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G.33/40 945 1940 HZa rework

Hambone

Community Organizer
Staff member
Interesting HZa rework. Vet bringback with interesting provenance, from the vet's family. The HZa inspection is on the wrist. Bolt was replaced from another G.33/40 and numbered to this one on the stem. Old numbers are on the back of the handle in the normal spot. Highlights are:
- Seems to be old remnants of scrubbed whitewash on the stock
- New rework numbers on the stock under the original ones, which match
- Cleaning rod replaced with a cut down K98k rod; I've seen this on reworks with the early rods, so it could still be stacked
- Notice the "2" stamped on the receiver
- Need to take off the handguard to see if it is rebarreled (bolt and sear replaced, which usually indicates new headspacing, new brl)

Story on it's origin:

This G33/40 rifle, serial number 2501, was found by my father-in-law, George Frederick Allen Jr., in a derelict building while traveling between distant supply depots as a Supply Sergeant for the 133d AAA Gun Battalion’s* Headquarter Battery in France. Due to a glitch in Army organization, Headquarters Battery was not officially part of any particular army and so it didn’t have access to any supply depot! To get around this crippling arrangement the higher-ups provided Supply Sergeant George Allen with a captured Mercedes-Benz open officer’s car with the rear seats removed to make it essentially a pickup truck and sent him out on his own to find parts and equipment on his shopping list at whatever supply depot that would be sympathetic to his dilemma! He told me he “drove all over France by myself,” on his quest for parts and that he “loved it”! Apparently there was some ammunition with the weapon when he found it for he told me when he shot it at a good sized tree the bullet actually went through two trees! A lot more Moxie than the M1 carbines his unit was issued!
*The 133d AAA Gun Battalion’s training began in August, 1943 at Fort Bragg. The Battalion landed at Utah Beach August 23, 1944.
 

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More.......
 

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Hey I remember that rifle you beat me too it :hail:. Its all good though glad you got a nice piece and a very interesting one too at that. And good pictures by the way enjoy that rifle.
 
Thanks guys. What is also odd is that you can tell it has not had a hood on it, perhaps no hood since rework. This is the first G.33/40 rework I've run across. I feel pretty sure that the traces of old white all over the stock are old whitewash. The thing was likely broken/damaged, perhaps battlefield salvaged, maybe on the East front, then transferred back to the west with a unit or for rework. It's very unusual, just like I like them ;)
 
I feel pretty sure that the traces of old white all over the stock are old whitewash.

I recall Bill Grist having a gun that was pretty clearly whitewashed on the wood, still had most of the finish. K98 maybe? Hopefully he chimes in.
 
Way better (just IMO) than a 'standard' G.33/40. Very, very nice, thanks for sharing!
Pat
 
The thing was likely broken/damaged, perhaps battlefield salvaged, maybe on the East front, then transferred back to the west with a unit or for rework.
It is a Gebirgsjäger (mountain troop carbine)... Crete, the Balkans, Norway or Austria are more likely... I personally own a G33/40 captured from the Gebirgsjägers in Norway... It has one of the most slick and smoth actions of any of the many Mauser-type-rifles I have ever handled...
 
Interesting Rifle

Exactly what you would expect to see on a re-work. I am actually surprised we don't see more reworks given the length of service of these rifles.:thumbsup:
 
Nice find, Craig!

I like the G33/40 as well. With that short barrel, the rifle is a real fire breather!
 
While not fun to shoot, they are a hoot! Bill's white out , more than a white wash, is indeed a k98! Nice rifle. I had a 33/40 in .308, still a whallop. I came across a 33/40 in a sporter stock...and you can guess the rest!
 
In my stash of stocks I found a rework G33/40 stock similar to the one your rifle.
 

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