The "Best" G43?

K

Krieg

Active member
I was wondering which factory produced the "best" G43s. For Lugers it is generally accepted that Krieghoffs tend to be the nicest with the lowest rejection rate and generally the nicest finishing, so I wondered what factory produced the nicest G43s by comparison. I do also notice some G43s with a nicely finished receiver that is free from the rudimentary looking rough forged surface finish. Were there certain years or factories that produced guns like these? Or was it random?
 
The best is a hard thing to narrow down >>> Best in what category, Function , reliability, Desirability Ect.. There are many factors to take into consideration and everyone's opinions will vary.
 
Krieg said:
I was wondering which factory produced the "best" G43s. For Lugers it is generally accepted that Krieghoffs tend to be the nicest with the lowest rejection rate and generally the nicest finishing, so I wondered what factory produced the nicest G43s by comparison. I do also notice some G43s with a nicely finished receiver that is free from the rudimentary looking rough forged surface finish. Were there certain years or factories that produced guns like these? Or was it random?
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Most of the 'cosmetic machined' receivers were contracted receivers and showed up on Gustloff or Walther rifles. Some showed up early and then a bunch were recycled receivers used later on.

Claus has a pretty good serial number list and the style of receiver finish is noticed. These cosmetic receivers generally show up in 'blocks'.
 
BLM is generally accepted as being most focused on just making the rifles. Walter and the other factories used forced labor, and Gustoff even used workers from camps. BLM using all employees means no messed with guns.

G43 all around dont have a good finish. I own a Nov/Dec 1944 BLM and it runs and looks very nice.
 
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true.. they are hardly the best at anything..lol But, we love them.. The one question was the duel lug a major improvement ?

They kept trying for better reliability and the last version ac45 might be the best overall ?? The forward recoil lug, toned down type3 gas system and duel guide rail for the bolt were all major improvements .
 
I enjoyed mine but eventually sold it. It was VERY accurate and I really enjoyed shooting it but I knew what was going to happen eventually if I continued. After 500-600 rounds (with an Apfeltor kit of course) I passed it along to a collector where I knew it would be retired. To my knowledge, it hasn't been shot since.
 
Overall quality of the basic rifle (with no consideration to ongoing changes found in Walther production) would surely be Berlin-Lubecker. Top quality to the very end. I have a late minty QVE45 that I need to post along with an equally late Walther to compare the two. The difference, as least cosmetically, is quite apparent.
 
Thanks for all of the feedback. Seems like the consensus here is BLM is the best mechanically wise. Based on my research it seems to me that BLM receivers were all of the rough forged variety and that Gustloff and Walther occasionally had nicely machined receivers from St. Ettienne. Has BLM ever hard nicely machined receivers as well? I think my ideal "grail" would be a BLM G/K43 with one of those nicely finished receivers. Does such a rifle exist?
 
Krieg said:
Thanks for all of the feedback. Seems like the consensus here is BLM is the best mechanically wise. Based on my research it seems to me that BLM receivers were all of the rough forged variety and that Gustloff and Walther occasionally had nicely machined receivers from St. Ettienne. Has BLM ever hard nicely machined receivers as well? I think my ideal "grail" would be a BLM G/K43 with one of those nicely finished receivers. Does such a rifle exist?
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As to this date that answer is no.. I tend to never say never as ever example of every type has will never be seen.. Walther shipped the last of their receiver stock to BLM so I suppose anything is possible.
 
Krieg said:
Thanks for all of the feedback. Seems like the consensus here is BLM is the best mechanically wise. Based on my research it seems to me that BLM receivers were all of the rough forged variety and that Gustloff and Walther occasionally had nicely machined receivers from St. Ettienne. Has BLM ever hard nicely machined receivers as well? I think my ideal "grail" would be a BLM G/K43 with one of those nicely finished receivers. Does such a rifle exist?
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I used to really want a cosmetically machined receiver, but these days I really prefer the rough forged ones. The guns were late-war weapons with every corner cut that could be, and it's neat to see something that so clearly reflects that. Putting one of these next to a pre-war Mauser or a Garand etc. is a hell of a contrast.
 
Krieg said:
Thanks for all of the feedback. Seems like the consensus here is BLM is the best mechanically wise. Based on my research it seems to me that BLM receivers were all of the rough forged variety and that Gustloff and Walther occasionally had nicely machined receivers from St. Ettienne. Has BLM ever hard nicely machined receivers as well? I think my ideal "grail" would be a BLM G/K43 with one of those nicely finished receivers. Does such a rifle exist?
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My unexpected Grail didn’t happen until
about 4 months after I bought it.
An online guy needed to sell it as he needed a new vehicle for his family. I bit the bullet and helped him out.
I briefly looked at it when it came in the mail and put it away as I was very busy with work.
Later I put it in the safe beside the other G/K43’s.
But...it was different,
the barrel was about 2 inches longer.
Yep, an Experimental Model.
 
Best G43? All of them that I own at the moment, my opinion of course. Favorite is a K43 Duv44 I bought in Wasilla AK 5 minutes into a gunshow for 600$.....
 
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