Gunshow Purchase: G43 Rifle *pics and questions*

Desert_Fox said:
g43dia.jpg


http://www.salt6.com/parts.htm


- Remove the handguard.
- Lock bolt to rear of action.
- Pull back actuator rod. (Will have tension because of spring)
- Remove connector rod.
- Release tension on actuator rod, and remove also.
- Slide off gas cylinder. (Can be hard to do sometimes as it may have rusted/be filthy)
- Wrench off gas piston. *WARNING* Can be VERY tight, and if improper wrench and improper torque is used, gas piston can be damaged!!

I also had a hard time getting my new Apfeltor gas piston into the original threads, and I didn't want to damage them, so I greased the hell out of the threads, and just went slow... (insert crude ###ual joke here) ;)

I ended up getting her in there with a lot of sweat (afraid of destroying threads), and some serious torque, but I have had others that worked just fine. Enjoy! :)
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Seriously? Slide off? Mine is stuck tighter than.. uhn.. you know something that's stuck tight.
 
skirsons said:
Seriously? Slide off? Mine is stuck tighter than.. uhn.. you know something that's stuck tight.
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Have you fired this rifle yet? Could it be that your gas system is rusted shut and you have one of the infamous "bolt action" G43's?? :eek:

I would try spraying some sort of rust buster and lubricant down into the gas cylinder, then try slowly working it off. Maybe a channel lock with a rag in it to loosen the cylinder might help?? Try not to bugger it up to much... If the rifle was properly maintained, the cylinder should just slide off. Could be it was shot with corrosive ammo, and the gas piston was never cleaned, or just years of built up lead and powder residue, including a little corrosion holding it in place.

Treat it like you would treat a woman... Be gentle, but firm! ;)

***EDIT*** Damnit, obviously I type slow.... that's what you get for private education.... ;) ***
 
Desert_Fox said:
LMAO!!!!

Oh BTW Skirsons, I removed the shellac off of my Vopo qve 45 a few years ago too... Please don't hate me.... ;)
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I couldn't imagine someone ruining the finish on a rifle that rare! Wow. At least you didn't shape the grip to a more comfortable target rifle shape... but I wouldn't put it past you bubbas.

The thing was corroded on. My Saturday night activity will be to completely disassemble and clean the rifle. Hopefully I can get my replacement stock soon.

BTW what is the correct finish for G43 wood? Some kind of shellac or varnish?
 
skirsons said:
I couldn't imagine someone ruining the finish on a rifle that rare! Wow. At least you didn't shape the grip to a more comfortable target rifle shape... but I wouldn't put it past you bubbas.

The thing was corroded on. My Saturday night activity will be to completely disassemble and clean the rifle. Hopefully I can get my replacement stock soon.

BTW what is the correct finish for G43 wood? Some kind of shellac or varnish?
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All I did was use a little denatured alcohol on a cloth... I hate shellac, except for on my TRUE Ruskie guns!! :p

The correct finish would be to hand rub in a few coats of BLO, or my personal favorite, Tung oil!!

I am thinking of Chroming up my S/42 P08, what do you think??? ;)

BTW: If you are going to dissassemble the trigger/sear mechanism... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DETAILED PLANS!!!! An extra set of hands may help, and also a strong drink.... I completely stripped my Vopo and cleaned every part too because they were COVERED in shellac and cosmoline...

my duv44 on the other hand... almost like it came outta the factory! :)

GO HERE for some very good information! http://www.gewehr43.com/tips.html
 
Desert_Fox said:
All I did was use a little denatured alcohol on a cloth... I hate shellac, except for on my TRUE Ruskie guns!! :p

The correct finish would be to hand rub in a few coats of BLO, or my personal favorite, Tung oil!!

I am thinking of Chroming up my S/42 P08, what do you think??? ;)

BTW: If you are going to dissassemble the trigger/sear mechanism... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DETAILED PLANS!!!! An extra set of hands may help, and also a strong drink.... I completely stripped my Vopo and cleaned every part too because they were COVERED in shellac and cosmoline...

my duv44 on the other hand... almost like it came outta the factory! :)

GO HERE for some very good information! http://www.gewehr43.com/tips.html
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Are you sure tung oil or BLO? Looks like the Germans put some kind of varnish on their laminated stocks.
 
skirsons said:
What gives the laminated beech that reddish tint? I could have sworn I've seen some type of original varnish on laminate K98 stocks.
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It's the type of glue that they used to bind the laminate together. Most were the red type glue, which was better than the white glue which tended to separate easier. Also the type of oil used on the stock usually has a darker hue to it, Tung oil for instance... Try getting a totally fresh K98 laminate stock, and oil it up with motor oil, tung oil, BLO, etc... you'll know what I mean!! ;)

BTW, Was it wrong for me to have put that oversized bolt knob onto my buddies Nazi re-issued Norwegian Krag in 6.5x55???? :eek::eek:
 
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skirsons said:
I found the story of the rifle's capture to be untrue. Upon disassembly I found the gas tube is electropencilled to the receiver.
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Aha. Another "Vet" rifle found to be just a Century Arms Import..... Though I wonder why there is no Vopo sunburst on the receiver??

... then again, I should've noticed the blued buttplate as a dead giveaway that it was a re-arsenaled Gewehr.

All in all, Vopos and Czech refurbs are still really nice pieces of history, and are usually in great condition. Enjoy it.
 
Desert_Fox said:
Aha. Another "Vet" rifle found to be just a Century Arms Import..... Though I wonder why there is no Vopo sunburst on the receiver??

... then again, I should've noticed the blued buttplate as a dead giveaway that it was a re-arsenaled Gewehr.

All in all, Vopos and Czech refurbs are still really nice pieces of history, and are usually in great condition. Enjoy it.
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No CAI markings on it though. Definitely no markings on the receiver other than the German markings. Bolt assy. all matches itself. What would the rifle look like if it was Czech?
 
skirsons said:
No CAI markings on it though. Definitely no markings on the receiver other than the German markings. Bolt assy. all matches itself. What would the rifle look like if it was Czech?
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The CAI stamp would probably be on the barrel somewhere.

If it were a Czech, it might have been left alone, but most likely, as with the dow ZF4 scopes and mounts, they would have crossed out or scrubbed the German serials and markings, and put their own on there... Could have been done by them, but it is still most likely a Vopo.

Most Vopos had their magazines numbered to the rifle via electropencil. Almost all had their bolt carriers scrubbed and renumbered with matching numbers using stamps, not electropencil. The internals were always electropenciled to match. Gas components were electropenciled. This is what is most often seen, but again, with a captured rifle, there is no hard and fast rule.... (most were also re-blued, hence the blued buttplate, which is definitely not WW2 kosher as they were left "in the white" like the K98's)

I'd just make up a story that it was Hermann Goerings personal hunting rig, hence the sportered stock, and sell it a couple years down the road for top dollar!!! :eek: ;););) ...JK.

I'd take it to someone who is actually a more seasoned German rifle collector, and ask their opinion, maybe check out "Hitlers Garands"... I have the book, but not in front of me. Personally, I like the fact that it has no Vopo sunburst, but IMHO, I still think it is a NON Vet bring back.... IMHO of course...

Enjoy it just the same! Do you have a gas kit yet??:confused:
 
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