Third Party Press

G43 K43 magazines

miles136

Well-known member
Here are some variations of the G43 K43 magazines, post yours! please mention and post any Ive forgotten, I dont mind if we include post war and reproductions too

"acw" code for Gold-u Silberscheideanstalt Oberstein and marked "G43"

here are two examples, this variation has a blued finish and blue follower and floorplate
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 003.jpg
    g43 magazine study 003.jpg
    48.6 KB · Views: 156
  • rg34sacwg43 019.jpg
    rg34sacwg43 019.jpg
    75.6 KB · Views: 163
  • rg34sacwg43 020.jpg
    rg34sacwg43 020.jpg
    59.9 KB · Views: 141
Last edited:
"acw" code for Gold-u Silberscheideanstalt Oberstein and marked "K43"

like the first it also has a blued metal finish including the follower and floorplate
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 004.jpg
    g43 magazine study 004.jpg
    49.3 KB · Views: 73
And finally for this same manufacturer

"rqs" code for Gold-u Silberscheideanstalt Oberstein and marked "K43"

this was a code change from "acw" to "rqs"

also a blued metal finish
 

Attachments

  • 12 MR FARB 006 miles photo.jpg
    12 MR FARB 006 miles photo.jpg
    94.8 KB · Views: 106
Last edited:
One of the earliest types of G43 magazines issued is referred to as the "short milled tab" coded "aye" for Olympia Buromaschinenwerke

note the front tab, the variation is painted with black enamel, it is marked "G43"
 
This magazine is also made by Olympia Buromaschinenwerke and is marked "aye" and "G43"

it is referred to as the "short stamped tab" variation and is also painted with black enamel
 

Attachments

  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 a top receiver Spandau 1916.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 a top receiver Spandau 1916.jpg
    138 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 barrel code.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 barrel code.jpg
    141.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt proofs.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt proofs.jpg
    136 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt safety fire.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt safety fire.jpg
    184.4 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt safety safe.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt safety safe.jpg
    185.2 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt serial.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 bolt serial.jpg
    145.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 buttplate serial.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 buttplate serial.jpg
    231 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 cleaning rod serial.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 cleaning rod serial.jpg
    106.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 floorplate numbers.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 floorplate numbers.jpg
    197.7 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 follower serial.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 follower serial.jpg
    218.7 KB · Views: 0
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front barrel band left.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front barrel band left.jpg
    166.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front barrel band right.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front barrel band right.jpg
    130.8 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front sight cleaning rod right.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 front sight cleaning rod right.jpg
    273.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 full left.JPG
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 full left.JPG
    260.6 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 full right.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 full right.jpg
    260.2 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 handguard serial.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 handguard serial.jpg
    155.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 laddersight right detail.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 laddersight right detail.jpg
    131 KB · Views: 3
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 left ladder sight.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 left ladder sight.jpg
    258.8 KB · Views: 3
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 left receiver serials.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 left receiver serials.jpg
    131.7 KB · Views: 3
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 lf perspective.JPG
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 lf perspective.JPG
    265.7 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 lr perspective.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 lr perspective.jpg
    282.7 KB · Views: 4
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 proofs right.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 proofs right.jpg
    174.1 KB · Views: 3
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock foreend.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock foreend.jpg
    133.8 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock proofs right.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock proofs right.jpg
    133.2 KB · Views: 4
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock proofs wrist.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock proofs wrist.jpg
    175.2 KB · Views: 2
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock sling swivel.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 stock sling swivel.jpg
    177.3 KB · Views: 3
  • 1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 trigger assembly.jpg
    1916 Spandau SG 3328 4 trigger assembly.jpg
    138.5 KB · Views: 0
Another but more common variation also made by Olympia Buromaschinenwerke marked "aye" and "G43"

this one features the standard most common stamped tab at the front of the magazine and is also painted with black enamel

note : all other G43 K43 magazines have this same type of front tab
 
Last edited:
One more variation produced by Olympia Buromaschinenwerke, it is the most common type of magazine to be found

standard configuration, painted black enamel, marked "aye" and "K43"
 
This magazine is more difficult to find, a magazine made by Olympia Buromaschinenwerke, it is marked with the maker code "aye", is marked "K43" but was issued in a phosphate finish

otherwise similar in construction to the painted "aye" "K43" magazine

dont be confused by some "aye" magazines that have simply lost all of their black paint!

this one came in a matching mount AC45 B block
 

Attachments

  • ac45 b block sniper (4) miles photo.JPG
    ac45 b block sniper (4) miles photo.JPG
    45 KB · Views: 124
One more magazine made by Olympia Buromaschinenwerke marked "aye" and "K43" note that this one is marked with a "+"

I have found two types of "+", one tall skinny plus symbol and one short fat plus symbol that is usually tilted

The meaning of the plus symbol is not known, but on other wartime German firearms, lugers come to mind, magazines are marked this way to denote an extra magazine issued with the gun, perhaps this is the case as the G43 K43 was issued with three magazines total, one for the gun and two extras....I havent seen the plus marking on any other type of G43 K43 magazine though
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 040.jpg
    g43 magazine study 040.jpg
    48.8 KB · Views: 71
  • g43 magazine study 043.jpg
    g43 magazine study 043.jpg
    49 KB · Views: 61
Last edited:
The next magazine is marked "avx" which is the wartime code for Sudmetall AG

these all have a blued metal finish and may also have blued floorplates that are also marked "avx" and waffenamt'd

these are marked "K43"...note the font of the "K43"
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 011.jpg
    g43 magazine study 011.jpg
    43.4 KB · Views: 79
  • g43 magazine study 014.jpg
    g43 magazine study 014.jpg
    35.7 KB · Views: 53
Last edited:
The next magazines are marked "awj" the three letter code for The Yale and Town Manufacturing Company and are marked "K43"

the only variation that I can find as of yet, is the most common type with regular font lower case "a", and a very scarce type with a large pot belly font "a" .......compare the pics

these are painted with black enamel paint, standard in all other respects
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 015.jpg
    g43 magazine study 015.jpg
    42.9 KB · Views: 73
  • g43 magazine study 021.jpg
    g43 magazine study 021.jpg
    43.5 KB · Views: 64
Last edited:
Here is a photo of two "k" marked floorplates

the late type with third reinforcing rib and phosphate

the standard blued type marked "k"
 

Attachments

  • g43 magazine study 050.jpg
    g43 magazine study 050.jpg
    49.1 KB · Views: 54
  • g43 magazine study 035.jpg
    g43 magazine study 035.jpg
    43.7 KB · Views: 37
  • g43 magazine study 037.jpg
    g43 magazine study 037.jpg
    40.2 KB · Views: 27
  • g43 magazine study 031.jpg
    g43 magazine study 031.jpg
    41.8 KB · Views: 33
I have a "gcb" mag that also has a blued finish. Marked also on the left side "K43" and (2) Waa's one on the lower middle and one on upper towards the front. Looks to be 3 letters and the # 892.
 
I have a "gcb" mag that also has a blued finish. Marked also on the left side "K43" and (2) Waa's one on the lower middle and one on upper towards the front. Looks to be 3 letters and the # 892.


is it painted or blued?

if it is blued it is likely reblued after the paint was stripped....I have not seen or heard of a blued gcb...every gcb mag I have heard of or seen is painted black enamel after they were either lightly phosphated or in the white...BTW alot of so called phosphate mags have simply been stripped of the paint, so Ive never even seen a gcb mag missing almost all of its paint that was blued under it, and I know of three legit phosphate magazines (meaning they didint have the paint stripped)...the variation with one waffenamt low and one high as you describe is the later version of the two variaitons (I think)

the only mags that were blued were the very earliest aye mags, or at least it is rumored that they were, I have one milled front tab aye that is painted so Im not sure that is correct, the acw, avx and rqs mags
 
These magazines are marked "gcb" and "G43/K43"

these are reproductions and have a blued metal finish
 

Attachments

  • pix4832921.jpg
    pix4832921.jpg
    24.4 KB · Views: 74
Who was "gcb", and where were they located. Is it he same company making the post war mags you have shown or was just their code being used by someone else?
 
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread...ated-to-G41-and-G-K-43-rifles-and-accessories

"gcb" Grohman u Sohn Ad Metallwarenfabrik

the repro one pictured was copied, Im not sure where they originate from...I do know some have had issues with fit and function of this type of repro mag

I intend to add all kinds of examples to this thread, Ive not had time to add the gcb ones yet but Im planning on it, as well as others...of course Im hoping others will add theirs

as soon as the weather gets better I intend on taking better photos of all of these and replacing the current ones, as well as other pics in other threads of mine....
 

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top