Info on G43 and K43

S

Subsea07

Member
Hello,
I am new to the Forum, From Texas, I am trying to help a good friend of mine find out about his 2 Rifles, He found them in an Old Dufflebag his Grandfather brought back from WW2, Inside were the 2 rifles,

one is a G43 marked on receiver as follows: ac45 G43 6434
second one is a K43 marked ac45 k43 5862b

Both are in pretty good shape, both need stocks and one needs trigger guard, Both had Magazines with them

Any info someone can provide would be appreciated

Thank you
 
Subsea07 said:
Hello,
I am new to the Forum, From Texas, I am trying to help a good friend of mine find out about his 2 Rifles, He found them in an Old Dufflebag his Grandfather brought back from WW2, Inside were the 2 rifles,

one is a G43 marked on receiver as follows: ac45 G43 6434
second one is a K43 marked ac45 k43 5862b

Both are in pretty good shape, both need stocks and one needs trigger guard, Both had Magazines with them

Any info someone can provide would be appreciated

Thank you
Click to expand...

Any pictures?
 
Pictures as requested

I have attached the pictures, The K43 had part of a stock on it, it was broken behind the trigger
 

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Really interesting. Just from what you stated, it sounds like his grandfather liberated the two rifles; and like a lot of liberated rifles, they wouldn’t fit in his duffle bag. Many rifles were “duffle cut” somewhere on the stock so they would fit in the duffle bags (hence the phrase “duffle cut” that is used in reference to these rifles sometimes). And some were simply disassembled and put in duffle bags, boxes or wooden crate boxes and carried and/or shipped home. And, many were brought back somehow without having been duffle cut or disassembled.

Any other information on the veteran (Unit he was in?). Any paper work that may have come home with him? Many rifles/pistols and equipment had “capture papers” where the vet’s commander signed off that it was okay to possess and keep the weapons and equipment. I collect these rifles and have an extensive serial number/description listings of them. Which rifles were which in the photos? Hard to tell which receiver belongs to which rifle.

Thank you and your friend for sharing these rifles with us.
 
Real cool! The G43 AC45 is a bit of an odd one. It is a left over from earlier before the designation change to K43. They switched to K43 in late 1944 but there are a few mixed in 1945 that were already stamped G43 that show up in 1945. I would think the K43 has a few differences compared to the G43. It would probably have two lugs when you retract the bolt where the G43 only has one. The bolt carrier probably does not have a hold open catch too? These were late war modifications right at the end. If it does have two lugs and you go looking for a stock be careful because the dual lug versions do not fit in the single lug stocks and the other way around. The cross bolt that goes through the stock moved forward just a little and they do not fit each other.
 
Serial Number

Tiger 2 Tank said:
Really interesting. Just from what you stated, it sounds like his grandfather liberated the two rifles; and like a lot of liberated rifles, they wouldn’t fit in his duffle bag. Many rifles were “duffle cut” somewhere on the stock so they would fit in the duffle bags (hence the phrase “duffle cut” that is used in reference to these rifles sometimes). And some were simply disassembled and put in duffle bags, boxes or wooden crate boxes and carried and/or shipped home. And, many were brought back somehow without having been duffle cut or disassembled.

Any other information on the veteran (Unit he was in?). Any paper work that may have come home with him? Many rifles/pistols and equipment had “capture papers” where the vet’s commander signed off that it was okay to possess and keep the weapons and equipment. I collect these rifles and have an extensive serial number/description listings of them. Which rifles were which in the photos? Hard to tell which receiver belongs to which rifle.

Thank you and your friend for sharing these rifles with us.
Click to expand...

The K43 is Serial Number 5862b
The g43 is Serial Number 6434

I will check with my friend to see if they still have any of his paperwork
 
Great finds, neat rifle and a very interesting story.

I always have to laugh and giggle to myself about the duffle cuts. Years ago I was doing a joint exercise down at an NTC center and ordered some K98 stock sets to bring back to Canada as the seller wouldn't ship direct. I quickly realized that duffle bags haven't changed in size very much since WWII and found myself in a similar predicament. I didn't need to cut the stocks but did need to take off the bayonet lugs, but the though of needing to cut them did cross my mind.
 
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