Our 33/40.

[heavy_mech]

No, they are more like VZ-24 handguards, they are held on with a clip, and very easy to damage, so take great care getting it off..

I've only played with vz24s but that is great advice. So easy to break them. The huge cutout for the rear sight is brutal

 

[Toodeep]

No, they are more like VZ-24 handguards, they are held on with a clip, and very easy to damage, so take great care getting it off...

I usually use a wide blade screwdriver, you kind of carefully slip it under the back of the handguard (after it is out of the stock!), and gently pry up while holding up the rear sight (or better yet, have your son hold it up), very slowly and gingerly until the clip slips off the barrel, then you keep holding up the rear sight and swivel the loose handguard like 90 deg to slip it over the rear sight.

Personally, I'd leave the handguard on, once the stock is off, check the channel, hopefully it matches, and don't worry about the handguard...

Thank you for the information. I don’t know why I want to see the numbers, the gun will stay in our family for another half century or so. It doesn’t really matter, I just gotta know.
It looks like the stock channel will be the place to look.

 

[Peter S]

The laminated handguard is wrong for a 41 dated rifle....so it will not have a matching number.

 

[Toodeep]

The laminated handguard is wrong for a 41 dated rifle....so it will not have a matching number.

Thanks. I had lost hope for the handguard being matching.

Happy that there are no import marks on it.

 

[lilallie]

Here is a link to a g33/40 I posted a while back.
Maybe it will be of use to you. It’s a 42 date but proofs are there
It shows the stock proof marks in some of the pics and also
The numbering of the underside of the hand guard and serial number
On the stock with proofs if this helps you at all.
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?31597-G-33-40-dot-42

Hope this helps

Steve