Hello everyone! So I just acquired a weird walther ac44 g43 with an e block serial number with what seems to be all matching parts except the barrel being longer than the typical 22in barrel. I’ve heard that some ac44 g43s in the e block did come with longer barrels.. Does anyone have any ideas or information that could help me out? I’d really appreciate it. These are the best pics I could get right now
Extended barrel G43??
- Thread starter Aston13b
- Start date
Tiger 2 Tank
Senior Member
Need the serial number and I can see in my G/K.43 listings if this rifle fell within a special group of guns or something. Hard to tell anything by the photos.
It’s 8838e!
Yeah I just hope this one is original and not some bubba job
Joseph Burke
Senior Member
Would love to see more/better images!
Does the barrel have any markings? Its very odd how the barrel is turned (and even flattened out for the rod) at the rear section and in the white, this isn't something the Germans would issue as it has no rust protection. I'm guessing rebarreled myself, but better pics of the barrel assy would help determine that.
Does not fit the typical German workmanship, who really knows though.
There is very little known about these long-barreled variations.
The known long barreled "test rifles" seem to show up in the "c" block of ac45 rifles and can be identified by the front sight pin being further forward a bit. Seems that they were trying to find a fix for the known inaccuracies of the design. I could be wrong though, would not be the first time.
A report concerning the accuracy of sniper rifles from WaPrüf 2, dated 31 March 1945 confirms this.
The report was written by colonel and department chief Haidlen and was intended for Himmler's chief adjutant. (SS-Obersturmbannführer Werner Grothmann)
...... Higher precision can only be achieved by modifications to the barrels.
...... In the tests carried out so far with barrel lengths from 620 mm to 670 mm and with somewhat reinforced barrels, there have been no appreciable improvements in accuracy.
...... The tests with thicker barrels did not show any improvement of accuracy at short distances. But from 200 m upwards a much better accuracy can be expected.
...... Test rifles with 650 mm barrel length and 32 mm diameter achieved promising results.
Tests with heavier barrels are continued.
Tiger 2 Tank
Senior Member
Thanks for the serial number. I have one report of this rifle:
01-12-2022 on Gunbroker. Seller “shnavel”. Barrel length is 24 inches. Seller states barrel looks to have been replaced. Scope mount rail has been milled off. Receiver is milled “cosmetic” type.
G.43 ac44 #8505e: Listed in the book “Hitler’s Garands” as having an experimental 620mm barrel. (Page 208)
G.43 ac44 #8510e: Listed from Rock Island Auctions and having a 620mm barrel.
G.43 ac44 #9223e: Listed as a possible cut away receiver (discussion on this Forum as to whether or not it is an original cut away or not).
So, this rifle seems to be in with some rifles that had the longer barrels installed. Something was going on in this block of G.43’s. I will have to let the experts go from here on it. Not sure why they would put a longer barrel on a receiver where the scope mount was milled off if the longer barrel is for accuracy?
In millimeters how long is the barrel on this rifle?
01-12-2022 on Gunbroker. Seller “shnavel”. Barrel length is 24 inches. Seller states barrel looks to have been replaced. Scope mount rail has been milled off. Receiver is milled “cosmetic” type.
G.43 ac44 #8505e: Listed in the book “Hitler’s Garands” as having an experimental 620mm barrel. (Page 208)
G.43 ac44 #8510e: Listed from Rock Island Auctions and having a 620mm barrel.
G.43 ac44 #9223e: Listed as a possible cut away receiver (discussion on this Forum as to whether or not it is an original cut away or not).
So, this rifle seems to be in with some rifles that had the longer barrels installed. Something was going on in this block of G.43’s. I will have to let the experts go from here on it. Not sure why they would put a longer barrel on a receiver where the scope mount was milled off if the longer barrel is for accuracy?
In millimeters how long is the barrel on this rifle?
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Thanks everyone for your replies! Sorry I’m just now getting back. Sadly I’m in CA so I’m currently waiting my 10 day “background check” and the pics I posted were the best I could get at the shop for now but as soon as I get the rifle I will take it down and post lots of photos! I’m also starting to think it looks kinda like a k98 barrel?? Not sure like I said I’ll update everyone when I have it back here at home! I’m really hoping this isn’t some bubba job.. I took a risk buying this thing for $2,500 I probably paid to much
Tiger 2 Tank
Senior Member
Oh yes. I have several documented 7.62 barrel conversions in my listings. It’s not an easy task I wouldn’t think, but people have done it. But why someone would go through all that just to add a few inches to the barrel in the same caliber….don’t know.
Tiger 2 Tank
Senior Member
Once you get it, can you measure the barrel and see if it’s a 620mm barrel?
Yes of course! I’m also just wondering why it would be in the white if it is original?
biggymu
Well-known member
You might even want to verify it’s really still 7.92 while your at it.
daltrey99
Senior Member
I have had 3 that have been rebarreled with factory barrels due to bubba destroying the originals and I have had a couple of receivers barreled. Its not a big issue to have it done and as was mentioned before, many have been rebarreled into 30-06 and I even had one that was in .270 (i restored that one back to 8mm).
biggymu
Well-known member
Ok, so this is more common than I first thought. Makes the OP’s rifle open to modern alteration. Thanks for the information.
armenjs
Senior Member
Well four months past!