Would it be possible to get detailed close ups from different angles of the other F block stock serial?
As to why a stamp is missing..doesn’t it stand to reason if the rifle wasn’t accepted it is possible it was liberated before whatever stamps should or shouldn’t normally be encountered were applied? Not sure if anyone else has dabbled in muscle or vettes but by doing so you learn not everything is “cookie cutter.”
It would be nice for Brian to look at this rifle since he isn’t far away I believe and maybe he can bring QVE45 2506 with him
I would think if the serial # was stamped into the stock that the receiver was mated to it, and the proof should be there.
That’s always going to be the case when there is a question about a Rifle. I agree a lot of legit Rifles get a bad rap that are questionable, but if as a Collector like me I will pass on a purchase if there is any question at all, and then there is no question. The Rifle appears to be sanded, and all stock proofs are missing so this Rifle has some questionable things going on, and you seem to have what you feel are reasons to defend this. Assuming the Mount is real, and the Rifle is all matching you got a good deal at the price you paid. As long as you are happy that’s all tha matters !!
Lol..If you can prove to me the guy on whatever day this thing was made put the acceptance stamp in the wrist.. I will happily say someone post war removed it.. but you can’t and the actual rifle in hand “says” it wasn’t ever applied.. not to mention the sample to inspect is what 10-20 rifles.. if that?? If you choose not to be open minded to the realities of collecting WW2 (regardless of nation) I’m sorry..
As far as being a “collector..” who only buys cookie cutter rifles..I’ve met many that bought junk thinking they were buying gold because something fit into a “box.” Keep in mind no one 80 years ago cared about your opinion.. if the rifle ever goes on the market I assume you won’t be interested..take care
Maybe I can catch up with Brian and let him get it “in hand”
I can help with your serial number question if I understand what you are asking for.
K.43 ac45 f blocks are as follows:
These rifles are known: K.43 qve45 #3954f, then the next reported and known rifle is K.43 ac45 #4589f (the start). Last known (or rather reported) is K.43 ac45 #7620f. This rifle is also mentioned or shown in “Hitler’s Garands”, page 131. Last known rifle is K.43 qve45 #8981f. K.43 ac45 rifles are mixed in with K.43 qve45’s, but the ac45’s seem to be concentrated heavily in a couple of numeric block areas-but still some qve45’s in with them.
I own the third highest qve45 reported or known (at this time anyway) K.43 qve45 #8713f. Yours should be finalized with two e/214 stamps on the side of the stock since BLM was doing these rifles at this point. Unless your rifle was never final proofed. Mine is also wrist stamped proofed with a (BLM proof-not Walther) “dimple” wrist stamp and a e/214 wrist proof. This was a proof that shows the stock and action were mated together. My late K.43 ac45 a block is not side stock final proofed, but is keel and wrist proofed. I know for a fact it has never been sanded as there is still mill marks in the wood where those stamps are normally-which sanding and or steel wool will kill the mill marks.
Mill marks, along with stamps and “wood chatter” are what we look for to really verify whether wood has been wooled down and or sanded. Mill marks are not totally always there, so just because a rifle doesn’t have mill marks doesn’t mean it has been sanded or anything. So, that alone cannot be a determining factor. I looked at your photos more closely. Here’s what I see: I see your serial number being too dull and the letter block almost non-existant. I do see evidence in a few areas where the mill marks and wood chatter are present, but the mill marks are almost all gone but present especially near the butt stock plate. I “think” what happened was some careful steel wooling has occurred; but carefully to the serial number area, heavier in the non-vital areas and none applied to near the end of the stock.
I am going to use Brian Kowalski’s K.43 ac45 #5326f, which is shown in our picture section, as an example of stock mill marks to look for. His rifle seems to be the “go to” on this because the photos show it so well and it’s kind of close to your rifle. Notice the final two e/214 stamps in with the stock mill marks.
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Please don’t think I am downing your rifle. It’s a really rare rifle and absolutely cooler with the un-numbered scope mount. Those are also hard to find. Just hoping to clear up some confusion that may exist on the stock.
What Ryan and Mrfarb said.
From the additional pics, lever looks like a reproduction in my opinion. These tended to break and/or get easily stripped.