Walther G43

[highpower]

My desire to rescue old military surplus firearms overrode my common sense today and I picked up a ac44 (Walther) G43 that was semi reasonably priced.



It has all matching numbers, the correct original WWII magazine and included a ZF41 scope mount (probably a repop), sans rings, but no scope. The bore and operating system is pristine and I believe it would make a good shooter. The catch is Bubba got ahold of it sometime in the past and really screwed up the stock. The back has been cut off, a recoil pad poorly installed and the inletted area for the sling has been plugged by a walnut patch. I could possibly do something with the stock, but I have ordered a repop to get it and looking like it is supposed to. down the road I hope to find an original, but I'm not holding my breath until that happens. So far all the bits for the stock, including the buttplate, screws, and band spring are going to be just a bit over $425, which means that I will have less than $2500 in it. A lot of money, but about half of what I normally see them going for.

[fal_762x51]

I have the same issue. Offered $1,500 for this 43. Had a repro stock with ****ty Minwax and duplicating chatter. Smoothed it out and refinished.

[Rogerbutthead]

The mount is a repro, the give away is the 214 is straight, a real 214 is imprinted with a curve. There is a steep learning curve on G/K43s - one that I have not mastered.

Lots of fake mounts out there, fake sight hoods, etc.

Buyer Beware

[highpower]

I figured the stock and ancillary bits were going to be the biggest pain to source, but it turned out easier to find them than I thought it would be. After I got it home I disassembled it and was very pleasantly surprised to find that internally it looks new and as I mentioned, the bore is perfect. I know it will never be original again, but for the money, I am happy with it.

Edited to add: How did you get that shade of stain for the stock?

[fal_762x51]

One coat of Fiebings dark brown alcohol based leather dye and three coats of tung oil. Buffed with 00000 oil free steel wool between all coats. Finally rubbed down with Johnson Paste Wax.

It is hard to find their alcohol dye in CA. I had to get mine from eBay. WEAR GLOVES! I find the dark brown (more coats the darker) matches military colors. Depending on country I will use tung oil, pine tar, BLO, cold pressed linseed, shellac, or urushi (Japanese stocks).

I was able to get urushi lacquer in a small tube to restore a bubba'd Type 99. Then I touched part of it without a glove and got the same reaction as touching poison oak.

[SVT-40]

A worthy project!

If you get a reproduction stock, don't smooth it to much. The original stocks were pretty rough.

[Rogerbutthead]

I'd read older threads - on this site and others.

like - https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1431338

The roughness of Walther rifles was noted - "chatter marks" - as I recall. Factory fresh examples had rough stocks - chatter marks drove a number of auctions I watched pretty high - collectors want them.

As I recall, this K43 44 example was highly prized.

[highpower]

What was the original finish on an ac44, G43? Was it varnish or?

[Rogerbutthead]

I am told by collectors that some Germans didn't like the unfinished stocks on factory fresh later war Walthers and use Ballistol on them, some supposedly used old engine oil to darken them. BLM made G/K43s usually didn't have chatter marks on them, but as the end drew near - they supposedly also cut corners.

Most collectors agree that G/K43s were not factory varnished.

Page 166 of Hitler's Garands has a quote from CIOS - the Combined Intelligence and Objectives Subcommittee (1945) US Army - "No finish was applied to the stocks at all, not even an oil dip."

[highpower]

Interesting. I have one of the Polish reproduction stocks coming. Supposedly the are the nicest currently available, so it will be interesting to see what the one I ordered looks like.

I suppose a field applied finish out of whatever was available, along with general aging might explain the different shades of stocks we see today in original examples.

[SVT-40]

Balistol.

It will slightly darken the wood.

[Rogerbutthead]

I can't explain the differences.

[pitfighter]

I can't explain the differences.

Nice selection!!!!! - I've had a few G43/G41, some with bright yellow unfinished stocks, chatter marks and some that were a little darker.
Interesting rifles, "Hitler's Garand" is a great resource.

[smle-man]

Anyone know how many G43s were brought in post 86? I used to see them advertised in the back of gun magazines back then and remember them at fairly reasonable price. I don't remember the vendor, it may have been Paragon. They also had mint Egyptian FN49s and various new condition Swede rifles as I recall.

[Rogerbutthead]

I think that was Century Arms - out of Florida - Back in the 80's, I bought an FN 49, a G43, a Hakim, a 1903 Springfield and an Enfield 1917 from them - and found out what NRA good means - dog crap.

The G43 was a VOPO (third from the right with the fake scope mount above) - not complete junk - and was the nicest of the bunch. The Hakim wasn't too bad either. The FN 49 didn't have the Egyptian disc in the stock and the American rifles were really pieces of junk - that red whatever preservative soaked stocks the Chinese used, rusty, pitted barrels - no collector value what-so-ever. Had both the American rifles re-stocked and re-barreled.