K43 AC45 sporter rescue

S

Scotthw

Active member
I found a barreled action at a local gun shop this last year that was hanging in one of the racks. The gun shop manager said a younger guy came in and thought it was part of a M1 Garand and had found it in his grandfathers basement. The rifle was equipped with a half-finished sported hunting stock and the magazine was pinned to hold three rounds, for hunting purposes. The stock was discarded and the barreled action was displayed alone in the rack. We both knew what it was and I was advised the barreled action came with the magazine, screws and some hardware along with it's original sling. I noticed it to be all matching. The serial number is "1967" with no letter block. I picked it up for $1000.00 even.

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Now came the task of tracking down a stock and fixing the mangled front band that was full of drilled holes. I eventually settled on a lower end reproduction stock from Poland. After two months of it being held in customs it arrived and took nearly eight hours of work for proper fitment.

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I simply welded the holes on the band and re-blued it to avoid spending on a new one.

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So after some BLO and howards feed n wax the stock came out...decent. It's a beautiful shooter though and the bore is amazing on the rifle. I would say for a grand total of about $1200.00 i'm happy with it; however I'm still looking for an authentic stock to finish it off.

Thanks for looking.
 
Congratulations. The price was right and it looks great. You'll find an original stock, it will just take while and it won't be cheap.
 
Nice work!

I restored one in 1995 all in pieces just like yours. Was brought into a gun shop by a vet that needed the money.
It was $225 out the door for the barrel/receiver and the rest of the metal parts and 2 original mags. gcb and acw.
Needed an original buttplate - $225. Needed an original stock and durofol hand guard -$300, and an original barrel band and spring -$75 and $25, and an
original front sight and hood- $15 and $25.
Prices back then seemed steep and outrageous! I thought I was taken to the cleaners! Was able to get a lot of the parts from Sarco and a
guy named Brian from Pennsylvania who sold G/K43 parts on his website.
I still have it, a duv44 G43.
Thanks for posting.
 
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If I didn't read the description I would bet that was an original stock you found. Good show. great price.
 
Winchester Cowboy said:
Nice work!

I restored one in 1995 all in pieces just like yours. Was brought into a gun shop by a vet that needed the money.
It was $225 out the door for the barrel/receiver and the rest of the metal parts and 2 original mags. gcb and acw.
Needed an original buttplate - $225. Needed an original stock and durofil hand guard -$300, and an original barrel band and spring -$75 and $25, and an
original front sight and hood- $15 and $25.
Prices back then seemed steep and outrageous! I thought I was taken to the cleaners! Was able to get a lot of the parts from Sarco and a
guy named Brian from Pennsylvania who sold G/K43 parts on his website.
I still have it, a duv44 G43.
Thanks for posting.
Click to expand...

Would love to see some pictures if you have some! I wish I had been more interested in these guns years ago when they were less expencive, but then again I was only 7 in 95'. It's an expencive hobby in my generation!
 
Scotthw said:
Would love to see some pictures if you have some! I wish I had been more interested in these guns years ago when they were less expencive, but then again I was only 7 in 95'. It's an expencive hobby in my generation!
Click to expand...

Hello,

It's the second rifle from the top with the Durofol handguard that was restored.
It is a duv44 G43, and the stock is from a bcd (Gustloff Werke) G43 as that was all I could find at the time.
 

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Wolfsburg said:
I like the long barrelled one in that pic! Very cool!
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Thanks! The Experimental Barrel on that rifle is 50 mm (or 2 inches) longer than the standard barrel length of 550 mm for G/K43's.
There's a page or two in Darrin Weavers Book "Hitler's Garands" where he discusses the Experimental Barrels for possible Sniper use.
 
I imagine there can't be many out there. Can't say I've ever seen one! Super cool! Sorry for the thread hijack! Nice restorations all around!
 
Back on the old G43 Forum that Randy and Chick had,
There was an experimental for sale, at least 10 to 15 years ago.
I don’t know if the guy sold it?
 
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Good job! Always nice to see a project come together like that. I'd just enjoy it as is. Even though the stock is not correct laminate, it looks pretty good!
 
All I remember from the old G/K43 Forum was the Night of the Long Knives when the owners went ape shyte over anyone who objected to their Nationalist Socialist views. Also, people trying to get you to sell that experimental rifle.

May we ask who you have willed it to?
 
Rogerbutthead said:
All I remember from the old G/K43 Forum was the Night of the Long Knives when the owners went ape shyte over anyone who objected to their Nationalist Socialist views. Also, people trying to get you to sell that experimental rifle.

May we ask who you have willed it to?
Click to expand...

I think I "Will It" (<=That's Legal Talk!) to the K98 Forum Trader someday Roger, and keep it in the K98 Family. LOL
 
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