Semi-automatic Rifles

Archive for Semi-automatic Rifles

ZF4 Sniper Scope for the K43

Posted in Optics with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Optics, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on April 16, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg This scope was designed for the G/K43 series semi-automatic rifles as well as the MP43/44/45 series assault rifle. A late war design, it was not very robust or very popular. The mounts for these are stupidly expensive so I won’t be going down that path right away. The left side of the scope is marked “Gw ZF 4”, “dow” the code for Opticotechna, Czechoslovakia. There is a triangle stamped and coloured for the type of grease applied to the internals. In this case it is blue meaning cold weather.

These scopes were blued like this one originally. Later war production was parkerised. The optics on this scope are muddy at one end. I have another example to use as a donor so if Don the optics guy can’t clean them up I will be getting him to swap them out.

Update: The scope came back from Don and he has done an outstanding job. Complete, clear optics and functioning as designed.

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K43 Semi-Automatic Rifle Butt Kit Parts

Posted in Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on March 22, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg This fairly humble set of bits and pieces are the components that would make up the spare parts and maintenance package placed in the butt cavity of the Walther K43 Main Battle Rifle. You can see below the manual, oiler bottle, firing pin, firing pin extension, extractor, extractor retaining pin and extractor spring. Do not ask me how an infantryman, under fire and in the middle of a -20 snow storm could be expected to make use of these parts. The frequent failure of the K43 under use must have made the users of it loathe the Walther company.

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K43 Butt Kit Manual

Posted in Paper, Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Instruction Manuals, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on March 15, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg Here is a second manual for the K43 semi-automatic rifle. This one is in perfect condition so I won’t be rolling this up and stuffing it in the butt compartment. I have a rougher one that I will use for that here.

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K43 Semi-Automatic Rifle Butt Plate

Posted in Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on March 12, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg This butt plate is designed to fit a German K43 semi-automatic main battle rifle. I got it from a bloke down in the States because I am restoring a K43 from a shooter to as close to original as I can get. The butt plate is the earlier ribbed type which is a little early for my rifle but it will do nicely. It’s clearly original but is missing the small dent on the hinge plate where the Landser would press a bullet into to assist with opening the door.

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K43 Magazine

Posted in Magazines with tags Ammunition & Fusing, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Magazines, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on March 1, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg This is a late war production K43 marked magazine for the K43 semi-automatic main battle rifle. The manufacturer is gcb (Grohmann und Sohn Ad, Metallwarenfabrik, Würbenthal/Süd). The magazine has the two correct WaAB92 stamps along the lower part of the body as well as the simplified two ridge floor plate. This is for use on my K43 rebuild here.

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K43 Oiler & Firing Pin Spares

Posted in Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on February 26, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg This is the small oil bottle and firing pin/firing pin extender usually found in the butt pocket of a K43 semi-automatic rifle. The K43 was notorious for being over-pressured and snapping the firing pin under heavy use. It was an indication that the design was not quite ready for primetime. That would have been worked out over time, something the Germans just didn’t have to spare. This oiler is the bakelite late-war type.

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K43 Magazine Pouch

Posted in Ammo & Magazine Pouches with tags Ammunition & Fusing, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on February 26, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg Here is a great pair of 1944 dated K43 magazine pouches. These are stamped ROS44 on the inside the left pouch and correspond to Type 11a on Claus Espeholt’s site. These are made from rubberised canvas. The ros code is presumed to be E.G.Leuner, Bautzen.

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K43 Semi-Automatic Rifle Butt Manual

Posted in Paper, Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Instruction Manuals, K43, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on February 26, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svg In the middle of a reassembling of my K43 shooter, I found this K43 manual designed to be rolled up and placed in the butt cavity (ooh err) along with the oiler and spare firing pin parts. These are hard to find in good condition because they just were not made to last. This one has suffered from exposure to gun oil, but it’s all there where it counts.

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Walther K43 Semiautomatic Rifle

Posted in Firearms with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Rifles, Semi-automatic Rifles, WW2 on May 3, 2015 by The Dude

Here is a new rifle for the collection. This is a Walther Gewehr 43 or in this case a Karabiner 43 (K43) semi-automatic rifle. This particular rifle has a replacement stock on it since a previous owner cut the metal buttplate off and replaced it with a rubber one. I have the original wood as well as the original gas piston set. The rifle has a shooters kit in it at the moment since the original pistons were prone to snapping. I can attest that this one works fine as several pumpkins died yesterday during some “wet work”. The qve45 code indicates it was manufactured in the Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabriken factory for Walther. The magazine is marked gcb for the manufacturer Adolf Grohmann & Sohn in Würbenthal. The magazine is marked for both the G43 and K43 as well as having the correct WaA892 stamp.

There’s a few problems with this rifle for the purists. Firstly, the stock is wrong. It’s about 5mm too short and has the wrong finish. The magazine is a reproduction IMHO, the condition is too good. And the butt plate is a reproduction. The originals were painted red inside.

I am working on correcting some of these problems. I have an original magazine coming from Denmark and a much nicer reproduction stock coming from Poland. I have the original durafoil hand guard that will fit back on once I have a stock of the correct length. Then I’ll just need the butt plate, which do turn up from time to time.

Update: All done and looking good.