Walther Gewehr 43
Carl Walther GmbH · Battle Rifle · Out Of Production · 1943
Also known as: G43, K43, Karabiner 43, Gew 43
Overview
The Walther Gewehr 43 (G43, redesignated K43 in 1944) was Nazi Germany's primary semi-automatic battle rifle of World War II, chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser. Designed by Walther after the failure of the over-engineered G41(W), it borrowed the short-stroke gas-piston system directly from captured Soviet SVT-40 Tokarev rifles, fixing the gas-trap problems of its predecessor. Fed from a 10-round detachable box magazine (also reloadable via two 5-round Mauser stripper clips), every G43/K43 was machined with an integral ZF4 scope rail - making the platform Germany's primary semi-automatic sniper rifle.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4100 g (144.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1130 mm (44.49") |
| Barrel Length | 549 mm (21.61") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 775 m/s (2543 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3700 J (2729 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.92x57mm Mauser · primary — also known as 8mm Mauser, 8x57 IS
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: 10 Round Detachable Box, Stripper Clip Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Lever Safety
- Features: Short Stroke Gas Piston, Detachable Box Magazine, Integral Zf4 Scope Rail, Stripper Clip Guides, Relocated Charging Handle
Variants
- G43 (1943) — Original Designation
- K43 (Karabiner 43) — Redesignation 1944
- G43/K43 ZF4 sniper — Scoped Sniper
Service history
Operators
- Wehrmacht (Heer) · adopted 1943 · as Gewehr 43
- Czechoslovak Army (post-war) · adopted 1945 · as G43
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Cold War (limited post-war use) (1945-1960)
Production
Estimated total produced: 402,713 · Production years: 1943-1945
Walther primary; also Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik and Wilhelm Gustloff Stiftung. ~53,435+ ZF4-scoped sniper variants (~10% of total).
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Carl Walther design team
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
Source variance: weight 4.10–4.27 kg (loaded vs unloaded), barrel 546–558 mm, muzzle velocity 710–775 m/s (depends on ammunition variant - sS heavy ball vs S Patrone). 1888 cartridge year reflects original Patrone 88; modern 'JS' / S Patrone with 8.2 mm spitzer bullet dates to 1903–1905. ZF4-scoped variants comprised ~10% of total production.
Background
The Wehrmacht's encounter with the Soviet SVT-40 during Operation Barbarossa pressured Walther to abandon the failed G41(W) gas-trap system; captured Tokarevs were reverse-engineered and their short-stroke gas-piston copied directly into the G43. Renamed Karabiner 43 in April 1944 because the barrel was actually 2 cm shorter than the K98k, making 'Gewehr' a misnomer.