g43 / k43 triggerguard variations

40ford · Jun 6, 2014

Does anyone know if there was a late version trigger guard made? Other than blued/phosphate finishes, were all trigger guards essentially the same? Just curious as I just picked one up that doesn't have hole drilled for the rear screw retaining pin, and the front trigger guard screw hole doesn't have the typical cylindrical block installed, just a simple bevelled hole. Pics later today..

Brian Kowalski · Jun 6, 2014

Anything is possible. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.

I have seen slight variations in the stamping process, but nothing as you describe.

40ford · Feb 18, 2015

odd g/k43 triggerguard

Forgot all about this thread.. pics of odd triggerguard. Notice some differences from typically found: No retainer pin hole on rear, no cylinder block on front, 2 spotwelds on triggerwell flat plate where there is usually one spotweld. Wear patterns indicate that it was installed and used at one time, just never seen this type before. Any ideas?

GunKraut · Feb 19, 2015

Is it optical distortion from using a macro lens or is the trigger guard really that crooked? It seems the slot for the trigger lever is not nice and square and the magazine well near the front seems to be asymmetric. There also seems to be splatter between the welding spots, like it was also MIG welded and slightly ground flush.

40ford · Feb 19, 2015

Trigger guard is actually fairly straight. I tried swapping it with another in an original stock and it fit right in. Original mag also fits well. Compared side by side with a typical trigger guard, it looks the same other than the differences described/shown. It definitely has 2 spotwelds as shown, maybe the original central spot weld didn't hold and 2 were used instead? Not seeing evidence of mig weld though.

GunKraut · Feb 19, 2015

I was talking about the circled areas. The trigger lever slot looks odd for a stamped part. Also, the area around the spot welds looks ground. Usually, spot welds are not requiring any grinding. Stick or MIG welds do, though. Not sure MIG welding was around in the 1940s. Would you happen to know what purpose the tiny hole in the rear boss serves? It doesn't seem to go all the way through. Late war production was about spending as little production time as possible and the tiny hole goes against this goal.

40ford · Feb 19, 2015

I'll check the trigger slot again tonight. Noticed the grind/file marks also where the spotwelds are. To me, it looks like a failed central spotweld was redone with the other 2 welds. I can get more pics tonight of this and the opposite side. As far as the small hole on the rear boss, I'll check depth also, get more pics.

40ford · Feb 19, 2015

A few extra pics..the small hole in the rear mount is very shallow, possibly just a starter hole for the TG screw retainer pin that was never drilled/installed.

GunKraut · Feb 20, 2015

Thank you, these pictures are much better. I guess the crooked look was caused by the camera angle. I now think it could be a genuine late war part. Surface finish and edges are consistent with other original parts I've handled. Apparently one boss is enough to line up receiver and trigger guard and prevent the magazine from jamming. Interesting item from a period when Endsieg was the only thing left to believe in.

40ford · Feb 20, 2015

Thanks for the input. Wish I knew details of the actual rifle this TG was installed in, picked it up last summer cause it was different and cheap.

g43 / k43 triggerguard variations

40ford

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Brian Kowalski

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40ford

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GunKraut

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40ford

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GunKraut

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40ford

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40ford

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GunKraut

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40ford

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