Possible Romanian DDR...is back

[Drago]

Some time back, right before I became a member here, Old Outlaw presented this rifle to you guys, as a possible Ex-DDR. It has the DRR signature horizontal S/N buttstock stamping and also the S/N stamped onto the handguard. Strangely, the butt stock S/N is struck twice. Once in the common manner and a 2nd striking over the first one horizontally. The stock has been refinished or more shellac added (bubba, probably), but not scrubbed. The bayonet also has a mark, but I've never confirmed that that has ever been something Ex-DDR, except to discover that almost all Ex-DDR SKS's have some mark on the bayonet, while most regular Russians do not. At any rate, the triangle /1\ that everyone seems to need to see in order to qualify a rifle as an ex-DDR isn't really a /1\. The /1\ does not qualify a rifle as an ex-DDR, in mind any longer, but that's another topic. I thought at first the /1\ was there, placement strangely struck (almost off of the receiver at the top), but with some scratches or dings around it. Even with my magnifying glass, I just really wasn't able to make out what the marks were, until I got a hold of some tire chalk. It helped make the marks come out better, but I am left with new questions now. What is this mark? This mark(s) looks deliberate and actually look like numbers and letters.

What do you guys think? Ever seen this mark before on any rifle?







More pics of the 1957 Romanian

[howiebearse]

what that is, is a Romanian proof mark triangle with 115 MA I have a list of proofs from various guns I have and have had a chance to see. The hand guard serial number is like my Russian one.

[OLD OUTLAW]

I have never figured a stamp on the receiver there out either. There I can tell you are various stamps in that spot. I only have one Romanian here right now, an all matching 1958. It has a stamp like this /\, no bottom. Then, two tiny marks inside. Stamp is complete. Not a triangle. Inside marks I cannot
yet make out. I most likely never will know.

[dou44]

i will have to check out my 2 and seeif they have it .

[Drago]

Thanks Howie, glad to have the mark cleared up. So what's the concensus on the DDR style stampings? Could this be an ex-DDR based just on the S/N stampings?

[howiebearse]

hard to say I have Romanian ak wood with the serial number stamped on it from ak Only way usually to tie it to DDR is triangle with 1 inside other than that im not sure and most hand stamped triangle 1 are hard to see

[martin08]

Until we get some Iron Curtain records, there will probably always be two schools

1. Needs to have the /1\ to be considered a DDR.
2. The horizontal matching numbers on the handguard and buttstock are enough to call it a DDR.

My argument. Why do we only see the /1\ associated with the horizontal stampings? So, as long as it's horizontal stamped, it's just a DDR that missed the /1\.

[Bareassmeagain]

I was just about to say what Moose just said. And now I can only agree with him.


So who's gun is it ? Drago's or Double O's Or ?

I dont know where you guys find these things

[OLD OUTLAW]

I was just about to say what Moose just said. And now I can only agree with him.


So who's gun is it ? Drago's or Double O's Or ?

I dont know where you guys find these things

A Drago gun.

[MN Fan]

In Drago's ex-DDR "tutorial", a couple of the /1\ marks in his examples were so poorly marked that I simply believed him that's what they were. Personally, I can easily see how a /1\ mark may be so faint that you don't or can't see it. The rifle may have been went under the stamp as part of the process, but the stamp wasn't of enough quality to actually show.

I'm good with that explanation anyway

[Greasemonkey]

what that is, is a Romanian proof mark triangle with 115 MA I have a list of proofs from various guns I have and have had a chance to see. The hand guard serial number is like my Russian one.

My '59 and matching '57 both have them in almost the same spot, '57 is a partial stamp, just the bottom third or so of the stamp. Proof mark, interesting, at least another mark I wondered about is answered.

[Drago]

Until we get some Iron Curtain records, there will probably always be two schools

1. Needs to have the /1\ to be considered a DDR.
2. The horizontal matching numbers on the handguard and buttstock are enough to call it a DDR.

My argument. Why do we only see the /1\ associated with the horizontal stampings? So, as long as it's horizontal stamped, it's just a DDR that missed the /1\.

Yeah, one of the reason's I've gravitated so much towards Ex-DDR firearms, is that for every question answered, there seems to be 10 more a mystery. They are simultaneously thrilling to collect and frustrating as hell. I'm pleased that my only Romanian SKS falls into a potential ex-DDR category, but like you said, until we get our hands on Iron Curtain records (never happen most likely), we'll just have to keep seeking them out for more and more examples. Hopefully from that, better patterns and information will arise.

As a Collector, a piece like this Romanian is easy for me to say it's a DDR, just because of the S/N alone, but as a Researcher, I hold final jury out until we see more confirming data. I think this is the fair way to approach the subject. I still do find it suspiciously interesting that whenever the /1\ is found, the handguard S/N stampings are there also, but not the other way around. I'd love for someone to find a /1\, in the normal places, yet have a receiver matching S/N buttstock stamping vertically and no upper handguard S/N stamping. That would be interesting. Food for thought, I suppose. I appreciate your comments!

[Hobe Sound Falcon]

Why would you sit that Prize on the Bare Concrete?

[Drago]

Didn't you know, Romanian girls like it rough.

[desdem12]

Who says you can't learn interesting facts on this forum