945 1941 G33/40 unserialed

[mrfarb]

Here is an oldie but a goodie- some people have probably never seen one, or even heard of one. These 945 1941 code G33/40 rifles show up like this one, built completely from armorers parts. Theories abound saying they are late war assembled for Volkssturm, and that may be the case for some, but the story I got with this one was it was assembled in a depot in France at the end of the war (or maybe during?) by the GI. The story is odd though, in that every part is a G33/40 part- how would he know to use just those parts? Even trigger assy is E/607.

When I got it the rifle had a K98 bolt in it- currently has a G33/40 bolt body with some random unnumbered parts on the back end with an odd faux phosphate finish. Cocking piece is E/63, so it's correct, firing pin is E/607. If anybody has a line on G33/40 armorers parts I'd be obliged. It also needs a triggerguard- the one on it is something odd in and of itself, but I forgot to take pics of that.

Enjoy!

 

[3371940]

Farb:

Are you collecting serial data?
Nice! I think I’ve seen that one in person and it is certainly one of the better examples out there for sure. One thing to note is that these are made from typical 33/40 armorer’s parts and not regular production parts. Many are only partially assembled.

Mine has its barrel and bolt in the white. The bolt on mine appears to be a G. 24 (t) bolt that has been hollowed out. Mine also rough finished front site base/muzzle area. These are old pics so this post is an excuse to break mine out and take some better ones……

 

[THunter]

Now these are cool! I never knew such animals existed. Thanks to the both of you for sharing. Im eager to learn more about them!

 

[mja_20]

ah.....tonight we drink to ex's and not being separated again....hear hear


Edit: Tou, that place dark as a dungeon btw

 

[touhy]

dang, I don't remember that gun looking that nice when I saw it. Maybe it was because that room didnt get much daylight or maybe because there were 50 other guns lying around.

Are there armorer stocks without the 'dot' on the bottom?

 

[mrfarb]

Yes, I'm collecting serial data on these- so far I see patterns developing.

My front sight base is rough as a cob, oversized too. There are armorers stocks that are not marked "dot" as well.

I "divorced" this one years ago to a friend that really wanted it- he was a Czech collector. I've since "remarried" and hope this second marriage works out better.

 

[johnmac]

Beautiful rifle! I wish the color of the wood on mine looked more like that!

however it looks kind of silly with that sight hood and cleaning rod.... You should carefully remove them and ship em to my house!

 

[3371940]

dang, I don't remember that gun looking that nice when I saw it. Maybe it was because that room didnt get much daylight or maybe because there were 50 other guns lying around.

Are there armorer stocks without the 'dot' on the bottom?

Both of these rifles used to sit next to each other in the same gun room you speak of

I have an armorer stock w/o the dot.....here's a pic.......

 

[3371940]

Now these are cool! I never knew such animals existed. Thanks to the both of you for sharing. Im eager to learn more about them!

THhunter:

I have also seen pics of one of these with a "dot 1942" receiver. That is it had no serial number and the collection of armorer parts just like these. I also have it from a pretty good source that there is one in the midwest with no receiver markings at all.

 

[THunter]

These are very interesting. If the G.I. put together theory is true. Im intrigued on how whoever put these together knew (or didnt!?) know to use strictly G.33/40 parts. Makes me wonder if these were put together at a captured depot and if any K98s exist in this same configuration. Interesting thought about these being put together for the volkssturm that would explain why every part is 33/40. I can also imagine some GI watching over the captured depot putting these together and selling/trading them to other GIs

 

[mrfarb]

There are bcd45 rifles that are very similar. I had one and sold it to a good friend.

 

[3371940]

These are very interesting. If the G.I. put together theory is true. Im intrigued on how whoever put these together knew (or didnt!?) know to use strictly G.33/40 parts. Makes me wonder if these were put together at a captured depot and if any K98s exist in this same configuration. Interesting thought about these being put together for the volkssturm that would explain why every part is 33/40. I can also imagine some GI watching over the captured depot putting these together and selling/trading them to other GIs

There was a guy with a handle of "roscoe" who posted one a few years ago with the story that a relative traded cigarettes with a German gunsmith to have the thing made immediately post war. Also of note is that some of these are partially assembled.

 

[RyanE]

Anyone remember seeing a phosphated example? I swear I remember bidding on one several years ago...

IMO, these had to originate from some single point or effort, post-war or not. With all the free rifles (many still brand new) just lying around in depots and factories all over the place, what GI would bother taking the time and effort required to assemble a rifle out of armorers spares? How many could have had the skills and access to the tools required to properly do so? As others have pointed out, why are they all 945/1941 marked and assembled with all 33/40 parts? To me, this all just does not make sense.

It would, however, make perfect sense for a factory or depot to haphazardly assemble their considerable spares into complete rifles in the final months of the war to supplement arms production. Just my two bits.

 

[mrfarb]

Anyone remember seeing a phosphated example? I swear I remember bidding on one several years ago...

It would, however, make perfect sense for a factory or depot to haphazardly assemble their considerable spares into complete rifles in the final months of the war to supplement arms production. Just my two bits.

My receiver is phosphate, but I think they did that for long term storage. When i see these it seems they are like this or completely blued postwar.

Another scenario you left out is some depot assembled them for GI's after the war for cigarettes or as souvenirs.

 

[3371940]

My receiver is phosphate, but I think they did that for long term storage. When i see these it seems they are like this or completely blued postwar.

Another scenario you left out is some depot assembled them for GI's after the war for cigarettes or as souvenirs.

Same with mine. It has a light phosphate appearance. I also think that the depot assembly souvenir angle is very likely and is in line with some of the stories I've heard.

 

[milliron]

g33/40 trigger guard

i think that i have one. it is unserial no. it came with a ruined receiver that a local gun smith scrapped out because he drilled and tapped it crooked. all that i got was the receiver and trigger guard. i have heli arc the holes up and planed to restock it as some type of 98k. i will probably not use the trigger guard as most 98k stocks have locking screws make the stock inlet longer. this guard does not have locking screws.the trigger bow is different looking than a98k, it looks rather simular to a fn commerical guard. guard screw counter bores have strake marks to hold the screws tight. if your interested i would trade for other parts. i am one of those people that collectors hate, all my guns are rescues or turds. i dont have an origintal one, they just aren t around here, so i make my own. if interested let me know.

 

[mrfarb]

Thanks! I'll send you an email- sounds like a G33/40 guard for sure.

 

[AndyB]

Looks like very interesting spare parts piece, probably on end of production. Is possible that were ordered with normal contract some sets of spare rifles, as visible the piece was not fully accepted into service in Wehrmacht only parts proofed. best regards,Andy

 

[johnmac]

If the 945 code g33/40's predate the DOT code recivers by two years, IMO I would think that all 945 code recivers would have all been put into service well before wars end. IMO if any 33/40 recivers would have been incomplete by the wars end, should'nt they be the later DOT code recivers? It just seems to me that the 945's would have all been put into service by the time we made it to Brunn and started building rifles out of spare parts or whatever.

 

[Pisgah]

Seeing the barrel in the white with a 0,2 marking is interesting to me. I have a no letter block ce 44 which is ordinary and matching with the exception of having a 0,2 marked barrel which is in the white. I've had it since the 90's. Until now I have never seen another rifle wearing a replacement barrel in the white.