Hitler's Garand Walther G43 Gewehr 43
A friend of mine came across a Walther G43, guy selling it wants $800. He held off on it but the guy still has it. In the shop we have the last 4 editions of Blue Book of Gun Values & haven't been able to find this rifle. Supposedly the $800 price tag came form a 1993 Blue Book. Assuming it's in good shape, what would the value of this rifle be?
I don't think it's a sniper variant, most likely would look like one of the bottom rifles in this pic:
I have been able to find a couple of websites on the rifle but not a good range of what it's value may be. I'm thinking $800 is a steal & he should jump on it.
Regards,
I don't think it's a sniper variant, most likely would look like one of the bottom rifles in this pic:
I have been able to find a couple of websites on the rifle but not a good range of what it's value may be. I'm thinking $800 is a steal & he should jump on it.
Regards,
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Thats alot of gewher 43's
Go Army Beat Navy
IF you wanna have fun join the cavalry0 -
The "bottom rifles in the pic" are Walther Model 41 W's rather then the latter Model G43. If this guy is selling a 41 W for $800, it's a steal. Don't think about it, run on down there and buy it from him. The 41 W was made in much lesser quantites then the G43, and a lot of them didn't make it back from east front! 0 -
I haven't seen what it looks like but definately is a G43.
Regards,0 -
When this rifle was designed around 1940 the idea was for it to replace the Kar98 as the standard sevice rifle in the German Army. In typical German fashion there were two competitors: Mauser G41(M)and Walther G41(W). The Mauser design was a flop and the few rifles produced sell for over $5000 in nearly any condition you can find (I've never seen an example first hand). As mentioned by the Snowman, if the rifle in question is a Walther G41 then RUN, do not walk, and force the $800 into the mans hand and flee! These Walthers are tough to locate and easily sell for over $2000 in good shape. Walther had an order for about 70,000 of these (although there were far fewer actually produced) and the entire production run went to the Eastern Front for troop trials...most stayed in the Soviet Union along with the troops.
In 1943 the German Army chose a modified Walther design and called it the G43. About 500,000 of these were produced but with the developement of the MP44 series of assault weapons the situation changed and the demand for a full caliber semi automatic battle rifle fell away. The G43 was a well designed rifle but by late in the war quality began to get spotty and the use of contract and slave labor was taking its toll. Internally these rifles were made to a high standard while the outside appearence was often rough and unatractive. In typical condition $800 would seem to be a good price. If the rifle is better than avarage then $1000 or more is quite realiastic.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Mark, appreciate your response. I will pass on the info. Can you recommend a good blue book like guide for this type of gun? I heard that Blue Book of Gun Valus used to have a WWII section.
Regards,0 -
http://www.collect.com/product.asp?catalog_name=Krause&category_name=Firearms+&+Knives+Bookstore&product_id=SMF1
Amazon will have the best price.0 -
The Blue Book does not offer much help on these rifles, although there are entries on Lugers, P-38's, and Mauser bolt actions. Every price list I've ever come across was out dated the day it was printed and I really don't have a good source. Modern military weapons are my major interest so I tend to keep track of firearms like the G43 when I see them at auction or come across on offered for sale.
After many "dry" years these types of firearms are returning to the collectors market due to the fact the WWII vets who brought them home are getting old or dying. Lots of vets can't see much point in holding onto these firearms when they can easily be sold and the money spent on other things. In many cases their children have no interest in firearms at all and would simply sell the guns if they were inhertited (I've seen LOTS of posts on GB where people inherit Dad's gun and now want to cash it in). Why give the money to the kids when you can spend it on yourself? You can't take them with you!
My personal opinion is that the years 2000 to 2010 are going to be a window of oportunity to purchase WWII collector firearms in quality and quantity not seen since the 1960's. By the end of the decade the vast majority of those who served in WWII will have passed on and the firearms they owned will have found new homes and may not surface on the market again for another 30 years. The guns I am seeing on the market now (mostly at auction) are the ones which have been privately held for decades and are un touched and un molested...just like the day they got stuffed into the duffle bag. Most have seen little or no use in decades and are light years ahead in quality of an equivelent surplus arms commercially imported. I'm buying what I want now; The prices paid today will seem like huge bargans in 10 years and there won't be nearly the selection availalbe. Remember, this is only my opinion...I won't tell anyone how to spend their money when a savings account offers a solid 3/4% return or a CD less than 2%.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Thanks Rufe! I will get one!
"Why give the money to the kids when you can spend it on yourself? You can't take them with you!"
I'm going to borrow that from you if you don't mind.
Regards,0 -
quote:Originally posted by mark christian
...I won't tell anyone how to spend their money when a savings account offers a solid 3/4% return or a CD less than 2%.
3/4% on a savings account??!! Holy cow! Where can I get that? Wachovia likes to give me a good chuckle every month when they send my "High Performance Money Market" account statement...it's yielding 0.25%.
That is an interesting thought, Mark, about the firearms which may be coming onto the market over the next decade.
Click here to see my Radom in the auction.0
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