7/13/22 - This is a rare and desirable Walther Gewehr 41 (G41) rifle from World War II. The receiver is marked with 'duv 43' code, denoting it was manufactured at the Berlin-Lubecker factory. There were fewer than 10,000 estimated G41s produced before production switched to the G43/K43. These early G41 series of rifles used the "Bang Gas-Trap" system which employed a barrel mounted "Gas Trap" muzzle cone to trap hot gas that was bled off when the round was fired, which cycled the action. This entire series of rifles was very short lived however it was used extensively on the Eastern Front where a semi-automatic rifles was considered essential for "long-life". Consequently, their survival rate is very low in any condition. The later series of G/K43 rifles did away with the earlier "Bang" gas trap style system and instead used a barrel mounted gas system, that was copied from the Russian Tokarev rifles, making them far more reliable and easier to produce. The Walther design was more successful than the Mauser design at least, as they removed the bolt and had a cleaner receiver area as a result. This particular rifle is all matching and correct, with fully matching numbered parts. The receiver and all numbered areas of the upper/barrel are matching, as is the stock, mag well and trigger assembly. E/214 proofs present on several metal parts. The finish on the metal parts is in nice condition but there is thinning and patina on the receiver, trigger group, magazine/mag well, bands and barrel. The stock sustained some form of cosmetic damage and was presumably sanded to make it look better, as there's also a surface crack on the left side that was improved/fixed by sanding. The serial is still visible but it's faint as a result. The buttplate doesn't fit quite perfectly, possibly due to the sanding/cosmetic issue that had occurred. Includes a cleaning rod and sight hood. Bore has strong rifling but a little frost and freckling in the grooves. This rifle is also missing the dust cover on the bolt assembly, and a screw in the trigger guard.
