my66coupe
Senior Member
I had a duv44 sent to me with a 3 day inspection. It was advertised as matching, with capture papers, 3 repro mag pouches, with 5 repro magazines, 1 original mag that looks like it has sat at the bottom of a swamp for 60 years, an original unmarked sling in poor condition, and a repro sling. It is an early D block, with a milled action cover and no muzzle nut or threads.
It is missing the sliding dust cover, the sight hood, and entire bolt latch/catch assembly (latch, spring, plunger, and pin that affixes it all to the bolt carrier. The capture papers are very frail, and are missing the center of the document that would have listed the G43 or item captured. The vet and vets serial number all prove to be correct. The stock was coated in some type of poly that is flaking. The stock has not been sanded, the cartouches are perfect, serial number and suffix all match. There appears to be a crack or some subtle delamination near the wrist. All numbers match internally/externally, lugs, pin carrier, bolt, bolt carrier and the gas cylinder. The blueing is about 80%+ showing loss on the barrel and barrel band. The butt plate is in the white, with the "ribbed" type door. There is a ww2 type oiler inside the stock. The op rod is not damaged, no cracks on the bolt carrier or fatigue in the receiver. The bore is minty. All correct WaA214s throughout the rifle. The hanguard is not Durafol, but appears original wood and not cracked. The original magazine is severely pitted/rusty, probably not restoratable.
The seller values it at $3k and he is currently holding a check until I decide to take ownership or not. I consider it more of a restoration project than a nice collector example I initially wanted. I've found all the parts to restore it though:
Sight hood (original) $100
Dust over for milled cover $220
Magazine $250-400++
Bolt latch assembly....$30 reproduction from Shoei (not sure it will work)
OR
Spare bolt carrier to rob bolt latch $220 ebay find.
Am I out of my mind for even considering this rifle? Or should I send it back ASAP? My brain is fried thinking about it , and need some like minded, collector types to share opinions.
Thank you
It is missing the sliding dust cover, the sight hood, and entire bolt latch/catch assembly (latch, spring, plunger, and pin that affixes it all to the bolt carrier. The capture papers are very frail, and are missing the center of the document that would have listed the G43 or item captured. The vet and vets serial number all prove to be correct. The stock was coated in some type of poly that is flaking. The stock has not been sanded, the cartouches are perfect, serial number and suffix all match. There appears to be a crack or some subtle delamination near the wrist. All numbers match internally/externally, lugs, pin carrier, bolt, bolt carrier and the gas cylinder. The blueing is about 80%+ showing loss on the barrel and barrel band. The butt plate is in the white, with the "ribbed" type door. There is a ww2 type oiler inside the stock. The op rod is not damaged, no cracks on the bolt carrier or fatigue in the receiver. The bore is minty. All correct WaA214s throughout the rifle. The hanguard is not Durafol, but appears original wood and not cracked. The original magazine is severely pitted/rusty, probably not restoratable.
The seller values it at $3k and he is currently holding a check until I decide to take ownership or not. I consider it more of a restoration project than a nice collector example I initially wanted. I've found all the parts to restore it though:
Sight hood (original) $100
Dust over for milled cover $220
Magazine $250-400++
Bolt latch assembly....$30 reproduction from Shoei (not sure it will work)
OR
Spare bolt carrier to rob bolt latch $220 ebay find.
Am I out of my mind for even considering this rifle? Or should I send it back ASAP? My brain is fried thinking about it , and need some like minded, collector types to share opinions.
Thank you