After 7.5 years of collecting the SKS, I've finally filled the 8th and final country slot in my collection. In my case, the 8th slot is the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) Karabiner-S (Karabiner-Simonow: Carbine-Simonov). This one, made a year before I was born, was worth the wait. :)
For those of you who have held and admired the finish on East German Makarovs, with their high polish and deep bluish black finish, you would recognize the same finish on the East German Karabiner-S. This one must have barely made it down the Ho Chi Minh Trail before it was captured, because it's in excellent condition. The laminated beech stock and solid beech handguard are distinctive, especially with the German style rear sling slot, lack of a cleaning rod and cleaning kit hole.
I've taken pictures of all of the markings I observed. It has 12/12 matching serial numbers that are found on the: receiver, bolt carrier, bolt, extractor, receiver cover, magazine, trigger group, stock, gas tube, gas piston, rear sight leaf and rear sight slider. I think the MfNV: Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung (Ministry of National Defense) marking is perhaps the next most interesting marking.
This one has been observed before, so no new addition to the serial list, but it's new to me! Thanks for looking.
(https://i.ibb.co/W0h7Ghr/01-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ScjH5jk)
(https://i.ibb.co/M2ZGgR1/02-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YRPyNtd)
(https://i.ibb.co/prDG5Hp/03-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M5TWQzL)
(https://i.ibb.co/2njWLyz/04-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WxcGd6r)
(https://i.ibb.co/stFH4BC/05-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WsctXT0)
(https://i.ibb.co/kySFvns/06-left-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4fVx3yn)
(https://i.ibb.co/k21KN1Q/07-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qY5BT5k)
(https://i.ibb.co/vcm79fS/08-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/51vNZCP)
(https://i.ibb.co/pdGd6h4/09-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JH0HW3r)
(https://i.ibb.co/fNK9X3t/10-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xgcY2nG)
(https://i.ibb.co/4ssBqNS/11-SN-receiver-in.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bHHp0dv)
(https://i.ibb.co/YpchnVF/12-SN-rec-cover-in.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hDBVQTJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/YpwcM04/13-SN-bolt-carrier-out.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wMjSXcZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/s1SDGWN/14-SN-bolt.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DMX6yrv)
(https://i.ibb.co/XZTknxk/15-SN-extractor.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kgF6L26)
(https://i.ibb.co/q7ff4vP/16-SN-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CmZZXfT)
(https://i.ibb.co/M8L27g2/17-SN-mag-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7gFYKSY)
(https://i.ibb.co/gzkkP4X/18-SN-tg-in.jpg) (https://ibb.co/72ssRkT)
(https://i.ibb.co/vJkMtPP/19-SN-gas-tube.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BgBY1ZZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/dL2zZ7r/20-SN-gas-piston.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9VTCPGN)
(https://i.ibb.co/wzD8k2b/21-SN-sight.jpg) (https://ibb.co/717Bf0T)
(https://i.ibb.co/P5bGS2x/22-SN-sight-slider.jpg) (https://ibb.co/K9Qx1t6)
More detail pictures
(https://i.ibb.co/z41qMP9/23-top-rec-and-sight.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vjb0FLy)
(https://i.ibb.co/y8m0pN1/24-bolt-group-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XzfXDWg)
(https://i.ibb.co/MGsmJX4/25-bolt-face.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vQHSMtG)
(https://i.ibb.co/K97vS2W/26-gas-system.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LC67Hx1)
That gas piston is clean!
(https://i.ibb.co/RSX2cRB/27-gas-piston-head-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/th0BDVx)
(https://i.ibb.co/gwf4y1v/32-barrel-number.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xGBFhvm)
(https://i.ibb.co/Qrp6y21/33-rec-diamond-circle.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KFb9TM3)
S in the stock interior
(https://i.ibb.co/RYSM6zY/33-stock-inlet-S.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pbPsKJb)
(https://i.ibb.co/WxTrWgm/34-stock-detail-beech-laminate.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gjn0Mzk)
(https://i.ibb.co/k1wBDMv/35-bayonet-groove.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ySZPkV7)
(https://i.ibb.co/TPgG5Nf/36-bayonet-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p4LTpk7)
(https://i.ibb.co/9wnkjBp/37-rec-S-star.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gvyLCQr)
Did I mention smooth and polished?
(https://i.ibb.co/LnGbFfL/38-tg-1-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zGkjMwy)
(https://i.ibb.co/yyTmV4p/39-tg-2-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jMK9HJz)
(https://i.ibb.co/QNpnwBV/40-tg-3-back.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mqbtWsK)
(https://i.ibb.co/sKbdWTP/41-tg-4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qN73JHn)
(https://i.ibb.co/Dwr8qW6/42-RR-rec-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zP67kxL)
Below the woodline on the right side: K22 inspector marking and number of unknown meaning (heat treatment lot?)
(https://i.ibb.co/CHvQzFD/43-right-rec-51027.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fxtH27L)
Wow that is a beauty....congratulations! :)
Amazing rifle - looks new.
The searching part is is really fun, thinking today could be the day I find it. Of course finding one is also REALLY FUN too!
Quote from: High Noon on May 28, 2021, 10:59:03 PM
Wow that is a beauty....congratulations! :)
Amazing rifle - looks new.
The searching part is is really fun, thinking today could be the day I find it. Of course finding one is also REALLY FUN too!
Thanks, indeed the search is part of the fun! thumb1 :)
It has a few small dings in the stock and a few tarnished spots on the bolt and carrier, but considering its journey, it really is in excellent condition. 8)
Congratulations, Jon! That is gorgeous, gorgeous and did I say gorgeous?! Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
Quote from: Bob_The_Student on May 28, 2021, 11:17:16 PM
Congratulations, Jon! That is gorgeous, gorgeous and did I say gorgeous?! Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much Bob! thumb1
beauty! looks like it was never used. that would be the pride of anyone's collection. you did good wafting, that's for sure.
Quote from: carls sks on May 29, 2021, 09:22:23 AM
beauty! looks like it was never used. that would be the pride of anyone's collection. you did good wafting, that's for sure.
Thanks Carl! I am pleased with it :)
Very, very nice, thanks for sharing! A win for you is a win for all of us that admire the SKS. I sometimes wonder how many of these truly collectible SKS’s have ended up in the hands of an uneducated seller and sold to an uneducated buyer only to end up modified “Bubba” style.
Quote from: JorgeSKS on May 29, 2021, 10:58:01 AM
Very, very nice, thanks for sharing! A win for you is a win for all of us that admire the SKS. I sometimes wonder how many of these truly collectible SKS’s have ended up in the hands of an uneducated seller and sold to an uneducated buyer only to end up modified “Bubba” style.
Thanks!
The thought of a back-alley
gunsmith touching one of these historical rarities makes me queasy!
Zowie!
File under: Clean as ,[_]<|{!!!!
BRAVO ZULU, sir!
Quote from: Matchka on May 29, 2021, 02:56:35 PM
Zowie!
File under: Clean as ,[_]<|{!!!!
BRAVO ZULU, sir!
Thanks much Matchka!
Congrats on the last truly hard one! thumb1 clap1
Was this an auction or did you fall into a private sale? Either way that’s a nice sharp unit. Looks unchanged vs the old photos I have from when it was first recorded in the EG list. dance2
Quote from: running-man on May 29, 2021, 08:30:15 PM
Congrats on the last truly hard one! thumb1 clap1
Thanks Joe! :)
Quote from: running-man on May 29, 2021, 08:30:15 PM
Was this an auction or did you fall into a private sale? Either way that’s a nice sharp unit. Looks unchanged vs the old photos I have from when it was first recorded in the EG list. dance2
This was from an auction about a month ago. Those old photos in the SN data were invaluable. Thanks! thumb1 The auction photos were surprisingly okay, but with the archived photos I knew for sure that it was a great matching specimen and one to seriously pursue.
What a beautiful piece of history!
Simply awesome.
Remember when I defined the word broner? This is one of those times......
Quote from: Larry D. on May 29, 2021, 09:08:54 PM
What a beautiful piece of history!
Simply awesome.
Remember when I defined the word broner? This is one of those times......
:o chuckles1
Thanks Larry!
Congrats, Phosphorus32! thumb1 I'm very happy you got it!
First the '49 Tula and now the Karabiner-S, it's been a good year for you :)
Quote from: Cz315 on May 29, 2021, 10:05:59 PM
Congrats, Phosphorus32! thumb1 I'm very happy you got it!
First the '49 Tula and now the Karabiner-S, it's been a good year for you :)
Thanks a lot!
Indeed, it has been a good year for the SKS rarities!
I missed this post... wow... as many have said already. What a great rifle. Well worth the wait. Congrats and thanks for posting this heirloom.
Quote from: BMont on June 06, 2021, 09:13:41 PM
I missed this post... wow... as many have said already. What a great rifle. Well worth the wait. Congrats and thanks for posting this heirloom.
Thanks BMont!
While I'm thinking about it. More pictures of missing holes on the DDR (no cleaning kit or cleaning rod holes), etc.
VEB Ernst-Thälmann-Werk Suhl did excellent work!
File under esoterica: 23 layers of beech laminate sheets with a measured maximum width at the butt end of 37.3mm equates to 1.62mm per laminate layer
(https://i.ibb.co/N6dCTgm/44-butt-laminates.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0jR2spF)
(https://i.ibb.co/p4jD2zW/45-buttplate.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3SmX1Nf)
(https://i.ibb.co/0KG2q6p/46-buttstock-sling-inlet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/68WwYTc)
(https://i.ibb.co/NW5m8yb/47-crossbolt-4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KVdLMrS)
(https://i.ibb.co/CmMRHBm/48-foreend-front.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZGYqMdG)
(https://i.ibb.co/1XJyHmN/49-foreend-barrel-channel.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FYqZGD1)
(https://i.ibb.co/pvYb48c/50-ferrule-inside.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WWmGBwZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/hLr1kMx/51-ferrule-outside.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fqZGbSV)
(https://i.ibb.co/FJtdFQ7/52-crown.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k0FPtLc)
Beautiful Rifle! It’s high on my want list but the recent prices they have been bringing from RIA have kept me collecting in others areas...... congratulations on rounding out the collection with it!
Quote from: MxwllBkr on June 07, 2021, 04:24:37 PM
Beautiful Rifle! It’s high on my want list but the recent prices they have been bringing from RIA have kept me collecting in others areas...... congratulations on rounding out the collection with it!
Thanks! Yup, one could obtain a few other interesting firearms for the cost of a Karabiner-S.
Finally opened this thread. Super find, Jon. My question about cleaning gear is answered. If you fire it, let us know how it shoots!! thumb1
Quote from: Bacarnal on July 03, 2021, 06:50:37 PM
Finally opened this thread. Super find, Jon. My question about cleaning gear is answered. If you fire it, let us know how it shoots!! thumb1
Thanks a lot! I have some Norma brass case ammo that would be a fitting treat for this rifle, but in all likelihood it'll simply sit in a climate controlled environment and be admired.
I'm a little late on opening this post but, wow! That's a nice one, Jon! I own a couple of the E.German Makarov's and have always admired their finish. I can see why you're so pleased with the finish on yours! Excellent! That's the way to finish the final piece of the collection, for sure! (Not that that will be the final purchase. chuckles1 rofl chuckles1 rofl ) We all know how that goes!
I had it in my mind that E. German Karabiner-S stocks had a cupped buttplate on them. What am I thinking about Jon? I know I didn't imagine that. Was it a different model? I remember some being offered for sale online but nobody could find the buttplate to match them.
firstchoice
Quote from: firstchoice on September 01, 2021, 08:18:34 PM
I'm a little late on opening this post but, wow! That's a nice one, Jon! I own a couple of the E.German Makarov's and have always admired their finish. I can see why you're so pleased with the finish on yours! Excellent! That's the way to finish the final piece of the collection, for sure! (Not that that will be the final purchase. chuckles1 rofl chuckles1 rofl ) We all know how that goes!
I had it in my mind that E. German Karabiner-S stocks had a cupped buttplate on them. What am I thinking about Jon? I know I didn't imagine that. Was it a different model? I remember some being offered for sale online but nobody could find the buttplate to match them.
firstchoice
Thanks! Yes, DDR PMs have great smooth deep black polished bluing.
You may be thinking of the Polish honor guard stocks for their Russian SKS-45s.
How does it shoot? :o
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on September 02, 2021, 08:04:40 AM
How does it shoot? :o
rofl probably like other SKSs that I’ve fired ;)
Holy ****
Nice looking firearm.
Quote from: 1mlt on August 16, 2022, 10:09:12 AM
Nice looking firearm.
Thanks! :) The East Germans definitely built some high quality peace time small arms.
That's a beautiful addition to add to the collection!!! Thank you for the great photos.
Quote from: swede1894 on August 16, 2022, 08:25:50 PM
That's a beautiful addition to add to the collection!!! Thank you for the great photos.
Thank-you, and you’re welcome!