G41 (W) with bolt hold open

[simsn]

I was able to pick up my first G41 a few months back. It is definitely the current king of my collection. Is there anywhere, outside of Rough Forged, that dives into the early G41s? Also, is there any trick to getting the bolt back together easily? I took it down to clean and verify that all of the numbers matched and its not very easy to get back together.

 

[CRH113]

Looks like a pretty nice one! The bolt is pretty tricky, what I’ve done to get it back together is once you’ve got it all line up correctly, compress the spring by holding on to the bolt carrier and pushing the action cover against your gut. Also put your index finger over the bolt face so it does fly out should something move out of position.

 

[werner_bieling]

Damn! Nice looking push-button bolt release G41.

 

[iron bender]

I'm .5 convinced this is one of my old w's. Can you provide better stock pics?

 

[flynaked]

Cool gun, I need a push button. The stock is interesting in laminate, I assume a later replacement.

 

[iron bender]

This is definitely the rifle I bought from Mel Smith 15 years ago. It was originally labeled as a replaced laminate stock with no bayonet lug. The stock is original to the rifle (check the serial number data, as at least two were made with laminate stocks within close range). The bayonet lug was added by me as it was there originally. It is an original 41w bayonet lug. Beautiful rifle and a great shooter. It went to the range on a regular basis. Congrats on the pick up!

 

[GunKraut]

I was able to pick up my first G41 a few months back. It is definitely the current king of my collection. Is there anywhere, outside of Rough Forged, that dives into the early G41s? Also, is there any trick to getting the bolt back together easily? I took it down to clean and verify that all of the numbers matched and its not very easy to get back together.

Same as putting a G43 bolt back together, for which you will videos on YouTube.

 

[simsn]

This is definitely the rifle I bought from Mel Smith 15 years ago. It was originally labeled as a replaced laminate stock with no bayonet lug. That info is incorrect. The stock is original to the rifle (check the serial number data, as at least two were made with laminate stocks within close range). WaA359 and serial on the stock prove this rifle left the factory with this stock. The bayonet lug was added by me as it was there originally. It is an original 41w bayonet lug. Beautiful rifle and a great shooter. It went to the range on a regular basis. Congrats on the pick up!

Here are a few more pics. I purchased it from bigboy99 on gunboards about 6 months ago. A few people over there were adamite that a laminate stock on an early push button rifle could not be real. I am not an expert but it looks 100% authentic to me. Also, if you use to own this rifle you may remember that the receiver down is serial 4880 and the top half is 4741. I would be interested to know the story behind how two rifles became one.

I look forward to taking it to the range once non-corrosive 8mm becomes available at less than $2 per round again.

 

[iron bender]

If you check the G41W serial study on Espeholt's site you will see the rifle above and below 4880 are also laminate (#4863/#5276). I'm convinced this is the stock this rifle was wearing when it left Walther. How it has furniture on the forward end from another rifle I'm not sure. The only change I made to this rifle was adding an original bayonet lug. Uncle Mel said it never had one. After taking it apart it definitely had a bayonet lug originally. Regardless it's a really nice rifle. Sometimes I wish I still had my 41 collection.

 

[pwcosol]

Back in the early 1980s I was at the Great Western Fair show. I recall one guy whom had that "hippie" look with almost shoulder length hair. Seemed to be a decent enough guy and one time I spotted him taking down a Walther G41 at a vendor's table whom I knew. He was very slow in removing the bolt assembly. So, was approaching to help when he finally did so. Now he had the rifle in one hand and the compressed bolt assembly in the other (holding by the charging knob)...which he was waving about! Figured any minute the lock might disengage and the whole mess would go flying, but fortunately it did not. We talked and when I left he was reassembling the rifle. Not long afterwards I returned, looked it over, and picked it up for around $350.00...a very nice, matched Berlin-Lubecker rifle and my first G41. As for shooting the G41, my experience was they shot well, functioned perfectly and were quite accurate. If you have shot a G/K43 and never a G41, you will find the feel, smoothness of action/recoil and even the sounds of operation superior in every respect to a G/K43...but that is not surprising.

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

G.41 (W) #3638 has a laminated stock.
G.41 (W) #4863 has a laminated stock.
G.41 (W) #5276 has a laminated stock.

Yours falls between these two reported rifles. So, I would also think your rifle was supposed to have a laminated stock.

I don’t see any more laminated stocks until G.41 ac43 # 679.

My serial number records show that your laminated stock is duffle cut under the rear stock band.

The only other book I know with G.41 information is “Hitler’s Garands” by Darrin Weaver. There’s not a lot of information in that book on the G.41’s but it’s the only one outside of “Rough Forged”. Odd that there isn’t more books on these rifles.

 

[simsn]

G.41 (W) #3638 has a laminated stock.
G.41 (W) #4863 has a laminated stock.
G.41 (W) #5276 has a laminated stock.

Yours falls between these two reported rifles. So, I would also think your rifle was supposed to have a laminated stock.

I don’t see any more laminated stocks until G.41 ac43 # 679.

My serial number records show that your laminated stock is duffle cut under the rear stock band.

The only other book I know with G.41 information is “Hitler’s Garands” by Darrin Weaver. There’s not a lot of information in that book on the G.41’s but it’s the only one outside of “Rough Forged”. Odd that there isn’t more books on these rifles.

I may be wrong, but that appears to be a duffle cut to me that has been repaired behind the rear band.

Out of curiosity how did you know that? Do you have any other relevant records?

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

Yep, fixed duffle cut. I have been keeping lists of serial numbers and rifle descriptions on G.41’s, G.43’s and K.43’s. Your rifle I had listed twice; once from a prior owner and from Espeholt’s serial number listings. The duffle cut was mentioned from the prior owner.

 

[tbied2]

... i have several rifles in my collection that are duffel cut and repaired. it does not bother me one bit about that. .. plus;;.. you are very lucky if you have an original sight hood, those are getting very hard to find;.. and quit expensive.

 

[simsn]

The patina on the sight hood matches the rifle. I cannot see any identifying markings on it. Is there anyway to confirm that it is indeed original to the rifle?