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WTS German K43 8MM Rifle (SPF)






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Minden/Carson City

Grumpyoldretiredcop

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#1
Sold pending funds

This is a WWII German K43 rifle in 8MM Mauser. If it has been fired, it has been fired very little as the bore is excellent and the internals are very clean with a light coat of Cosmoline; the rear of the receiver is undamaged and the safety is firmly in place. The stock and handguard are dirty and have dents in a number of locations, but the only real flaw that I see is a small area of delamination at the toe of the stock. Stock displays clear acceptance stamps at the bottom of the wrist and on the bottom between the wrist and butt, and has not been "duffle cut". The scope mount, I am fairly certain, is a reproduction as there is a "214" acceptance stamp but no serial number. I am not an expert on German WWII optics and cannot say for certain whether the scope is a reproduction or not. The magazine I know to be a reproduction as I received the rifle without a magazine so had to purchase and fit it. Same for the cleaning rod. The number on the bolt cover does not match the serial number. I don't see any import mark, but that might mean I just don't know where to look. The manufacturer's mark is "ac" which indicates that the rifle was manufactured by Walther. I haven't taken the action out of the stock to see the year of manufacture, but I believe it to be of late war production as it lacks a bolt hold open latch. The barrel is stamped "dtk 81" under the handguard. There is minor rust on the barrel, the rough casting surface of the bolt cover has been nicked in a couple of locations as has the rear of the recoil spring cover and the right side of the trunnion.

The rifle is equipped with a "Shooter's Kit" from Upfeltor Waffenfabrik which consists of new springs and a gas system with a replaceable orifice. This kit allows one to fire the rifle with current 8MM Mauser ammunition without damaging the rifle. When this rifle was designed, it was deliberately overgassed to prevent malfunctions in the Eastern Front conditions it was to be produced for. This caused many of these rifles to be damaged in ordinary use, the bolt slamming against and eventually bending the rear of the receiver to the point that the safety lever would fall out. That won't happen with this rifle, should the buyer choose to fire it. The original springs and gas system are included with the rifle.

I found in the butt trap what appears to be the original manual and cleaning rod tips. I will NOT bring them out again to photograph, nor am I going to allow any tire-kickers to do the same as the paper is very fragile and crumbling, as one might expect considering it's probable age.

Before anyone starts asking me more the provenance of the rifle, know that I'm NOT any sort of expert in German WWII rifles, nor am I a collector of the same. I'm putting this rifle up for sale as if I keep it, I'll inevitably want to shoot it and therefore it might be better off in the hands of a collector. I have not fired it but it chambers, extracts and ejects an 8MM Mauser round when hand cycled.

Frankly, not being a collector, I am not going to ask a collector price for this rifle. The least expensive K43 that I can find on Gunbroker sold for $2695 in February of this year. Given the reproduction magazine and probable reproduction scope/scope mount, I'm asking $1900 for this piece of battle rifle history. While I'm not primarily interested in trades, feel free to offer but NO Glocks, AKs or ARs, please and I'm not interested in anything with pandemic panic prices attached as I'm not asking a panic price. I will not ship UNLESS you have substantial positive feedback on THIS site and you have an FFL who will send me a signed in ink copy of their FFL prior to shipping. If I agree to ship, I will accept a USPS Money Order only and will not ship until it clears my account. Local sales are cash only with transfer taking place at Carson Guns.

Local buyer will have the option to purchase 200 rounds of PWA 8MM Mauser ammo from Miwall at the same price I paid for it (I'll show the buyer a receipt). Ammo not sold separately unless the buyer is not local, or if local doesn't want it.

Thanks for reading this long-winded sale post! If you have any questions, please message me, do not post in this thread. Thanks!



 
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