Is there a M43 Spanish Air Force Mauser Expert on board?

[usabaker]

I was looking at the M43 Spanish Air Force Mauser I purchased two weeks ago and noticed that there is black paint on the front band, barrel, and front sight. DId the Spanish paint these rifles or is this a gun owner "improvement"

Thanks in advance,
Bill

Information

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[Anzac15]

I have seen the SAF Mausers with black paint.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Mine appears to be blued.

[usabaker]

Mine appears to be blued.

Wish there were more infromation on these rifles. Thanks!

[Anzac15]

One thing I do know about these rifles is that some were built from Polish kar98s, even some German kar98az's...might be worth taking out of the wood and looking under the rifle for proof marks left over.

[usabaker]

worth taking out of the wood and looking under the rifle for proof marks left over.

I'll do that next time I take it out of the gunsafe

[GOVTMOD]

The model Designation is M1944. They are reworked Radom Wz29s. They were delivered to the anti-fascist Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War. After the M1943 was adopted the Fascist gov't opted to re-arsenal the captured guns for the use of the Air Force so not to disrupt delivery of the 43s to the army, etc. and hasten the transition to the large ring 7.92x57mm cartridge. None of the furniture is interchangeable with the M43 and there is no provision for the Riccheri bayonet adaptor so it could only mount the newer pattern bayonets being issued with or without the muzzle ring.

If this rife was rearsenaled and refinished a decade or 2 after being built it would have been when the CETME C was in common use and the standard finish was paint. Even more likely if it was an arms room refurb.