Value of this K43

kevin.303

kevin.303

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Dog River SK
a friend of mine who knows nothing about firearms inherited his dads gun collection and lo and behold he's been sitting on a K43. we'd like to find out what a realistic price is for it. its a berlin-lubecker 1945, all numbers match. the metal appears to be untouched original finish however im almost 100% certain that stock has been varnished at some point in the past. bore has strong rifling but is dark. there is a small crack in the top of the handguard but it is otherwise solid. obviously not original sling.
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You're going to have to post better photos.

The varnish really affects collector value in a huge way.

Without better pics I'm probably gonna say in the $1500 range. A nice one that's 100% straight would be $2500-3500. Could be higher but lots of variables.


I think I can faintly see a vopo sunburst at the end of marking rail. A lot of qve45 ended up as vopo and came here. So I wouldn't be surprised. Some decent vopo have sold in the past year at $2000-2200, so I think I'm going to stay at the $1500 area with the wood as it is.

But better photographs would help me help you.

If he happens to have any extra mags PM me!!
 
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Looks like a Post WW2 Vopo reworked rifle with a "daisy wheel" marking under the rear sight.
 
^^ that's the guy that knows. but if you want to get maximum money out of it put it to auction. some times stuff like this can go for crazy. if you got it for nothing and its value is around $1500 you can take a chance. if it was like AR said a really good one for $3000 I wouldn't take the chance on it.
 
As is, I would have to say under $2K. Is there any extras with it, such as mags, ZF4 scope and mount?
Please tell your friend to take that ugly sling off it.
 
Under 2k for sure with the varnish job, possible stock sanding, VOPO. Also, chances are that it is not all matching since it was common for the bolt carrier to be re numbered to match the receiver on VOPOs. They would grind off the old number in a way that is hard to see and stamp the new number over. One of mine is a restamp and the only way you can tell is the slight grind mark under the bolt handle where the WaA used to be.
 
Any and all parts can Be ground and renumbered on a vopo. Not just the bolt carrier.
Truth be told almost all are totally renumbered. Receiver and stock are likely the only original parts of matched.

If you examine most parts,
You will see previous electro pencilling numbers.
 
We need better pics, and lots more, but I think this may possibly be all Original.

I don't think this is a Vopo rework as it is not reblued to that black color.

I don't see an X or a starburst, but I do see what may possibly be a WaA214.

The buttplate is in the white. I don't see vibrapencil markings.

The varnish can be easily removed slowly and carefully with denatured alcohol with a cloth and a spitzer.
 
The pics are so bad the starburst or x could be there. Also even if stripped it's likely been sanded.

But I am still open if better pics can be posted.
 
kevin.303 said:
Ok i will better ones up in the next few days. Any particular parts to focus on?
Click to expand...

Focus on any Any Serial Number or Marking on every part. That way you can determine if it is correct or not.

Buttplate, Magazine, Triggerguard, Complete bolt assembly, receiver, etc...
 
The money question is even if original metal, a sanded and varnished stock, won't have people clamouring to pay more the. $2k.
Even stripped it will never look close to original. Better but not collector grade. And replacement wood is non existent except reproduction stocks.
 
Hehehehe.....

I love the hopefull low ballers!!! (Even though I have alot of respect for most members who have posted here).

Even with horrible photo's - the rifle is most certainly a VOPO. You can see the Sunburst on the left side of the receiver. Likely the sanded/glossy stock is also a VOPO re-finish - many VOPO rifles have the sanded/gloss stock finish - untouched or natural stained/coloured wood are quite rare on VOPO rifles.

So unless the rifle is some rare maker/code/etc. it is probably a forced matched VOPO rifle (MM parts, with electro penciling and perhaps even the serial number stamped on the butt plate). This would put the rifle in the $2500-$3500 IMHO - prices have gone up but I do realize that these can be found for $1500-2000 still but I think the prices I listed are more realistic. However, if the stock is a sanded/glossy Bubba vs. Vopo refinish - this value would drop by about $500-1000.

I have talked to Darrin Weaver who wrote the book "Hitlers Garands" and despite some consistencies with Vopo rifles, he says inconsistencies seem to be more of the norm. Example - why are some butt plates forced matched and others left alone? Why do some have matching parts and some MM parts? Why do some have VOPO handguards and some wood/durofoil? The list goes on.....

But if the seller wants to sell it to me for $2100 since the other offers are at 2K - I'll Take It!!!

;)
 
Geez, I should have sold the G43's I sold to you! No VOPO is worth 3k that I know of. 2k for a varnished Vopo is a good and fair price.

My price advice is based on recent deals. I for one didn't state the price due to wanting to snag it at all. 3 G/K43's is enough for me.
thealchemist said:
Hehehehe.....

I love the hopefull low ballers!!! (Even though I have alot of respect for most members who have posted here).

Even with horrible photo's - the rifle is most certainly a VOPO. You can see the Sunburst on the left side of the receiver. Likely the sanded/glossy stock is also a VOPO re-finish - many VOPO rifles have the sanded/gloss stock finish - untouched or natural stained/coloured wood are quite rare on VOPO rifles.

So unless the rifle is some rare maker/code/etc. it is probably a forced matched VOPO rifle (MM parts, with electro penciling and perhaps even the serial number stamped on the butt plate). This would put the rifle in the $2500-$3500 IMHO - prices have gone up but I do realize that these can be found for $1500-2000 still but I think the prices I listed are more realistic. However, if the stock is a sanded/glossy Bubba vs. Vopo refinish - this value would drop by about $500-1000.

I have talked to Darrin Weaver who wrote the book "Hitlers Garands" and despite some consistencies with Vopo rifles, he says inconsistencies seem to be more of the norm. Example - why are some butt plates forced matched and others left alone? Why do some have matching parts and some MM parts? Why do some have VOPO handguards and some wood/durofoil? The list goes on.....

But if the seller wants to sell it to me for $2100 since the other offers are at 2K - I'll Take It!!!

;)
Click to expand...
 
I agree with recce21.

Im sorry but that is clearly not military finish on the wood. It is bubba. VOPO reworks are stained but ive never seen one glossy, or glossy like that.

This is the issue with Canada. There aren't enough good quality collectible rifles or collectors, so ####ty vopo end up being top dog when in fact they are ####. Anything below a vopo is worse. I'm not really bashing vopo, I own one, and I like it for what it is, but in terms of collecting an original German ww2 weapon......well you just arent. A vopo is a good shooter and representative piece but that all.

A nice undicked with VOPO sells for $2500. there have been a few below and a few above but in the past 2 years or so thats the average. Sanded and varnished stock drops it by alot. So $2000 or less isnt really a low ball. If someone wants to pay more, they are wasting their money on trash.

As a pretty purist collector, I wouldn't even look at anything less then a vopo, except to part out......

End of the day a good gun gets good money, messed with gets way less.
 
thealchemist said:
Hehehehe.....

I love the hopefull low ballers!!! (Even though I have alot of respect for most members who have posted here).

Even with horrible photo's - the rifle is most certainly a VOPO. You can see the Sunburst on the left side of the receiver. Likely the sanded/glossy stock is also a VOPO re-finish - many VOPO rifles have the sanded/gloss stock finish - untouched or natural stained/coloured wood are quite rare on VOPO rifles.

So unless the rifle is some rare maker/code/etc. it is probably a forced matched VOPO rifle (MM parts, with electro penciling and perhaps even the serial number stamped on the butt plate). This would put the rifle in the $2500-$3500 IMHO - prices have gone up but I do realize that these can be found for $1500-2000 still but I think the prices I listed are more realistic. However, if the stock is a sanded/glossy Bubba vs. Vopo refinish - this value would drop by about $500-1000.

I have talked to Darrin Weaver who wrote the book "Hitlers Garands" and despite some consistencies with Vopo rifles, he says inconsistencies seem to be more of the norm. Example - why are some butt plates forced matched and others left alone? Why do some have matching parts and some MM parts? Why do some have VOPO handguards and some wood/durofoil? The list goes on.....

But if the seller wants to sell it to me for $2100 since the other offers are at 2K - I'll Take It!!!

;)
Click to expand...

davemccarthy707 said:
Be careful. "Experts" will give you a low value then be the first to PM you when it goes up for sale. Ask me how I know....
Click to expand...

Maybe you guys can show us what collector grade K43's or other original German rifles you have posted on the forum and tell us a bit about what each of them is worth?

The advice given in this thread regarding value is in my opinion very accurate, and from people who actually own and have knowledge of German G/K43's.

CanadianAR is one of the few people here who actually owns original collectible German rifles and is brave enough to post quality photos of them.

If the OP decides to sell this rifle I think it should be him sending the PM asking to collect on the $2100 offer!

-Steve
 
The best thing about this thread is I know at least 4-5 of the member who have commented on this thread - as I have personally helped/assisted/received help from/or traded with them in the the past.

I even know 'one of these members' sold a lesser example for more than I quoted in recent months.

lol
 
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