Thoughts on current G/K 43 market

bigwagon said:
I'm not a very good judge on the current G/K43 market. I see very few of them for sale in my area. One popped up at a local show a few months ago and I decided to jump on it based on gut feeling. It's a matching duv44 with nice metal condition but the stock has been messed with. Lightly sanded, some cracks and repairs and a coat of varnish. Still, I felt for what I paid ($3200) it was worth having a bird in hand and I should at least be able to get my money back out of it if I find an upgrade.
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That's a pretty fair price these days for a matching gun even if the stock is a bit buggered.
 
Here is my take,

There are two categories for the market:

1.
Around $2500-$4000 for rifles that can be mis-matched, stocks messed with, repairs that are obvious/not done well, or just shooters are now the norm for the market. This includes rifles that are all matching, but say the stock has been sanded or finish added. About 80% of rifles in circulation fit into this category.

2.
The rifles that are not messed with are going to command more in the $4500-$6000 range. You will see untouched stocks, all matching, completely original, and some acceptable forms of repair that does not bring the rifle down from an original condition status. About 20% of rifles in circulation fit into this category.
 
I’m the past duv/qve rifles seem to be priced lower than ac rifles for no reason other than “Walther is the original factory” attitude some collectors get. Much like the “Mauser only” 98k collectors that do that. It never made sense to me, glad I got the few I did in the past, but I’ve never really liked the g/k rifles as much due to the really limited variations to collect and “rattle trap” feeling they give me.
 
I always felt that the stamped action cover was a junky part and that if they had stayed with the milled one it would have been a somewhat better rifle. The recoil bolt placement was also a weak link that was addressed at some point. I always felt when I fired one it would come apart and something would hit me in the face. Sold the one's I had and used the money to buy "K98's". Never really regretted it. I can't deny that they're a cool looking rifle. I've never read anything on their development. Is there any truth to what I've heard that they were only designed to last for 4,000 rounds, because that's believable to me. Would love to hear from the guys that shoot them regularly, what they do to hold them together and if anyone's hit the 4,000 round mark. o_O :oops:
 
I use to shoot my Mismatch AC 43 regular. I even took it Deer hunting, Shot a few deer with it. Was very fun to shoot. But one time at the range, I was shooting it , And the retaining spring on back of the bolt snaped and hit me square in the forehead. Had a mark there for about 2 weeks, The parts few all over the place. But found them all, Put it back together , with a Better made retaining spring, And it never broke again. I shot that rifle over 4K rounds . Just a pointer to what can happen with these rifles, Always check the retaining spring to see if its cracked. It will explode in your face if it is. I was just lucky when it happen to me. Even though my friends could stop laughing at me, Said I looked like a Indian with that mark on my forehead. LOL
 
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SVW1945 said:
I use to shoot my Mismatch AC 43 regular. I even took it Deer hunting, Shoot a few deer with it. Was very fun to shoot. But one time at the range, I was shooting it , And the retaining spring on back of the bolt snaped and hit me square in the forehead. Had a mark there for about 2 weeks, The parts few all over the place. But found them all, Put it back together , with a Better made retaining spring, And it never broke again. I shot that rifle over 4K rounds . Just a pointer to what can happen with these rifles, Always check the retaining spring to see if its cracked. It will explode in your face if it is. I was just lucky when it happen to me. Even though my friends could stop laughing at me, Said I looked like a Indian with that mark on my forehead. LOL
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Wow!, It looks like I quit at the right time! I'm glad you didn't lose an eye! o_O :oops:
 
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Recently picked up a French used [R marking on stock] matching DUV44. Whoever had it removed the markings on stocks, must have been personal preference as k98Dave has one with the stock markings still on it.

Iternals are matching but very worn. Debate on there use in 1st Indochinawar. Almost 1/3 of troops where ex-Wermacht soldiers.

Was able to pick it up for a good price. Out of an old man's collection from the Carolinas. Some still out there for cheap as the guys in there 80s move their closest hordes.
 
SVW1945 said:
I use to shoot my Mismatch AC 43 regular. I even took it Deer hunting, Shot a few deer with it. Was very fun to shoot. But one time at the range, I was shooting it , And the retaining spring on back of the bolt snaped and hit me square in the forehead. Had a mark there for about 2 weeks, The parts few all over the place. But found them all, Put it back together , with a Better made retaining spring, And it never broke again. I shot that rifle over 4K rounds . Just a pointer to what can happen with these rifles, Always check the retaining spring to see if its cracked. It will explode in your face if it is. I was just lucky when it happen to me. Even though my friends could stop laughing at me, Said I looked like a Indian with that mark on my forehead. LOL
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I shoot everyone of mine and often!. You really have to go through them and make sure everything is up to snuff. I think the people that have parts flying off are the ones that buy them and just start shooting them. These rifles are not getting any younger and the springs and retaining clips are old. Update the parts and it is good to go. I've never heard the 4000 round thing and would guess it is an old tale that became legend over the years. These will never be as indestructable as a K98 but most semi-autos arent either.
 
daltrey99 said:
I shoot everyone of mine and often!. You really have to go through them and make sure everything is up to snuff. I think the people that have parts flying off are the ones that buy them and just start shooting them. These rifles are not getting any younger and the springs and retaining clips are old. Update the parts and it is good to go. I've never heard the 4000 round thing and would guess it is an old tale that became legend over the years. These will never be as indestructable as a K98 but most semi-autos arent either.
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The very first thing I do with any semi-auto I intend to shoot is swap the springs. Recoil springs at the very least.
 
Thanks daltrey99 and Cyrano4747,
I can remember seeing an original late combat photo of what I believe was a Volksgrenadier standing in a foxhole with a G/K43 laying flat on the ground in front of him ready to go, but he also had a STG/44 laying next to it, and another earlier photo of a running Soldat carrying an ammo can with a G/K43 and a k98 on his back, and it always seemed to me to be perhaps a statement that they liked the G/K43, but didn't want to bet their lives on the reliability of it.
 
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