K43 acquisition - any info appreciated.

[pitfighter]

Took a rifle in trade for some WW2 blades I had to let go (storage space.)
I realized I let my G43 reference book go some way back, I now own no G/K43 reference books.
I owned some of these rifles decades back and all of my current info is out dated:

1. Stock seems rough, but could have been lightly sanded, opinions?
2. Some parts appear slick and very new, repro or just good condition?
3. Is this the correct mag code?
4. Does it appear a good matching rifle?
5. Other thoughts?

Here are some pictures, do let me know if others are necessary.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[pitfighter]

 

[pitfighter]

Anyway a bunch of pics, let me know your thoughts.
It certainly seems like an honest rifle, not sure about the cleaning rod, etc.,

 

[Caesar1]

That looks really nice and I want to say all original but I’m not sure about the capital letter on the stock? Maybe more knowledgeable people will chime in

 

[Brian Kowalski]

The capital "L" on the stock is normal for this letter Block.

Looks like a very nice rifle.

 

[pitfighter]

Thank you, guys.
I knew you'd be the ones to ask.

 

[pitfighter]

The capital "L" on the stock is normal for this letter Block.

Interesting: so the serial 8192 L is represented with a capital letter on the stock.

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

Yep. It’s original with the capital “L” on the stock.

Nice looking rifle. According to my serial number data base, your rifle falls in with a bunch if rifles that had the Durofol handguards. Not to worry as they were assembled here and there with wood and Durofol handguards.

BLM rifles typically have two side e/214 final proof stamps on the stock. Yours only has one? And, the stock wrist should have a little “dimple” looking proof and another normal e/214 proof stamp there. The stock keel should also have another proof stamp behind the serial number.

Most BLM rifle’s stocks are stained, but some few weren’t, like this one. Neat to see one that’s not stained. There’s another one in our picture gallery that’s also not stained.

Do the internal parts also match?

The aye mag code is a common maker for these mags. Yes, it’s original.

 

[pitfighter]

Nice looking rifle. According to my serial number data base, your rifle falls in with a bunch if rifles that had the Durofol handguards. Not to worry as they were assembled here and there with wood and Durofol handguards.

BLM rifles typically have two side e/214 final proof stamps on the stock. Yours only has one? And, the stock wrist should have a little “dimple” looking proof and another normal e/214 proof stamp there. The stock keel should also have another proof stamp behind the serial number.

Most BLM rifle’s stocks are stained, but some few weren’t, like this one. Neat to see one that’s not stained. There’s another one in our picture gallery that’s also not stained.

Do the internal parts also match?

Thank you T2T,

Good to know on the Durofol guard - this wood one seems aged in continuity with the rest of the stock, but who knows?

The stock has a small mark on the reverse that could once have been a proof, and it has a dimple on the grip area, which could also have been a stamp.
Not enough to go on, but I'll see if I can photograph later, often a picture shows more than the eye can see.

Good to know about the stain, or lack of on this one.

I will dis-assemble at some point, but getting back into the groove with these rifles, it's been a while.
I'll report back on serial numbers and whether they match.

The trade value was about $3K - does that sound about right?

 

[CRH113]

Thank you T2T,

Good to know on the Durofol guard - this wood one seems aged in continuity with the rest of the stock, but who knows?

The stock has a small mark on the reverse that could once have been a proof, and it has a dimple on the grip area, which could also have been a stamp.
Not enough to go on, but I'll see if I can photograph later, often a picture shows more than the eye can see.

Good to know about the stain, or lack of on this one.

I will dis-assemble at some point, but getting back into the groove with these rifles, it's been a while.
I'll report back on serial numbers and whether they match.

The trade value was about $3K - does that sound about right?

Sounds about right, being a late rifle you probably got a good deal if the rest is matching!

 

[pitfighter]

Sounds about right, being a late rifle you probably got a good deal if the rest is matching!

Thx.

 

[jmanngun]

The only thing to point out is the stock looks fuzzed a little... I suspect it could be a possible victim of bleaching methods from back in the day... lightly perhaps... anyone else see this?

I would still want to own the piece either way.

Congrats, looks like a nice rifle... thanks for sharing!

 

[pitfighter]

I would still want to own the piece either way.

You and half a dozen others in my private message's - lol.
(Thank you guys for the interest, I am just glad it's not a bubba special.)

Yes, stock wood could be sun-bleached, tough for me to tell, you guys would be better educated in such things.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

The stock looks right to me from my end of things so far. I don’t see the black stains in the crevices of the wood you would normally see from a cleaning job. I definitely am subject to being wrong. Of course an in-hand inspection is always preferable. I would want to see the stamps I mentioned above, and not sure why there’s only one final e/214 proof on the side? I was looking back at our picture section for comparison and I was mistaken; the “non-stained” rifle I was referring to was not a BLM rifle but a bcd rifle. Sorry about that.

Here’s the one I was thinking of that is a bcd un-stained rifle, raw wood:

https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/bcd-g-43.548/

If everything checks out, the rifle is worth more than $3k all day long.

From the photos, the wood hand guard looks a little darker than the rest of the stock. Not sure if it’s the photos or what on that. If the hand guards were swapped, that might explain that. Getting a different wood hand guard to match up to the same wood color wouldn’t be easy. So, this one might have had a Durofol originally? It’s in a group of rifles that had Durofol hand guards, so hard to know for sure.

 

[pitfighter]

Handguard is definitely a little-shade darker - yes, Sir.

Rifle is at my work-place in Cali, if you're local you're welcome to take apart and inspect, it will probably emigrate to my living-abode in AZ later in the year.

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

Thanks, wish I could but I live many, many miles from…..there. Probably the best thing is to take it to AZ and out of there.

 

[pitfighter]

Popped the hand guard off, there is no marking inside, no stamped serial.
The wood is a different type to the rest of the stock.
It's aged and worn with age - but this means little.
What should I be looking for to confirm originality?
I'll post pics to this post tomorrow.

I've acquired an original Durofol hand-guard as a potential replacement.

 

[pitfighter]

Here is the OP rifle
I have added:
1. Original K43 Sling.
2. Original K43 Zf4 scope
3. Reproduction (the worst - will need to be replaced) mount and bands.
4. Original G43 "Durofol" hand guard
5. Original G43 Manual and spare-parts "stock kit."

The wood hand guard will be kept with the rifle, as I believe it to be original wartime issue.

I will find an original mount and bands that's makes sense, in the meantime my day-job has started to heat up again - so, my energy and spare time is elsewhere. This project will be relegated to the gun-safe for a while.

It has been fun learning about these interesting old rifles again.

 

[dustoff1996]

The stock looks bleached to me. Nice looking rifle though!!

 

[Nobody]

Really nice looking set up.

Nice Trade.