Weird safety on my first AC43

BigShell · Oct 22, 2019

I picked up this AC43 at discount due to the buggered stock. This is my first one so I thought it might be a good way to get my feet wet without spending a fortune. Biggest concern is this: the safety on this thing is like no other example that I can find (granted I have not seen that many). Not just the checkered knob, but the block it's attached to just behind the receiver.

I went to the store to see (its on layaway) it today and tried to field strip in in order to check for a cracked receiver and other issues, but the "take down button" as I will call it, won't press in and I didn't want to force it in the store. I have a strong feeling that this issue is related to the safety. Safety lever wont move to the fire position either, as obviously the button is in the way.

I realize that swapping the safety is not a difficult thing to do, but I want to make sure there isn't a bigger issue here. Good thing is I have a 100% money back option if I decide to cancel the layaway. Looking for help, appreciate you guys!!!!

GunKraut · Oct 22, 2019

It looks like you need to take the action out of the stock in order to rotate the safety so the notch aligns with the push button, allowing the bolt group to be pulled up removed.
The safety is entirely home made and makes no sense in its current configuration. Try removing the bent handle which looks like a bent nail anyways. Without it, the "safety" should rotate.

Zeppelin5000 · Oct 22, 2019

Interesting.... Get yourself a good repro safety lever from Frontline Militaria along with any other smaller parts you need for it!

https://www.frontline-militaria.com/g43/

BigShell · Oct 22, 2019

GunKraut said:
It looks like you need to take the action out of the stock in order to rotate the safety so the notch aligns with the push button, allowing the bolt group to be pulled up removed.
The safety is entirely home made and makes no sense in its current configuration. Try removing the bent handle which looks like a bent nail anyways. Without it, the "safety" should rotate.

Ah, good eye. I'll try that. If I remember correctly the lever could not be freely removed, but I could be mistaken.

Tiger 2 Tank · Oct 23, 2019

Too late of a gun to be an "ac43". ac43's are the early ones and super rare. It's most likely an "ac44". Yes, that safety is weird and not anything probably any of us have seen before.

WreckTangle · Oct 23, 2019

Probably the best repo safeties are from Apfeltor, link below.

http://www.apfeltor.com/html_pages/manufacturing/safeties/hobnails.html

BigShell · Oct 23, 2019

Tiger 2 Tank said:
Too late of a gun to be an "ac43". ac43's are the early ones and super rare. It's most likely an "ac44". Yes, that safety is weird and not anything probably any of us have seen before.

I'm sure you're right. It was advertised as an ac43 but perhaps they meant K43. Should there be a date on the receiver? I'll be looking into one of the repro safeties mentioned here before bringing this home.

Zeppelin5000 · Oct 23, 2019

BigShell said:
I'm sure you're right. It was advertised as an ac43 but perhaps they meant K43. Should there be a date on the receiver? I'll be looking into one of the repro safeties mentioned here before bringing this home.

The date is probably below the stock line, under the ac in the receiver. You'll need to remove the stock to see it.

Weird safety on my first AC43

BigShell

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