Guns International #: 101408916
Seller's Inventory #: CM20-391

Category - Walther Rifles - Military Rifles - German

Category
Walther Rifles
Military Rifles - German

WW2 German Walther "ac44" Code G43 Rifle in 8mm Mauser w/ Original Sling & Magazine ** Nice Original Representative Example ** SOLD

Description:
This is a very nice example of WW2 Nazi Germany's G43 semi-auto rifle manufactured by Walther in 1944.  Known today by some collectors as "Hitler's Garand", the G43 or Gewehr 43 semi-auto rifle was Germany's answer to the M1 Garand.  It was designed to give the German soldier comparable firepower to the semi-auto rifles in service with the U.S. Military forces they were fighting.  The semi-automatic G43 was developed as an improved version of the earlier G41, using a gas-operated short-stroke piston design that bled off the operating gas from a port in the barrel rather than at the muzzle like the G41.  The G43 was designed to be easy to build and require the least amount of skilled labor as possible.  It used innovative mass-production construction methods that used a large number of cast parts as well as stamped and welded sheet metal trigger housings.  The bolt assembly was unique in that it was designed with two easily replaceable locking lugs that could be swapped out in minutes when worn.  These WW2 G43's came with a 21.5" inch barrel, a 10-round detachable box magazine, a hooded front sight and adjustable tangent rear sight, an integral optics rail on the right side of the receiver, a 2-position safety mounted at the rear of the receiver, and a laminate pistol-grip stock set with a cupped buttplate.  The buttplate has a spring-loaded trap at the rear that was designed to hold spare bolt parts and a cleaning kit.  The top handguards were constructed of either laminate wood or a brown Bakelite, and the nosecap functioned to both hold the handguard on and provide a sling mounting point.  The G43 rifle proved itself very capable on the battlefield when it was used properly as a regular infantry weapon.  It was capable of laying down a lot more firepower than the K98 with reliability, and was certainly accurate enough as a regular infantry weapon.  Where it was determined to have shortcomings was in extreme cold weather on the Eastern Front, and when it was used as dedicated "sniper" rifle with the ZF4 scope and mount attached.  The extreme cold had a detrimental effect on it's reliability, and it simply was not accurate enough to be a true sniping weapon, especially with the relatively poor design of the ZF 4 scope.  The G43 rifle was built by three different companies during it's production run and went on to serve the German Military well to the end of the war, with later rifles being renamed the K43 or Karabiner 43 (design remained the same, different in name only).  As mentioned earlier, this particular example of the G43 is a Walther-made example from 1944.  This rifle is 100% original and would be all-matching if not for the bolt locking-lugs, which are WW2 originals but numbered to another gun. These are the most commonly encountered mis-matched parts because they were small and easy to lose when doing a field-strip and cleaning in less than ideal conditions, and they were designed to be swapped out when worn.  If a German soldier encountered any problems with the rifle functioning in combat it is likely that these lugs and the recoil spring would probably be the first parts replaced.  As you can see from the pictures, this G43 is a handsome rifle with a lot of original factory blue finish remaining.  It shows some wear and handling marks but there are no eyesores or bad spots that stick out.  Most of the finish wear is on the high edges and the triggerguard.  All of the factory stampings are crisp and clean, and all of the German Waffenamts are intact, clean, and visible.  All of the numbered on this gun are matching, except for the bolt locking-lugs mentioned earlier.  The bore in this G43 is very good with nice, strong rifling visible throughout the barrel.  The grooves are a little dark and frosted but there is no bad pitting or major imperfections, while the lands are bright and clean.  This G43 should still shoot just as accurately as it did when it was in service.  The original red glue laminate stock set on this gun is in good condition overall but has been lightly sanded and shows some damage.  The red glue laminate handguard has one repaired crack that runs from the rear sight forward on the top edge, and the stock itself has cracks shwoing on either side of the wrist.  These cracks in the wrist could be easily repaired with some high-quality glue or epoxy or left as-is, as they sit now they seem stable and only move with a lot of twisting torgue applied to them.  The left side of the butt still shows a faint Waffenamt, and all of the original stock hardware is still intact and in good shape, including the spring-loaded trap in the butt.  The original cleaning rod and sight hood are also still intact on this Walther.  This G43 comes complete with an original WW2 German leather sling that is complete and in good condition, and an original WW2 production 10-round magazine.  The sling leather is still strong and flexible, and the magazine is in perfect working order.  The magazine is a contract magazine made late in the war and is stamped with the maker code "gcb", the model "K43", and the German inspection Waffenamt "WaA892".  The action on this G43 is slick and locks up tight, and all of the controls are 100% functional.  We have no doubt that this G43 would make an excellent shooter in addition to being a great long-term investment.  If you have been looking for an all-original but affordable WW2 G43, here is your chance to get a very handsome example at a great price.    

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Walther ("ac44" code)
Model: G43
Serial Number: 815p
Caliber Info: 8mm Mauser (8x57mm)
Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Very Good
Manufacture Date: 1944
Extras: Original WW2 German leather sling, Original "gcb" code K43 marked Magazine