My recent aqusition bcd G43

[Grendl]

Everything mechanical can be fixed with money - you just have to be careful with these old guns.

Right: A problem that can be fixed with money is not a problem, it's an expense.

[westcoast362]

Sharp eye. Yes I recently sold it.

[The Gleam]

Sharp eye. Yes I recently sold it.

Did you ever get a chance to actually shoot it?

I've been trying to get a decent G43 for years, but every time I come across one I'm either too late, the bore looks like a sewer pipe, or they've been botched in some way, if not sabotaged.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I would love to own any German WWII semi-auto rifle. I would not shoot it regardless of condition. They don't even seem to be very good rifles. But they would still be a crown jewel of any natsee gun collection.

[Rogerbutthead]

They are way too fragile to shoot on a regular basis, even with an aftermarket gas system installed. http://www.apfeltor.com/

I would hazard to guess that 80% of the mismatched G/K43s that you see in the US are mismatched because some numbered part broke while it was in the US.

Maybe higher.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

They are way too fragile to shoot on a regular basis, even with an aftermarket gas system installed. http://www.apfeltor.com/

I would hazard to guess that 80% of the mismatched G/K43s that you see in the US are mismatched because some numbered part broke while it was in the US.

Maybe higher.

I am a big fan of German guns, but "Hitler's Garand"..... wasn't.

[pitfighter]

I am a big fan of German guns, but "Hitler's Garand"..... wasn't.

It certainly wasn't...

But, reading the Darrin Weaver book, you get a small taste of the bureaucracy involved with developing a modern firearm within a system that was still operating in many ways along the lines of the old Imperial German army.

The needless features the G41's had to have to get past testing.

The semi-G41(w) (the antecedent to the G43) was a result of Walther ignoring most of the ridiculous Heer group requirements and making their rifle actually work.
Mauser did actually follow the spec to the letter, and consequently their G41(m) was an antiquated over complicated mess.

As anyone who knows the history of the M16 will tell you, trying to field something innovative will often cause massive turbulence and the actual design that gets fielded often ignores, replaces or mis uses those innovations to the point of them becoming liabilities.

Time sorts things out, or in the case of the British SA80, H&K step in to redesign reengineer and help - but, it is anything but natural selection, and anything but common sense.

The G43 was a walk down a path that had no outlet -

[GunKraut]

It certainly wasn't...

But, reading the Darrin Weaver book, you get a small taste of the bureaucracy involved with developing a modern firearm within a system that was still operating in many ways along the lines of the old Imperial German army.

The needless features the G41's had to have to get past testing.

The semi-G41(w) (the antecedent to the G43) was a result of Walther ignoring most of the ridiculous Heer group requirements and making their rifle actually work.
Mauser did actually follow the spec to the letter, and consequently their G41(m) was an antiquated over complicated mess.

As anyone who knows the history of the M16 will tell you, trying to field something innovative will often cause massive turbulence and the actual design that gets fielded often ignores, replaces or mis uses those innovations to the point of them becoming liabilities.

Time sorts things out, or in the case of the British SA80, H&K step in to redesign reengineer and help - but, it is anything but natural selection, and anything but common sense.

The G43 was a walk down a path that had no outlet -

[pitfighter]

Gunkraut -

I have been exploring armories and museums here in the UK - and got to handle an MP45 last month (along with it's ultra-rare Walther factory marked MP44 magazine) - that truly was the most advanced of the German auto-rifles in my opinion, and is only a micro-meter away from the Cetme that it's designers went on to engineer in post-war Spain - before moving back to Germany to work with Heckler and Koch.

Fascinating how advanced they really were - and that the army that could have had an MP45 was still wasting time with G43's - but that was to ours (and the free worlds) advantage.

[GunKraut]

Gunkraut -

I have been exploring armories and museums here in the UK - and got to handle an MP45 last month (along with it's ultra-rare Walther factory marked MP44 magazine) - that truly was the most advanced of the German auto-rifles in my opinion, and is only a micro-meter away from the Cetme that it's designers went on to engineer in post-war Spain - before moving back to Germany to work with Heckler and Koch.

Fascinating how advanced they really were - and that the army that could have had an MP45 was still wasting time with G43's - but that was to ours (and the free worlds) advantage.

Pit, I'm envious. I've never seen an MP45 / StG45(M) in person, let alone fondled one. Would you happen to have pictures?

[pitfighter]

First visit was no pictures for me, England is a little different about guns - I intend to make another visit - the upstairs is a private collection, the downstairs the movie rental business.

I am renting guns from them next week - so, will have some leverage to work with.

They have a G-type Fg42 from the same serial "hundred" block as mine.
But, theirs has the incredibly rare, as in no book, no photo, no written evidence, Slj02 magazine. Which I am of course desperate to photograph.

(An Slj01 reached $2500 and didn't break the reserve last week on GB)

They didn't mind me photographing the rentals though - so here those are:

[Rogerbutthead]

Another weapon I will never have in my hands.

[westcoast362]

I never shot it. I never intended to shoot it when I bought it. I don't shoot my P-08's or my WWII P-38's. There is too much money at stake. I have plenty of others to shoot.

[pitfighter]

I never shot it. I never intended to shoot it when I bought it. I don't shoot my P-08's or my WWII P-38's. There is too much money at stake. I have plenty of others to shoot.

Wise choice Westcoast - without the shooter kit installed, there are parts to lose or break on the G43's -

PS - sorry for cluttering up your thread.

[GunKraut]

PS - sorry for cluttering up your thread.

Your kind of "cluttering" is always welcome. The rifles at the UK location are quite something. Can't wait to see more of that guy's stuff.