For the experts - legit or too good to be true?

[Holmes529]

I've got the opportunity to buy what looks like a really nice, early G43. Numbers match, stock is numbered to the rifle. Original sling. Great bore and rifling. I know a lot of these parts were force matched by some guy in the states decades ago, so just trying to see if that's the case for this particular rifle. He's asking 4200.

 

[CRH113]

Doesn’t appear to be force matched to me, I’ll wait for someone else’s input though. Rear of the sliding dust cover was snapped off it appears. Price seems a little high to me.

 

[PatickD]

Stock has been lightly sanded/steel wooled. That definitely hurts the value…

 

[luftpirate]

Proofs on stock look a little too sharp for stock being sanded but it could be because it almost looks like stock had been stained at some point then stripped. Regardless the stock really hurts the value if stock was untouched I'd say it would have been a good deal.

 

[PatickD]

Proofs on stock look a little too sharp for stock being sanded but it could be because it almost looks like stock had been stained at some point then stripped. Regardless the stock really hurts the value if stock was untouched I'd say it would have been a good deal.

I was honestly 50/50 if it was cleaned or not. I am leaning towards it was. It’s very shiny.

Though I completely get what you are saying. Those side cartouches are still pretty crisp.

Here’s what I see:

#3.) The stock serial number. It’s really washed out.

#6.) The top of the hand-guard, very smooth.

#10.) The cut for the scope rail. Looks rounded to me.

#7.) Rear action of the stock. Appears to be pretty well rounded to me.

Could be what you said though too. Stock had something applied. Then removed.

 

[Roger S]

Cool gun. That does sound high but still a cool gun. Milled off rail is a fun variation.

 

[bmwr12]

Looks cleaned to me and handguard appears to have a glued repair

 

[mdarnell19]

I think the stock has been sanded. And likely stripped of something. Serial number and proofs should not be black like that. Either way a chemical was used. This kills the value. And the serial number on the stock looks messed with.

I'm not crazy about the bolt carrier numbers either but better pictures would help. But at this point I don't think his asking price is worth it.

 

[Brian Kowalski]

I would have to agree with the above comments.

The stock has certainly been "molested" at one point in its life. Once that happens, it really hurts the collector value, especially with these G/K43s.
Stock condition is typically 50% of the value many feel.

 

[mauser99]

As others have said. I would wait for a better example. G/K43's have really bounced back up in price. They are as high as the high water marks set when the g/k book came out. All this pricing is cyclic so they may level off ?
Also milled rail guns were always a little softer than rifles with scope rails even though they are technically more scarce. You can also see the HG has been repaired. Its certainly much better than most but, if it were prices at 3k-3200
it would be worth it.

 

[daltrey99]

That stock has definitely been cleaned or some kind of chemical added to it. I wouldn't spend anymore that $3000=3500 for it in the shape its in. If you are looking for a pristine collector example this isn't it.

 

[banjomike]

I don't think the sling is correct.