Gewehr 43 | |
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![]() Gewehr 43 from the collections of the Swedish Army Museum | |
Type | Semi-automatic rifle |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Service history | |
In service | 1943–1945 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | World War II First Indochina War |
Production history | |
Designer | Walther |
Designed | 1943 |
Produced | 1943–1945 |
No. built | 402,713 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4.4 kg (9.7 lb) |
Length | 1,115 mm (43.9 in) |
Barrel length | 550 mm (21.7 in) |
Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
Action | Gas-operated short-stroke piston, flapper locking |
Muzzle velocity | 746–776 m/s (2,448–2,546 ft/s)[1] |
Effective firing range | 500 m, 800 m with scope |
Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine or 5-round stripper clips |
Sights | Iron sights, ZF 43 optical crosshair sight |
The Gewehr 43 or Karabiner 43 (abbreviated G43, K43, Gew 43, Kar 43) is a 7.92×57mm Mauser caliber semi-automatic rifle developed by Germany during World War II. The design was based on that of the earlier G41(W) but incorporated an improved short-stroke piston gas system similar to that of the Soviet SVT-40.