Late K43 matching sniper rig

[jack944]

In honor of the birth of our illustrious moderator's son... I post one of my favorite rifles that I own. All matching including the mount...untouched and all original.

[jack944]

More pics..more pics

[jack944]

More more more

[bill grist]

More more more
Jack, Very nice....BILL

[mjn]

Wow, that's a beauty. I've been looking for a matched-mount K43 sniper for a few years now, and they are very difficult to find in this condition. You're fortunate to have one in your collection. I'm glad to see that you've left it untouched. So many of these rifles have been hurt by improper cleaning.

I guess no serial # on the bolt indicates an armorer's replacement?... doesn't bother me a bit on this rifle.

Thanks for sharing it!

Sincerely,
Mike

[Brian Kowalski]

Nice......
It does not get much better than that. :thumbsup:

Good to see some activity in this section. Seems like it has been a slow summer for some.

Brian

[Bigdibbs88]

Agree...thats about as good as it gets. did that come straight outta the woodwork?

[jack944]

Wow, that's a beauty. I've been looking for a matched-mount K43 sniper for a few years now, and they are very difficult to find in this condition. You're fortunate to have one in your collection. I'm glad to see that you've left it untouched. So many of these rifles have been hurt by improper cleaning.

I guess no serial # on the bolt indicates an armorer's replacement?... doesn't bother me a bit on this rifle.

Thanks for sharing it!

Sincerely,
Mike

The bolt was installed at the factory. It is not a replacement. In the d block there have been several other rifles noted as such. Just using up parts laying around.

[Brian Kowalski]

note, the carrier is also a earlier war type. probably rejected earlier on for some minor reason then used in the last months of production...or they just reached the bottom of the bin and it was there.

[mjn]

The bolt was installed at the factory. It is not a replacement. In the d block there have been several other rifles noted as such. Just using up parts laying around.

I did not know that. Thanks for the clarification!

[mrfarb]

Very nice Jack! Thats a late one too, real late. :happy0180:

[mjones]

Jack,

That is a beautiful rifle. As nice as I have ever seen.

Mike

[miles136]

note, the carrier is also a earlier war type. probably rejected earlier on for some minor reason then used in the last months of production...or they just reached the bottom of the bin and it was there.


Brian and Jack are both mentors of mine so keep that in mind when I start to type and I actually appear to know what Im talking about

Nice rifle Jack, thanks for posting I remember when you got it after I scored TWO matching mount guns in one month and you couldnt stand that :)

IMO these types of bolts are NOT armorers replacements...I have seen at least four other D blocks, two of which I own(ed)....these types of carriers to me look like very early carriers that were never finish milled for the bolt hold open latch...note ther is no reinforcing rib on top, the top part is much more thin and squared off than other typical late war carriers, like those that show the reverse "45" markings....like Brian, I think these were left over, in the parts bin, and worked good enough for late WWII so they used them up, or were due to a start up of the old forging machines??....one can also find the standard mid war type carriers, the late "45" type I mentioned, and these, which I consider a type of their own

also, the guns I have seen with these appear nearly unissued and may have been captured before any or much use at all, so an armorer's bolt doesnt make much sense in a nearly new gun...now in an earlier or mid war gun, makes sense....one or two that I thought were in fact armorers carriers were shaped different

Notice too that Jack's gun has one of the original scope covers that make use of thin brown leather for the straps instead of the usual black leather...each one Ive seen came on late war stuff

[Brian Kowalski]

agree.

Another theory about the un numbered bolts is that they were still on the factory floor "in process" (awaiting final numbering??) when it was captured...since the "d" block marks the end of complete production at Walther for these. I am sure the factory was in quite the state of confusion those last few weeks, knowing very well that we are fast approaching.

Like Jonathan stated, most of the un-numbered bolts have been like new. We will never know.

[mjn]

Thanks for elaborating on the un-numbered bolts. This is very informative. Had I not read this, I might have assumed that a previous collector of the rifle added the un-numbered bolt to “upgrade” it from one that was mismatched.

I imagine that there are examples of late-war K43’s on which a fraudster has added matching numbers to an unmarked bolt thinking that they were “improving” it (I hope not many).

Thanks again for the enlightenment. I can see that there are some very knowledgeable people here.

Mike

[jack944]

Mike,

You are correct. Most books including Darrin's super effort simply cannot contain all information about every variation. Darrin notes some bolt variations in the d block in his book. Unless you talk to guys that are here and have seen many rifles, you could make the incorrect assumption about what you see. You will find the more you collect that exceptions to rule occur more often than noted. Beware of absolutes that "all" guns have certain characterstics. Most often the statistical data set is so small that real conclusions are at best guidelines..not absolute.

You are on the mark about collectors "restoring or making rifles correct". I know of an "advanced" collector who took the correct stock off of a bcd4 Mauser 135 receiver proofed dual code. He didn't understand about about dual codes and assumed the gun "should" have a bcd "c" proofed stock and replaced it. In reality the original stock that was on it proofed 135 was correct.

Welcome aboard.

[mrfarb]

Jack,

Does this rifle have a firing proof eagle on the barrel?

[jack944]

Jack,

Does this rifle have a firing proof eagle on the barrel?

Yep it does.

[Hambone]

Jack, that's really what minty crisp looks like and untouched. You've got some exceptional stuff. Pic stickied. Thanks for sharing it.

[mjn]

Mike,

You are correct. Most books including Darrin's super effort simply cannot contain all information about every variation. Darrin notes some bolt variations in the d block in his book. Unless you talk to guys that are here and have seen many rifles, you could make the incorrect assumption about what you see. You will find the more you collect that exceptions to rule occur more often than noted. Beware of absolutes that "all" guns have certain characterstics. Most often the statistical data set is so small that real conclusions are at best guidelines..not absolute.



Jack, those are words to live by. I'm realizing it more and more. I agree with you that the use of reference books is best treated as a jumping-off point towards further and/or more accurate knowledge. Often, I have just as many questions as I do answers after reading certain references, but I guess that's what keeps it all interesting.

[Dave Roberts]

Now that is the Type of Condition K43 I want to find for my Collection . But never see them too often I really like these Snipers but So hard to find in this Condition , Really Great K43 Jack . Best Regards

[miles136]

Im hoping that all those out there that mistakenly believe they have an unissued walther K43 that has smooth stock, and is all blue or whatever, can view these pics...

THIS is what a nearly unissued late war rifle looks like, this is what late war phosphate and bluing looks like, this is what a real zf4 sun shade and eye piece looks like, this is what a late war walther stock should look like...

a superb example, thanks for posting Jack

I know I will inherit it someday from my "collecting father" :happy0180:

[jack944]

If the unemployment continues it will be sooner than later.... I know you are praying I get a job....:laugh:


Im hoping that all those out there that mistakenly believe they have an unissued walther K43 that has smooth stock, and is all blue or whatever, can view these pics...

THIS is what a nearly unissued late war rifle looks like, this is what late war phosphate and bluing looks like, this is what a real zf4 sun shade and eye piece looks like, this is what a late war walther stock should look like...

a superb example, thanks for posting Jack

I know I will inherit it someday from my "collecting father" :happy0180: