The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

As some of you already know, I'm kindof an Ex-DDR fanatic. I'm not really sure when the DDR variant took hold of me, but when it did, I totally flipped 180 degrees from what my previous Russian SKS collecting goals had been. I ended up selling 15 Russian SKS's, 4 of which were non-refurbs, in order to fund my DDR quest. It didn't all happen overnight, but as I would find a particular DDR specimen, I would often sell one of the other SKS's. I think my very first couple DDR's were purchased sometime in early 2011, but because of some information or beliefs about the DDR, I sold a couple very nice specimens. Ironically, those SKS years, that I sold, became the hardest to find another specimen of!

So, if you are going to collect and "all year" sampling of Russian SKS's, there are 10 potential carbines you must have. I guess I'll list them so any new folks getting started can see. They start in 1949 and go to 1955/56 no date top cover (whatever you believe it to end at).

1. 1949 Tula
2. 1950 Tula
3. 1951 Tula
4. 1952 Tula
5. 1953 Tula
6. 1953 Izhevsk (Izhevsk)
7. 1954 Tula
8. 1954 Izhevsk (Izhevsk)
9. 1955 Tula (dated top cover)
10. 1955/56 (no date on top cover)

All of these SKS's would constitute a full "all years" complete set. Now, when you are dealing with a variant like the Ex-DDR, which are much more scarce, it made for an interesting challenge. Some years I hadn't even seen a sample of a DDR, so to start collecting DDR's, not even knowing if a full set was possible, was intriguing to me. For obvious rarity reason's, a 1949 seemed like the one FOR SURE hole I'd always have, so I was resigned to try and find all the others. I eventually found a 1949 DDR and thanks to a great friend of mine who knew I loved DDR SKS's, he made his extremely rare and valuable 1949 available to me for purchase.

Now, one other side variant, that was also not known to exist, by me, were the 1955/56 "Letter Series". I had never seen one in an Ex-DDR before. A good friend of mine in PA told me about two DDR's still in their original KBI import boxes at a store he consults on milsurp's for. I didn't even see pictures of them before I committed to purchasing them. It took several months of paying them off on layaway, so the first time I ever saw them was when I picked them up from my FFL. I was surprised to find that BOTH of them were the "Letter Series" SKS's. One is a letter "D" and the other is a letter "I". So, that put me into a bit of tailspin having never previously known them to exist. I wondered, "Does that now mean I have to find an additional carbine (letter "K") in order to complete a set?" We know, or think we know, that the very last SKS carbine of the Russian assembly line is a letter "K". I have yet to see a "K" in DDR. Finding one would complete a "side" variant DDR collection. I figured that I would stick to my original plan of having a full years set, first, then look for a "K" as time goes on.

The last carbine variant of mention are the Russian SKS's made at the Izhevsk (Izhevsk) plant. Only made two years, starting half way through '53, Izhevsk's are rare in comparison to Tula SKS's. I have the great fortune to have two 1954 Izhevsk DDR's, one in each of the known colors, Blond/Amber & Red/Garnet. The "technically speaking" missing year in my collection, is a 1953 Izhevsk DDR. I have never seen one before, but I believe one exists. I imagine it would probably be as rare as a 1949 DDR, so I don't hold out much hope of ever spotting one.

I have posted a few photo's of the collection below, but please note, there is one other additional and particularly special carbine added to the mix. I also own a 1957 Romanian with DDR features and since it is sequentially the "next" year after the end of the Russian's, it holds a neat place in my collection. I've also been told that this is a very rare, perhaps never before seen carbine, in of itself. I believe I may know where one other possible Romanian DDR lives, but not confirmed.

This is the culmination of many many hours of scouring the net, local boards, want ads, forums, Gunbroker, Gun auctions, networking, etc. It took me about a year to complete and I actually thought it would take longer, especially the 1949!

Pic 1

Pic 2

A blonde and a redhead Izhevsk. The blonde is one of only two known non-refurb Izhevsk DDR's. Mine has a black bayonet added by the East Germans, so some would say it's no longer a non-refurb. I do not believe this to be a refurbishment item, but an "added" item. It's unique, nonetheless, even if it's no longer "as-issued" from Mother Russia.
Pic 3

Notice the far right SKS has a 1950 top cover. It was match restamped onto the cover, but the carbine is a Letter "I"
Pic 4

In order by year, bottom SKS is the 1949 and ends with the 1957 Romanian, at top.
Pic 5

Decided to take them all outside in more natural light. Try moving 12 SKS's AND not damaging them! I left the Romanian out of this pic and tried to "color scale" them. The super blond one, is one I picked up that someone redid the stock on. They did a really good job, but even blond Izhevsk's aren't this color blond, as you can see from the blond Izhevsk sitting next to it.
Pic 6

A little closer.
Pic 7

Pic 8

Tried to do something artsy-fartsy, but was concerned about doing too many designs and scratching/dinging them on my deck.
Pic 9

Pic 10

If you didn't notice, 8 of the SKS's are missing slings. Well, 5 of them are NIB in original KBI importer box, so the slings are still in the box. I am missing or in need of 3 Russian SKS slings, so if anyone feels charitable! Of course I'd buy them!

This collection isn't being presented as one with specimens in perfect shape. They are ALL refurbs (with the controversial exception of the '54 Izhevsk). They are all numbers matching, but a couple have e-pen'd trigger groups. As I find better examples of the years with carbines that have less desirable qualities, I will probably swap the lessers out. People may think I'm crazy for having sold 4 non-refurbs in lieu of this collection, but for me, collecting something that has value isn't always in having a perfect specimen, but just having a specimen. We are all enamored by the SKS or else we wouldn't be here. Even if you only own a "bubba", just know you still own one of the best designed, best built semi-automatics on the planet.

I don't really know what else to comment about. The Ex-DDR variant isn't exactly a super rare variant, but I think they are worthy of recognition in their own right. I don't know if this is the first complete (save for the '53 Izhevsk) collection or not, but it would be cool to see where some of you DDR fans are at with yours!

Thanks, -Drago

I know what you could comment about. Probably every person that reads this except me already knows what DDR means. I know what ex means, so if I get a really good understanding of what the DDR is then I can figure out what a ex-DDR IS. Then I can understand what fuels a passion to collect that is so intense that it would persuade you to sell off so many fine Russians that you already own free and clear.
I do understand that it means the carbine was one that went to E. Germany, but what is the significance? What besides a tiny mark on the gun sets it apart from the rest?

bunkysdad wrote:I know what you could comment about. Probably every person that reads this except me already knows what DDR means. I know what ex means, so if I get a really good understanding of what the DDR is then I can figure out what a ex-DDR IS. Then I can understand what fuels a passion to collect that is so intense that it would persuade you to sell off so many fine Russians that you already own free and clear.
I do understand that it means the carbine was one that went to E. Germany, but what is the significance? What besides a tiny mark on the gun sets it apart from the rest?

I have a "DDR Tutorial" as a sticky, up top. I didn't want to rehash all that here.

The interest for me was partially that not many people even knew about this variant 2 years ago.

Oh yeah it's funny how I had forgotten about the tutorial, and it's a good one. Actually I knew most of that from reading the tutorial before, but I was thinking out loud since we have so many new guys around here lately. Those pictures are amazing.

Congrats DRAGO! Those look great and a really nice display too.

Much appreciated, Des! I've been obsessed with this thing for so long, I don't really know what to do. Ever since I found the final piece, a '53 Tula, I hardly even log onto Gunbroker or some of the other "for sale" sites. Amazingly, I'm actually getting some work done at work. Funny how that is....Who knew?

So that's the secret...I need to get a job then

here is one that appears to be a DDR but i see no triangle 1 proof It may be there. this one I just saw on Gunbroker I posted pics of it that I saved the triangle on the bbl is a std proof

Howie. This one has the original S/N so far to the left there is no room for the /1\ stamp. HOWEVER, they some times did drop the stamp under it. Meaning below the stock line. Not often, but we have seen that more than once when the original number is that far left.
To me, it is still a DDR.

Wow, nice collection, ok, "wow" doesn't cover it, being not only is it the full complete year set, but all of them being DDR, that's "Truly" an impressive display

SKS porn

OLD OUTLAW wrote:Howie. This one has the original S/N so far to the left there is no room for the /1\ stamp. HOWEVER, they some times did drop the stamp under it. Meaning below the stock line. Not often, but we have seen that more than once when the original number is that far left.
To me, it is still a DDR.

Out of all the DDR's I own, this is the only one that has the triangle below the stock line AND directly under the serial number. Because, I'm confident that just having the stamped handguards makes it a DDR, not the evidence of a triangle /1\, on multiple occasions, I have purchased a SKS without pictures of the /1\. That was the case here. The /1\ was not visible with the stock on, but I bought the rifle anyway. When I received it, I took the stock off and voila, the /1\ was present. This one is interesting, because the triangle itself is almost complete, but yet there's not even a hint of the "1". Probably just a light strike, but usually at least part of the "1" is also visible, even on partial strikes. I've viewed a LOT of DDR's now, and I've never seen this much of a triangle struck, without also seeing some of the "1", too. Could it be that this triangle doesn't have a "1" in it? In other words, a Triangle "0", so to speak /\...I know some folks feel that there are also stampings with triangle /2\'s out there. Just something to think about and store in your memory banks. If there are different types of triangles (I believe there are), then it points more to those markings NOT being "property proof marks". I truly do not believe they are, but that's just me.

This carbine was the final SKS needed to complete my collection, a 1953.

Nice assortment there Sir! An ex-DDR Russian is one thing I've never seen up here. Not even from the early 90s importations. I have seen ex-DDR M44 Mosins with /1\,/2\,and /3\ stamps though.

Sweet, sweet sweet!!! That's some Um good!!

Really nice Jeff.

Bumping this up with a question...

Does unique stamping of the serial number on the butt stock automatically attribute an SKS as an ex-DDR? I mean left to right instead of bottom to top like standard Russian stocks.

Incredible group of rifles, nice collection

(I read that entire thread also)

fenceline wrote:Bumping this up with a question...

Does unique stamping of the serial number on the butt stock automatically attribute an SKS as an ex-DDR? I mean left to right instead of bottom to top like standard Russian stocks.

Junk Yard Dog wrote:

fenceline wrote:Bumping this up with a question...

Does unique stamping of the serial number on the butt stock automatically attribute an SKS as an ex-DDR? I mean left to right instead of bottom to top like standard Russian stocks.

Nobody???? Come on!!!! Hahaha

I guess not