Weapons · Germany · 1943-1945
Gewehr 43
semi-automatic rifle
Developed by Walther after the earlier Gewehr 41 proved unreliable, the Gewehr 43 borrowed a gas system inspired by the captured Soviet SVT-40 and paired it with a 10-round detachable box magazine. It was renamed Karabiner 43 in April 1944 but continued to be produced alongside the bolt-action Kar98k rather than replacing it. The Wehrmacht intended to issue scoped Gewehr 43s widely for designated marksmen, though that goal was never fully met, and most saw service on the Eastern Front.
| caliber | 7.92x57mm Mauser |
|---|---|
| weight | 4.4 kg |
| effective range | 500 m (800 m scoped) |
| produced | ~402,700 |
