*SOLD* 1944 Walther K43 7.92x57mm Blue 21 3/4" *HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER SNIPER RIFLE*

Bryant Ridge's Analysis

The Gewehr 43, also known as the Karabiner 43 (abbreviated G43, K43, Gew 43, Kar 43), is a semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser, developed by Germany during World War II. It was introduced as a successor to the earlier G41(W) and featured a refined short-stroke piston gas system akin to that of the Soviet SVT-40. The impetus for this development came in 1941, when Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union—Operation Barbarossa—revealed the Red Army’s re-arming efforts with the SVT-38 and SVT-40 semi-automatic rifles. This caught the Germans off guard, prompting an accelerated development of their own semi-automatic rifles. The SVT series’ simpler gas-operated mechanism influenced the design of the G43, produced by Walther. The G43’s robust and straightforward design made it lighter, more reliable, and easier to manufacture compared to the G41(W). Notably, the G43 included a 10-round detachable box magazine, a significant improvement over the integral magazine of the G41(W). Soldiers typically carried one standard stripper clip pouch and an additional pouch for two spare G43 magazines. The G43 retained the flapper-locked mechanism of its predecessor and was produced from October 1943. In 1944, the rifle was also produced under the designation Karabiner 43 (K43), differing only in the designation stamped on the side. The name "Karabiner" was chosen because the barrel was 2 cm shorter than the standard Karabiner 98k, making "Gewehr" (rifle) an inappropriate term. The Wehrmacht aimed to issue 19 G43s, including 10 with scopes, per grenadier company, though this goal was never fully realized. The rifle featured a hooded post front sight and a tangent rear sight, designed for field use with a sight range from 100 to 1,200 meters in 100-meter increments, suited for rough handling and low-light conditions rather than precise targeting. Production of the G43 took place at Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik (coded "duv" and later "qve"), Walther (coded "AC"), and Wilhelm Gustloff-Werke (coded "bcd"). Walther utilized its satellite facilities at Neuengamme concentration camp in addition to its main plant at Zella-Mehlis, while Wilhelm Gustloff-Werke employed forced labor from Buchenwald concentration camp. By the end of the war, an estimated 402,713 G43/K43 rifles had been produced, including at least 53,435 fitted with the Zielfernrohr 43 (ZF 43/ZF 4) telescopic sight for use as designated marksman or sniper rifles. Originally designed to accommodate the Schießbecher grenade launcher and Schalldämpfer suppressor, these accessories were dropped due to poor test results before mass production began. After the war, the Gewehr 43 remained in service with the Czechoslovak People's Army and was later used by East German Border Troops and Volkspolizei, with reworked models featuring a sunburst proof mark and electro-penciled serial numbers on removable parts.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Walther ("AC" Receiver Code)

Model: Karabiner 43 (K43) “Sniper Rifle”

Serial: 3824

Date of Manufacture: 1944

Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser (AKA 8mm Mauser)

Finish: Black 

Barrel Length: 21 3/4"

Optics/Sights: Hooded Blade Front with Adjustable Tangent Rear and GW ZF 4 Optic 

Stock/Grips: Smooth Walnut 

Action: Semi-Automatic 

Markings: Standard / The left side of the receiver is stamped “K43 AC44” with a German Swaztica proof mark and a waffenamt proof mark. The right side of the receiver is stamped with a waffenamt proof mark. The optic is stamped “Gw ZF 4 dow 11057”. The scope mount is also stamped with a waffenamt proof mark. The left side of the stock is stamped with a German eagle stamp.

Images