Gew 41

[MichaelWilliamson]

Walther, not Mauser, but I can't think where else to put it.

Just acquired. The magazine is incorrect, but the plate matches numberwise, and the machine work looks very professional. I'm trying to decide if this was some local unit's work, an arsenal job, some sort of fabricated workaround for lacking the magazine, or what.

Information

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[MichaelWilliamson]

More pics.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I'm trying to decide if this was some local unit's work, an arsenal job, some sort of fabricated workaround for lacking the magazine, or what.

My impression: not ex-arsenal, and not Bubba either, but the work of a local unit ("base workshop") to keep a rifle in action, lacking the original magazine, which was presumably damaged - they don't just fall out. Collectors often forget that the armorer's job was to keep the guns shooting, not to produce perfectly matching equipment in so-called "correct original condition" for said collectors to enthuse over 75 years later!

To use the well-worn phrase, that magazine is "part of its history". To replace it, for instance, in the misguided attempt to make it more "original" or "correct" would, in fact, be a falsification. I am not suggesting that that is what you are intending to do, merely taking the opportunity to point out what is, alas, all too frequently done.

[browningautorifle]

It looks pretty good like it is, why not leave it?

[MichaelWilliamson]

It looks pretty good like it is, why not leave it?

First, I want to determine how and why it was done. Patrick offers some good suggestions. This was certainly done in a professional machine shop.

Second, if it was not a military mod, then it's not correct for the rifle, and the value is reduced, and it should be fixed as well as possible.

If it turns out it was an armorer repair, or likely to be, then of course it should be retained that way.

"Looks good" is the death of so many artifacts--people who incorrectly polish swords, clean coins, chrome plate Mausers, etc.

I haven't had one in hand before, so I'm wondering if that baseplate is original. If so, Patrick's hypothesis gains additional weight. If it was fabricated from Mauser parts, we still don't know. I've got a query in with a Danish collector who may have additional insight.

And of course, I would try to keep the modded parts as well, since one way or another they're beautifully done examples of gunsmithing.

---------- Post added at 12:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:06 PM ----------

My impression: not ex-arsenal, and not Bubba either,

To use the well-worn phrase, that magazine is "part of its history". To replace it, for instance, in the misguided attempt to make it more "original" or "correct" would, in fact, be a falsification. I am not suggesting that that is what you are intending to do, merely taking the opportunity to point out what is, alas, all too frequently done.

Yes, but it's only "part of history" if it's not Bubba.

First I need to figure out what and why. Then decide how to proceed.

[browningautorifle]

"Looks good" is the death of so many artifacts

Thanks for the brush off, I meant it's likely correct so leave it. Have at 'er, whatever...thanks for coming by.

[MichaelWilliamson]

Thanks for the brush off, I meant it's likely correct so leave it. Have at 'er, whatever...thanks for coming by.

It is not correct. That's why I was asking.

So, in return, if you don't actually know anything about this weapon, please don't pretend you do.

Thanks for coming by.

---------- Post added at 01:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

It's supposed to look like this, for those who haven't seen one. Which is most people.

[MichaelWilliamson]

Patrick, I don't think this was a field repair. It's a lot of work that would have been more easily handled with, "Here's a Mauser. We'll use this one for parts."

Also, the base was reblued after the alteration, which would certainly not be a field repair.

It could be a post-war change for either some legal compliance, or to turn an incomplete gun sellable, done by a professional gunsmith. But no one so far has seen another one, which certainly makes it interesting.

[browningautorifle]

So, in return, if you don't actually know anything about this weapon

That's where you'd be wrong, and arrogance goes short here. Correct doesn't mean factory either...I believe it was done by the men back then. Anyway, we'll be watching you try to prove something that's impossible to prove either way. You'll end up with what YOU want to believe.

Had the gun been in Canada it well could have been changed to comply short mag capacity. But it isn't.

[MichaelWilliamson]

Consulting with an historian.

German law has a 10 round limit, so there was no need to reduce it, and all the waffenamts are intact. It was probably not a German modification.

There are no import marks.

Still not finding any similar rifles documented anywhere.

Probably a US repair for a damaged or missing magazine.

I will try to find an original magazine, which might drop in in place, it doesn't appear the base was modified, only the plate.