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Questions about my g33/40

CLG

CLG

Senior Member
While visually appealing, my g33/40 is a bolt mismatch which has an earlier bolt with the proof on the front and the serial number on the side of the bolt handle. The stock has an Eagle 63 on the keel and the same on the hand guard in front of the rear sight. There are no other stock markings outside or inside except for a few indecipherable pencil marks in the barrel channel. Clearly not original to this rifle, but if an armorer’s replacement wouldn’t one expect more acceptances and the serial number? Anyone familiar with 33/40 armorer’s stocks on these?
 

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Long ago you used to see armorers stocks and parts for 33/40’s for sale on eBay quite often. I bought a few and restocked 33/40’s that were sporterized. Likely the case here. If depot installed it would be numbered.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Interesting, I hadn’t noticed the 280. I bought this for nothing in the late 1970’s when reconverting sporters was less common, but the lack of serial numbers doesn’t help the case for an armorer repair.
 
If that stock was replaced late war by a frontline Armorer, I believe it's possible, perhaps even likely that they wouldn't have bothered to number a replacement stock in the time period when even the manufacturers had already quit numbering them. I think most collectors would be quite pleased to own this 33/40.
:happy0180:
 
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It is a very nice looking rifle that is mismatched. The armorer replaced stock is feel good theory that may or may not have happened and can't be proven. Like Mr.Farb said, these stocks were available years ago, so who's to say that it wasn't enhanced then.
 
Many thanks all, the 280 at least provides a tiny bit of comfort. It is what it is, but it fills a place for me and likely it would cost three times as much as it’s worth to replace it with a comparable matching rifle. Be a good shooter though, if it wasn’t such a bear to shoot!
 
Peter S said:
It is a very nice looking rifle that is mismatched. The armorer replaced stock is feel good theory that may or may not have happened and can't be proven. Like Mr.Farb said, these stocks were available years ago, so who's to say that it wasn't enhanced then.
Click to expand...

So, I guess it boils down to glass half empty or glass half full. One thing's for certain. If I had nice 33/40 metal like this, I'd fall all over myself to be able to put it in a stock like this to restore it as close as possible to what it was originally. Remember not everyone has the means to own a number of matching 33/40's in wonderful condition like I suspect certain people do. I'm sure this chosen few would consider this rifle to be a piece of deplorable junk and not worth one minute of their time.
:googlie
 
Peter S said:
I said it was a very nice rifle and if restored, it doesn't get better than this.
Click to expand...

Sorry Peter,
I guess I've had a little bit too much coffee today. It gets me a bit more worked up than I usually am.
I'll just drop the subject. You're light years ahead of me on this stuff anyway.
:happy0180:
 
swjXE said:
I think most collectors would be quite pleased to own this 33/40.
Click to expand...

THIS is the most important part. The stock may be field or post war replacement - who knows. But the stock was made in the same period and it is a marvellous looking rifle you should be proud of and most would envy you for owning it. Congratulations to it!
 
Walnut stock

So, period done, done in 1969, done yesterday. It looks nice and these are getting harder and harder to find. I (look at my name) have 4 of these. One I returned to with a stock I had (was in a G33/40 converted to .308) Found a lovely sporterized one, switched stocks. One of the very interesting things (did someone bring this up?) is your 42 dated carbine has a walnut stock, I believe. Those are the early stocks, 945 code -1940, maybe early 41's. Your 42 and all the matching 42 rifles I have seen are laminated. I will repeat that, "ALL matching I have seen". Still, very nice.
My G33/40's consist of the aforementioned "return to the gebirgsjager" 41 dated, my first was a mismatched 42 date with a (you guessed it) walnut stock, my third (a recent EXPENSIVE acquisition) 945 code 1940 dated all matching (probably was on Crete and Monte Casino and....) and last but surely not least that is just ludicrous in condition, a matching 1942 date in its shipping crate that will need pictures as the crate is some German box that is serial numbered to the rifle!?
So when are Karem/Stevens doing a contract Mauser book?
 
Many thanks for your observations, and I would love top see the ‘42 in its shipping crate! As you point out, my rifle has a walnut stock that it too early for the rifle. Whether it was replaced in the field or yesterday, the fact that it has no marks except the Eagle63 on the keel and hand guard would, I assume, mean that it was originally intended to be a replacement or “armorers” stock? Have you run into many of these?
 
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No I haven't, but G33/40's are scarce no mater where you are at. I will try and get my G33/40's posted but justb coming out of knee surgery and settling family affairs...WAY behind.
 
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