The German section has been quiet for a while. I picked this up at the last Poulin's Auction and finally got some reasonable pictures taken.
The G33/40 is a German carbine chambered in 7.92x57mm that was derived from the Czech police carbine, the VZ33, and adopted in 1940 by the Wehrmacht, hence the name. It's odd that the G for Gewehr, rifle, is chosen instead of K but so it is. It was made at Československá zbrojovka (CZ) in Brno, or Waffenfabrik Brünn (code: 945 through 1940, thereafter dot), as the Germans named CZ after they annexed Czechoslovakia and seized their arms industry. It was only manufactured from 1940-42 with production of about 40,000 units per year for a total of about 120,000. (In 1943, Waffenfabrik Brünn switched to production of K98k rifles through 1945, with code dot in 1943-44, and swp45 in 1945.) The G33/40 was designed with the Gebirgsjäger (mountain light infantry) in mind, therefore, there was an emphasis on minimizing weight. The bolt knob is hollow, there are lightening cuts on both sides of the receiver and of course it is a short true carbine with a barrel of just 490mm (19.3"). I know the length was the same on the VZ33 but I'm not certain of the other features, since I've never seen one disassembled. The weight is under 8 lbs and it definitely feels light and points quickly, as expected for a 39" rifle (as all of us SKS fans are familiar with). A reinforcing buttplate/kickplate was added on the left side of the buttstock in order to protect the stock when it was used as a climbing aid.
My G33/40 was produced during the first year of production in 1940, hence the 945 code. It has a solid walnut stock and handguard. The stock matches the receiver and barrel but the handguard and bolt are mismatched. It is also missing the front sight hood, which unfortunately is not the same as a K98k sight hood so it's in the hen's teeth category. The buttplate/sideplate are chrome-plated with flecks of rust. No import stamp, which is normal for these, since the majority were imported before the 1968 GCA or were bringbacks. CZ marks characteristic of Československá zbrojovka are seen on the receiver bottom, rear sight base and bayonet lug. The "N5" on the reverse of the bolt root are typical of Czech made bolts, letters and numbers vary. The Waa63 is consistent with Waffenfabrik Brünn manufacture.
I haven't had a chance to fire this yet but I expect a lightweight carbine length firearm chambered in 7.92 is going to have significant felt recoil
SERIAL NUMBERS
CZ (Circle Z) MARKS
LIGHTENING