April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2021
During the early years of World War II, the Heereswaffenamt (German Ordnance Department) requested the design of a new semi-automatic battle rifle that would improve their infantry's overall combat efficiency. Mauser and Walther both submitted designs for trial testing, with Mauser's G41(M) following two out of the three design restrictions put into place by the German Ordnance Department, one of which featuring the distinctive K98 style charging handle, so that the rifle could be operated manually in the event that the auto-loading mechanism failed. This example is marked with an eagle over "135" waffenamt above "G.41 (M)/ 1942" over the chamber, with additional eagle over "135" waffenamts found on most other components. Rifle is fitted with a fixed 10 round magazine, rear sight graduated from 100-1200 meters, and muzzle cone which utilizes the Danish "Bang" system. Charging handle and assembly are not present. Matching numbers include the receiver, bolt assembly, barrel, rear sight assembly, trigger guard, fixed magazine, barrel bands, and stock. Receiver cover and muzzle cone do not match. Interior metal components retain large amounts of what is possibly the rifles arsenal cosmoline. CONDITION: Metal components retain large amounts of their original blue finish, showing some scattered handling marks, as well as a light coat of cosmoline above the wood line and in protected areas. Receiver cover and muzzle cone retain traces of their original blue finish, with the balance turning a gray patina. Mirror bore, with well-defined lands and grooves throughout. Stock shows scattered indentations from storage and use, and exhibits several areas of marring. Left side of stock, beneath the upper handguard, bears a crack with evidence of an old repair. While the exact production numbers are unknown, only an estimated 6,700 G41(M) rifles were produced before production was ceased, making this scarce rifle a welcome addition to the advanced collector's ensemble. -MLW-