Very Early & Enigmatic 33/40

Here's sn 719, that is pretty cool but weird.

• The wood is numbered 719 on the keel, but in the channel there are two sets of numbers... 199 in small font, and 719 in an odd location...
• No fire proof on the left side... but they placed it on the right side!
• The cartouches are light, maybe with some timidity??
• Has the "Japanese splice", not the diagonal "German splice" that seems more common.
  

I wonder if the Germans were still figuring out how to do these? Any thoughts? Any other super early ones to compare it to?

.... here's the wood

Bob,

Cool early G33/40. I'll give you a hint of what to look at for reference - look to the VZ33 rifles, the basis for the G33/40. On Czech rifles the firing proof is on the right side/front of the receiver in this same location. The initial G33/40 production was most likely patterned after the VZ33 (in fact they do have the FP in the same location as this). Many other small differences from the typically seen ones will be directly attributed to that, such as the peened action screws (Czech thing which was used on G33/40 till the end of production in 42).

The VZ24 ---> G24t lineage is very similar, with the earliest G24t marked guns looking exactly like the VZ24, including all of the sling swivels on the wrist and bottom.

This is the earliest G33/40 I have ever seen myself, very neat.

Thanks Mike, that makes a lot of sense as the Germans transitioned into learning how to mark these. I was reluctant to remove the HG, as the clip/barrel looks untouched and there is a slight crack that has started. Naturally, now interested in seeing other early examples...

great looking rifle, always enjoy looking at the slightly different variations in 33/40s

Great looking Rifle Bob , I find it so interesting to see the different variations and the lineage that was taken in the development of these rifles . Best Regards .

That's a keeper for sure

Cool rifle Bob, I hope to find one one day.

So, I learned from info Loewe provided, that these early ones had an assembly number in the stock channel which explains the "199" on mine. Never knew the Germans used an assembly number.... maybe another carry over from the Cz?

Mark Wieringa (1995) called them assembly numbers, which they probably are. Too few German G33/40's show this area, internal serialing or markings, but the early rifles seem to have these same numbers, - which seem to be a hold over from Czech production, as the same markings are found on vz33's (at least the few that show this area).

It seems this practice ends with German production, later on, but when is anyone's guess. JohnP might know or have a better idea, he specializes in the 33/40 better than anyone I know, but is preoccupied at the moment. Too few show the channel, but Mark Wieringa's example had them, as to Czech 33's and it is reasonable to conclude that is what these are. Imperial German used similar markings, DWM in particular.

This thread is a perfect example of why I love this forum. Discovering and learning new stuff, seeing new stuff, being amazed and impressed by the knowledge of the members, and the info sharing. Certainly happy to be a member here.

Loewe said:

Mark Wieringa (1995) called them assembly numbers, which they probably are. Too few German G33/40's show this area, internal serialing or markings, but the early rifles seem to have these same numbers, - which seem to be a hold over from Czech production, as the same markings are found on vz33's (at least the few that show this area).

It seems this practice ends with German production, later on, but when is anyone's guess. JohnP might know or have a better idea, he specializes in the 33/40 better than anyone I know, but is preoccupied at the moment. Too few show the channel, but Mark Wieringa's example had them, as to Czech 33's and it is reasonable to conclude that is what these are. Imperial German used similar markings, DWM in particular.

Click to expand...

Resurrecting this old thread. I have the "assembly numbers" on 1940 stocks. Based on the pics of my rifles and others they seem to have gone away by no alpha dot 1941's. I am attaching a "d" block 1940 example as well as a vz33 example.