Between 1940 and 1942, the Germans manufactured approximately 120,000 G33/40 rifles at the Waffenfabrik Brunn plant. There were approximately 40,000 rifles manufactured in 1940 which were coded "945" on the receiver along with the year, "1940". By 1942 the rifles were coded "dot" along with the year, "1942". There were approximately 45,000 rifles manufactured in 1942.

Several weeks ago I found a G33/40 action in very good condition. I had been looking for a nice G33/40 action for a while because I wanted to have Duane Wiebe build me a .275 Rigby on the action, built in a style in keeping with the 9.3x62 that Duane built for me. My 9.3x62 is the pride of my rifle collection. I had the seller ship the action to Duane directly.

Today I received the following picture from Duane:



The picture is of two G33/40 actions. The action on the left is another G33/40 action in Duane's shop and the action on the right is mine. The action on the left was on a rifle that Duane built several years ago for another customer and that Duane is currently rebarreling. My action is a coded 945 action built in 1940, the other action is a dot coded action built in 1942 -- but with the identical serial number.

What are the odds of two of the same actions of which there were only 120,000 manufactured, each of which was manufactured over 60 years ago and survived WWII and made their way to the United States, being sent to the same gun builder (and not just the same gun builder but being at his shop at the same time), with identical serial numbers? I am not a statistician but I am willing to bet those are long odds!

I am taking this as a sign from the Gun Gods that this .275 Rigby is going to be an even more special, mystical weapon than what Duane would otherwise build! Incredible karma . . . a sign from above.

That is just nuts!

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I am taking this as a sign from the Gun Gods that this .275 Rigby is going to be an even more special, mystical weapon than what Duane would otherwise build! Incredible karma . . . a sign from above.

I would go with it.

Pretty cool, with coincidence/luck like that, I'd be buying some lotto tickets. Ya just don't never know!

If you eventually ever try and take them both to some African country at the same time your Karma may take a slight change for the worse - but until then you will have a unique and no doubt quite beautiful pair of rifles.

Only one is mine, the other belongs to someone else. I hear what you are saying though -- trying to convince someone that they need to look at the date and coding in addition to the serial number would be a challenge, probably a challenge to get Customs here comfortable with it too.

I'd sure make an offer on the other rifle. That would just be a hell of a pair.

That's awesome, unbelievable.
The probability of that happening is beyond remote, by miles.

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I'd sure make an offer on the other rifle.

YES! Offer to replace his action with a near identical one and a sum of cash. Having a pair with mathing original serial numbers would be VERY cool.

Not only is the sn unique but they are both "C" block runs too! It both these guns were in original form they would be worth a fortune.

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Originally posted by tendrams:

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I'd sure make an offer on the other rifle.

YES! Offer to replace his action with a near identical one and a sum of cash. Having a pair with mathing original serial numbers would be VERY cool.

Imagine the fun you could have going through customs.

you need to buy a lotto ticket this week....

Mike,
As a lawyer you know full well the legal implications and ramifications of the possibility of getting caught if you try and take the rifle out of the country... better to give it to a banker like me! Hell, Obama thinks we are all crooks anyway, might as well prove him right!

Your Best Banker Bud,
Russell

Keith

Someone must be importing G33/40's from China

You could always try to convince the owner of the other action to take the action from your 9.3x62 plus cash in trade and set up your "pair"of rifles as a real pair. Now, that would add to thier stature, and you could never trade either one away.

Von Gruff.

Hi Mike,

Customs is always such fun isn't it! That said, I don't think I have ever had US customs actually check the manufacturer on a weapon. Heck, I have sometimes actually just been waved through as I flashed my 4457. One could also always list one rifle as a "Mauser" and the other as "Wiebe" on the 4457 I suppose. 99.99% of all customs guys would never know the difference anyway.

Hello, Mike:

Here's another tier of the amazing coincidence--the owner of the "other" action also lives in Texas. He would be me.

Mayhaps we all should buy lotto tickets?

JTurk,

Duane told me it was someone from Texas, I think he even mentioned the city. Maybe I am just simple minded, but this really struck me as an amazing confluence of events. When Duane first contacted me I thought that perhaps my action was bogus, then it occurred to me that they used the different receiver codes and years.

Let's make a deal, if you ever decide to part with your rifle, let me know. I will do likewise!

OK, two rifle same serial number at same gunsmith from two guys who live in Texas???

Next thing we will find out is that you two were actually seperated at birth???

Great story!

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Originally posted by Rusty:
OK, two rifle same serial number at same gunsmith from two guys who live in Texas???

Next thing we will find out is that you two were actually seperated at birth???

Great story!

Who also post on the same internet website that is hosted half the world away.

That's not coincidence, that's eerie!

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Originally posted by Fjold:

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Originally posted by Rusty:
OK, two rifle same serial number at same gunsmith from two guys who live in Texas???

Next thing we will find out is that you two were actually seperated at birth???

Great story!

Who also post on the same internet website that is hosted half the world away.

That's not coincidence, that's eerie!

This is AWESOME!!!

Yes, I think I should buy a lotto ticket after reading this...LMAO