Bcd G43

[R_Hessian]

I would like to share with all of you a BCD made G43 that I was able to buy a couple of weeks ago. Through the years I have only seen two BCD made g43's so I stepped up to the plate and purchased this one ( I would be keen to hear ball park value's ) and went home with a thin bill fold.

It is all matching and I think in pretty nice shape for its age, a nice find in these times when most nice guns are already in collections.

My only regret is that it was made by concentration camp workers in Buchenwald... the dark aspect of this rifle.

My pictures don't do the rifle justice at all, I wish I had the picture skill's of people like Bill Grist who just do the best presentations. Anyway I hope you fellows enjoy my find!

Robert

[R_Hessian]

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[Jeff V]

Very Nice Robert! best wishes,
jeff

[Chet Sowersby]

Robert,
Congrats on a nice aquisition. A hard maker to come by considering how few were made.

Chet

[r.blue]

Robert,
Please go easy on praising Bill's photo skills. He's out of control enough as it is without his ego getting inflated even more!
By the way,
Nice rifle.
R.B.

[Douglas Jr.]

Robert,

This is a very rare bird indeed! For a rifle made under such "gloomy" and harsh conditions (a labor camp) it has a very nice finish and machinery job when compared with those made later (I have one AC45 and it is very crude).

I only could handle one "bcd" G43 and that one saw pretty tough days during the war. According to the owner it was captured during the Italy Campaign and has a lot of deep scratches in the stock. However, the finish is very nice as happens with yours...

Congratulations,

Douglas.

[Bob in OH]

Well, I don't think the machining was done in Buchenwald... The milled receiver was French contract made and I think the 40K camp guns were primarily assembled in Buchenwald rather than primarily mfg'ed there.

The bcd photographed in this thread is a dandy. Mine is a matched war horse...

[R_Hessian]

Well, I don't think the machining was done in Buchenwald... The milled receiver was French contract made and I think the 40K camp guns were primarily assembled in Buchenwald rather than primarily mfg'ed there.

The bcd photographed in this thread is a dandy. Mine is a matched war horse...

Bob,

You are correct the receiver was a French contract and it was "assembled" in Buchenwald. My point was that it bothered me to know that people were forced under the fear of death to assemble these rifles.

This G43 was assembled in a man made hell.

Thanks for the on this example.

Robert
ps. if these were made under SS control were they only issued to the SS???