Restoring a K43

T

TitleSeventeen

Member
Hello all, this post is a long time in the making. Been working with this K43 on and off for the last 10 years. from then till now all that got done was probably 8 or more years ago now I sent off part of the bolt group to Apfeltor to take care of some cracking at the back of it, I bought and installed the shooters kit at that time, Have yet to put a single round through it.

So about this Rifle, its a K43, "window cut" receiver I think. AC44, Which if memory serves indicates it was manufactured by Walther. Sadly its been fairly badly sportzerized. The story goes it was a GI bringback from a raid on a Walther factory, then sold to a member of my family and modified for deer hunting and in the 40 years since then its been stuffed in closets and forgotten about.

The Damage: Stock is modified, heavily sanded and reshaped, sling hole filled in, buttplate cut off for a generic rubber one. front sling mount was cut off of the band.
Missing is: Magazine, front sight hood, cleaning rod, cleaning kit, sling, buttplate

I have a Sarco magazine on order but it seems to be in postal system purgatory. I think the biggest thing I'm looking for is some guidance on getting this put back to a "as issued" state.

How are the repop front sight bands? I'd like to get an original but that seems a very tall order.

I'm told the repro magazines are so-so in fitment and require some work to work properly, but at $70 vs $300 for now it will have to do.

I found MG-13 magazines modified for the K/G43 from RTI, is that something worth buying?

I've found new cleaning kits from Waffenmeisters, are those correct for this?

I'm having a bit of a time finding if my stock ever had its serial number stamped on it, not sure how that is determined.

Its probably a pile of information right off the hop, but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Thank you!
 
Some accompanying images to your original post would be wonderful. Still, it sounds as if the damage is primarily stock related. As far as a front sight hood I’d suggest a repro from Darrin Weaver at historicalparts.com for the time being. He might have some of your other needs as well, but let’s see some pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have a repo from sight band that I bought from Sarco for a K43 that I was going to restore but gave up on. Never installed it, does look good, $15 shipped if you want it, still in the bag they sent it in.

96b430bcab0de4f13ff0ad100586b388.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joseph Burke said:
...it sounds as if the damage is primarily stock related...
Click to expand...

Agreed, although photos would be a big help. If you're able to source a decent repro stock, it should be relatively easy to fill in the remaining blanks and make a good looking shooter out of it.
 
I was going to restore a K43 and had contacted fox, about a month ago he was scheduling 8 months out for turn around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
fishermankw said:
I was going to restore a K43 and had contacted fox, about a month ago he was scheduling 8 months out for turn around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
is worth the wait, it's not like you missing on the fun, there aren't any ammo to use :laugh:
 
R.W. Parker said:
That's generally how you know if a guy is any good at what he does.

Richie
Click to expand...

Completely agree, I was just too impatient to wait 8 months, though his craftsmanship is impeccable! I’m still waiting on my NFA item, I didn’t have the patience to wait for two things haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
God I hate varnish on stocks, I don't know why every sportsman loves them when an oiled stock looks fine.

Good luck in your endeavors.
 
k98dave said:
I think this is one of the FOX stocks currently on Ebay from Poland, Said 2 available. You might contact the seller
https://www.ebay.com/itm/G43-K43-WO...784575?hash=item36737cacff:g:94IAAOSwMoxfKZ52
Click to expand...

Yeah, I would like to go ahead and disagree with the seller..
The best reproduction of G43 Stock.
Made according to the original from beech wood, stained with linseed oil.
WaA359 signature.
You won't buy a better replica than mine.
Click to expand...

The original stock is made from layered beechwood laminate, most likely using red phenolic resin. The ebay stock is solid beech.
 
k98dave said:
I think this is one of the FOX stocks currently on Ebay from Poland, Said 2 available. You might contact the seller
https://www.ebay.com/itm/G43-K43-WO...784575?hash=item36737cacff:g:94IAAOSwMoxfKZ52
Click to expand...

That is NOT one of Fox's stocks. There is another guy in Poland that tries to ride on Fox's coattails because everyone sees Poland and thinks it is Fox, it is not. The handguard on the ebay one is not correct nor is the round bolt in the stock for the recoil lug (you take it out to put in a real one and the hole is round not rectangle), the stock is solid wood and its not a real hard wood either. You try to sand it into the correct shape and the wood fibers start lifting. Stay away from these. You will not get a butt plate or front band spring or cap to line up properly. I have one of these in my basement that came with a rifle that I bought. Just for fun I tried to play with it and get it to some what work, I think it works best as firewood.
 
That's good to know about the eBay Poland guy. I had seen those and was wondering myself. I'll avoid them. My plan from go was to get a Fox stock. I should probably get in line for a stock, was going to be the last thing I ordered but if there is an 8 month turn around I should probably get on that.

I think the thing that is bothering me the most is the barrel band. I see the reproductions, but I don't know how to say it, they look almost too good. and to change that seems to require removing the front sight. I've been hunting around for an original with no luck so far.
 
TitleSeventeen said:
That's good to know about the eBay Poland guy. I had seen those and was wondering myself. I'll avoid them. My plan from go was to get a Fox stock. I should probably get in line for a stock, was going to be the last thing I ordered but if there is an 8 month turn around I should probably get on that.

I think the thing that is bothering me the most is the barrel band. I see the reproductions, but I don't know how to say it, they look almost too good. and to change that seems to require removing the front sight. I've been hunting around for an original with no luck so far.
Click to expand...

You can change out the barrel band by sliding out the sight blade and the band will come right off. No need to remove the whole sight base. I believe that the best way to take the sight blade off is tapping it from the right side and removing from the left and reverse to reinstall. Install on left side and tap to the right. just make sure that your hash marks are lined back up when you reinstall for the proper sight alignment.
 
I did exactly the same job as OP is looking at for a badly sportered QVE45. I used one of the Fox stocks and it was a perfect fit. I was lucky in that the durafol handguard was still with the rifle, here are some pics of the restoration. The guy before me had put it into a bad Walther type repro stock. IMHO it turned out pretty sweet.

https://kiwimedals.com/rebuilding-the-k43/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top