Semi-auto StG 44, SSD PTR44 8mm Kurz rifle, right side, with wood stock and leather sling on the Gunshine Arms wall

SSD PTR44 Semi-Auto StG 44 in 8mm Kurz, Made in Germany

⚙️ A semi-auto StG 44 built in Germany, on the original pattern, in the original cartridge — that is the SSD PTR44, and one of these scarce rifles just arrived at Gunshine Arms in Boca Raton. Manufactured by Sport-System Dittrich (SSD) and imported in very limited numbers by PTR-91 Inc. of Farmington, Connecticut, the PTR44 is about as close as a civilian shooter or collector can get to the Sturmgewehr that introduced the assault rifle concept to the world.

Semi-auto StG 44, SSD PTR44 8mm Kurz rifle, right side, with wood stock and leather sling on the Gunshine Arms wall

A Semi-Auto StG 44 Made in Germany by SSD

SSD built the PTR44 as a faithful semi-automatic reproduction of the WWII MP43/MP44/StG 44, not a loose look-alike. The receiver is stamped and welded steel like the original, the bolt and bolt carrier are machined, and the rifle carries the same outward profile, heft, and handling as a wartime Sturmgewehr. Shoulder it and you feel the familiar forward-heavy balance, the long magazine hanging below the receiver, and the tall hooded front sight out at the muzzle.

Mechanically it runs the original gas-operated, long-stroke piston system with a tilting bolt. The difference is that it fires semi-automatic only, which is what made this semi-auto StG 44 importable as a Title I rifle. No NFA paperwork, no tax stamp — it transfers on a standard 4473.

Semi-auto StG 44, SSD PTR44 rifle, left side, showing the curved magazine, wood grip, and hooded front sight

Chambered in the Original 8mm Kurz

This is not a .22 trainer or a 9mm tribute gun. The PTR44 is chambered in 7.92×33mm Kurz (8mm Kurz) — the intermediate cartridge the StG 44 was designed around. Kurz is German for “short,” and the round is essentially a shortened 8mm Mauser case pushing a lighter bullet. The result is mild, controllable recoil in a full-size rifle, and the authentic shooting experience collectors want. 8mm Kurz is a specialty cartridge, so plan on sourcing ammunition and components before range day.

PTR44 Specification Highlights

  • Manufacturer: Sport-System Dittrich (SSD), Germany
  • Importer: PTR-91 Inc., Farmington, Connecticut
  • Model: PTR44 — semi-automatic StG 44 / MP44 pattern
  • Caliber: 7.92×33mm Kurz (8mm Kurz)
  • Action: Gas-operated long-stroke piston, tilting bolt, semi-automatic only
  • Barrel: Approximately 16 inches
  • Receiver: Stamped and welded steel with machined bolt and bolt carrier
  • Finish: Blued steel
  • Furniture: Wood buttstock and checkered wood grip panels
  • Optics: Scope mount on the right side of the receiver
  • Accessories shown: Magazine and leather sling
Semi-auto StG 44 import marking reading "Made in Germany by SSD for PTR-91 Inc." on the SSD PTR44 receiver

Markings and Details on This Example

The right side of the receiver carries the import marking “MADE IN GERMANY BY SSD for PTR-91 Inc. Farmington CT USA,” and the upper left side is stamped “PTR44.” This example also carries a scope mount on the right side of the receiver, mirroring the optics-equipped MP44s fielded during the war — a detail not every PTR44 has. The receiver shows the correct pressed ribs and contours of the original, and the wood stock and grip panels give it the period-correct look that photographs so well on the wall. Finish shows almost zero wear consistent with a rifle of this vintage; call or stop in for a close-up walk-around before you buy.

Semi-auto StG 44, close-up of the PTR44 stamp and pressed-steel receiver on the SSD PTR44 left side

Why Collectors Chase the PTR44

Supply is the story. The PTR44 was imported in a single small batch around 2009–2012, with the total commonly cited at roughly 200 rifles or fewer. Original select-fire StG 44s are transferable machine guns priced far out of reach for most buyers, and a true German-made, original-caliber semi-auto StG 44 rarely comes up for sale. When one does, it tends not to sit long.

Whether you are building a WWII small-arms collection, completing a German military display, or you simply want to shoot one of the most influential rifle designs in history, this PTR44 is a rare opportunity to own one in person rather than on a screen.

Visit Gunshine Arms in Boca Raton

Now available at Gunshine Arms. Call, email, or stop by to see this semi-auto StG 44 in person.

Gunshine Arms

2244 N Dixie Hwy, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone: (561) 756-8415

Email: [email protected]

Website: gunshinearms.com

In-store pickup available.