G.41(W) rear sight evolution

Absolut

Absolut

Senior Member
... a friend recently made me aware of the difference in the rear sights of the two pictured rifles. I actually had no explanation for the difference because about every one that I could see had what seems to have been what the rifle serial 61xx has. Until I recently looked at very early G.41(W) coded rifles, which predate the G.41 [serial] ac43 coded rifles - and noticed those also have the same style rear sight as the pictured rifle serial 19xx has.

Well, not sure if anyone has ever noticed before and it may also had been a known fact. To me however it was new and I thought I should point this out. When looking at that "early style" I'd assume it may had resulted in reflections of the sunlight whereas the "late style" possibly didn't have reflections/not this many. But this is just wild guesses.

This is the early style rear sight:
RearSight-early.jpg

This is the late style rear sight:
RearSight-late.jpg



EDIT: If anyone has a serial that is close to either of the two pictured ones, let me know which serial you have. Maybe we can determine the "switchover" from one style to the other more precise.
 
It is kind of funny that they only made this change sometime in 1943. Kar 98a rifles already had a rear sight with the angle of the late style version.
 
Guillaume d'Orange said:
It is kind of funny that they only made this change sometime in 1943. Kar 98a rifles already had a rear sight with the angle of the late style version.
Click to expand...
Might have been using up already produced stock. Rear sights are simple enough that I could see them having a few hundred thousand waiting around to go on rifles and not wanting to make the switch over until they'd exhausted those stocks.
 
Absolut said:
... a friend recently made me aware of the difference in the rear sights of the two pictured rifles. I actually had no explanation for the difference because about every one that I could see had what seems to have been what the rifle serial 61xx has. Until I recently looked at very early G.41(W) coded rifles, which predate the G.41 [serial] ac43 coded rifles - and noticed those also have the same style rear sight as the pictured rifle serial 19xx has.

Well, not sure if anyone has ever noticed before and it may also had been a known fact. To me however it was new and I thought I should point this out. When looking at that "early style" I'd assume it may had resulted in reflections of the sunlight whereas the "late style" possibly didn't have reflections/not this many. But this is just wild guesses.

This is the early style rear sight:
View attachment 410004

This is the late style rear sight:
View attachment 410005



EDIT: If anyone has a serial that is close to either of the two pictured ones, let me know which serial you have. Maybe we can determine the "switchover" from one style to the other more precise.
Click to expand...

Very well observed and important. Please take another look at this G.41thread: Link
With small observations like this, you can sometimes solve big puzzles.
 
Threads like this are great. Perhaps the document from May 1943 will help you narrow things down a bit. I copied the description from another thread.

Gewehr 41.jpg

The "Overview of the Army's Armament Status" (Volume Weapons and Equipment) contains the following information on factory production, supplies and total stocks:

1.) Planung (Planning)
- The production program for the next 6 months, drawn up by the Reich Ministry for Armaments and Munitions in agreement with industry. The prerequisite for this planning is the timely and sufficient allocation of the raw materials, labor, machine tools and energy necessary to fulfill it.

2.) Fertigungs-Vorschau Wa A (Production Forecast Wa A)
- The production forecast by the Heereswaffenamt (Army Ordnance Office) for the next 6 months based on the already existing or assured allocation of raw materials, labor, machine tools and energy.

3.) Abnahme Wa A (Acceptance Wa A)
- The weapons and equipment manufactured and prepared for dispatch after acceptance by the acceptance departments of the Heereswaffenamt (Army Ordnance Office).

4.) Zugang Fz.In. (Incoming Fz.In.)
- Incoming weapons and equipment in the Zeugämter (depots) of the "Fz.In." from new production or repair, conversion and loot.

5.) Abgang Fz.In. (Outgoing Fz.In.)
- The supplies from the stocks of the Fz.In. were used for supplies, refreshment, new formation, reserve army, testing and acceptance purposes of the Heereswaffenamt (Army Ordnance Office) and for agencies outside the Army.

6.) Bestand Fz.In. (Stock Fz.In.)
- The supply stock available on the 1st of the reporting month.

7.) Verbrauch (Consumption)
- Reduction of the total stock due to losses in the troops and transfers from the Field Army to agencies outside the Army.

8.) Gesamtbestand (Total stock)
- The inventory available to the troops and Fz.In. on the 1st of the reporting month.


I have marked the words "Für Vorhaben vorgesehen - Intended for project" with a red cross. It is interesting for sniper collectors, see here: Zf.40
 
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