German duv Code G41 8mm Mauser 21.75” Semi-Auto Rifle, 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $4,375.00
LSB#: LSB251216DH097
Make: Berliner-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik, Lübeck plant (duv factory code)
Model: Gewehr 41
Serial Number: 1990h
Year of Manufacture: 1943 / C&R
Caliber: 8mm Mauser (7.92x57mm)
Action Type: Semi-auto short stroke gas trap system with fixed 10 round magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked, “G.41 duv 43 / 1990h” with a “214” Waffenamt. The bolt, dust cover, and gas trap are not serial matched to the receiver. There are several small Waffenamt and Reichsadler throughout.
Barrel Length: Approximately 21.75”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded blade post set on a ramped base with a stamp sheet protective hood. The rear sight is a U-notch tangent leaf marked out to 12.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece wood set with a barrel band/bayonet lug & cleaning rod, barrel band w/ sling bar, through bolt, semi-pistol grip, sling well and passthrough, straight comb, and cupped steel buttplate. There are scratches and pressure dents throughout. There is a large crack at the wrist and along the top of the refinished handguard. There are a few small chips. The LOP measures 13.6” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition despite the crack.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 10rd internal fixed magazine.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is mostly sharp. There is light erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8.5/10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. There is thinning, scratches, and wear marks throughout along with moderate to heavy patina in spots. There are small spots of rust. The action has light to moderate wear from use. The markings are mostly clear with some having been faded and worn. The screw heads are mostly sharp with lightly tooled slots. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Leather sling.
Our Assessment: This German Gewehr 41 rifle was manufactured in 1943 at the Berliner-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik plant and bears the “duv” factory code associated with that facility. The G41 represents one of Germany’s early attempts to field a semi-automatic infantry rifle during World War II, preceding the more successful G43. The design utilized a gas trap system rather than a conventional gas port, capturing gas at the muzzle to cycle the action. While innovative, the system proved complex and maintenance-intensive, making surviving examples particularly interesting as transitional military firearms. The rifle retains its original 10-round fixed magazine and classic military configuration with hooded front sight and tangent rear sight. This rifle is chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, the German service cartridge introduced in 1903 with the S-Patrone and standardized in 1905, widely used throughout the Second World War. The bore is bright with mostly sharp rifling and light erosion present, earning a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The rifle retains approximately 60 percent of its original metal finish with visible thinning, scratches, and areas of moderate to heavy patina along with scattered surface oxidation. The stock shows typical service wear with dents, chips, and a significant crack at the wrist, placing it in Good condition overall despite the structural issue.
This rifle includes a leather sling and reflects typical wartime and post-war service characteristics including several non-matching components such as the bolt, dust cover, and gas trap assembly. The screw heads remain mostly sharp with some light tool marks, and the receiver markings and Waffenamt stamps remain visible though softened in areas. Overall, this 1943 duv-code G41 stands as a representative example of Germany’s early semi-automatic rifle development, combining historical significance with a solid bore and visible service wear from its wartime use. -R.E.