKS, this is the only one that I've seen like it.

Great show.

[MN Fan]

I am glad you've got the trial behind you and that you are able to come here more often

Outlaw is pretty cool, he's helped me out already both here and "behind the scenes". I haven't bought a SKS yet, but he stopped me from buying the wrong thing...and now I know a bit better what to look for.

I hope to bump into you at a gun show someday...I may need a keychain

[Drago]

That would be a flagship in any Iron Curtain fleet, Drago.

The '54 Izhevsk with matching numbers and original bluing /furniture is a beauty in itself. But adding the mysterious East German arsenal refurbishment, places this one a cut above the rest of the DDR Russians. In my many years of collecting and studying the SKS, this is the only one that I've seen like it.

Great show.

Thank-you, Martin. I consider that high praise coming from you. Your collection is riddled with wonderful examples, possibly only rivaled by folks living in Europe, who have access to some phenomenal finds, still.

[Drago]

I am glad you've got the trial behind you and that you are able to come here more often

Outlaw is pretty cool, he's helped me out already both here and "behind the scenes". I haven't bought a SKS yet, but he stopped me from buying the wrong thing...and now I know a bit better what to look for.

I hope to bump into you at a gun show someday...I may need a keychain

Thanks, the trial was nasty and the monster we locked up was just that, a stone cold blooded killer that took 3 innocent lives and attempted to take a 4th. All were killed execution style and without any remorse, even the day of sentencing. He actually told the victims family's "F-you" after they had finished their speeches towards him and once while he was on the stand in his own defense, he told the prosecutor that he'd like to shoot him. He got 204 years without chance of parole. I'm glad to be done with it.

Outlaw, Martin, Boomer, Sheepdog among others new here are all extremely knowledgeable SKS guys. I've learned everything I know, from reading their posts and asking questions. I do a LOT more reading than asking, mainly because I didn't want to sound like a noob, but we all had to start somewhere. I only started collecting a year ago and I'm locally, the guy everyone goes to about SKS's and AK's. (It's a small town, so that sounds cooler than it really is).

I may have just the rifle for you and it's also an ex-DDR. It needs a new rear sight spring, if I can ever get the rear ladder off, I have one. The stock has been refinished, but it's a really pretty blond stocked AND affordable Russian SKS ex-DDR. Let me know in a PM if you would like more info. Would rather have her go to an admiring fellow board member, than Joe Schmuck "Bubba" Gunbroker Guy. I'm thinning the herd a bit more than I'd like, but I really have way more Ex-DDR Russians than truly necessary, plus some of my tastes have changed. I'm really wanting to find a Polish PU Mosin Nagant and need to save up my pennies.

[Drago]

That baby needs to under glass with white gloves.

Thanks!

She does get her own gun bag, does that count?

[MN Fan]

Damn, sounds like a pretty crazy trial. I guess you are owed a bit of thanks for going through what you did. Jury Duty often is often looked down on as an inconvenience...but, it is a duty after all and the jurors are all performing a civil service. In a trial like this, its especially important. Thanks for what you went through to put this trash away and keep others safe!

PM sent...

[sheepdog]

I am glad you've got the trial behind you and that you are able to come here more often

Outlaw is pretty cool

Outlaw, Martin, Boomer, Sheepdog among others new here are all extremely knowledgeable SKS guys.

Thanks but I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as those three. Martin amazes me sometimes with his knowledge of firearms in general. Ask him about a Jimenez pistol, he even knows about those.

Outlaw will have to get one of Barry Bonds old caps to fit his swelled head after the pretty cool remark.

[Izhevsk762]

Alright gonna show off my SKS noobness here...

What identifies this rifle as an ex-DDR rifle? Is there a "triangle 1" somewhere and I'm missing it? Or is there some other identifying feature?

[Drago]

Well, regarding conclusivity of what makes or breaks an "ex-DDR" is where I may have others disagree. I'm on my phone at the moment with limited characters, so will have to wait until tomorrow to respond, in kind. I have some different theories, though...

[martin08]

Alright gonna show off my SKS noobness here...

What identifies this rifle as an ex-DDR rifle? Is there a "triangle 1" somewhere and I'm missing it? Or is there some other identifying feature?

The horizontal numbering on the buttstock and the handguard never appears on Russian SKS's unless they were DDR issued. The majority of them also received the /1\ stamp, just like on Mosins.