Gewehr K43 Magazine ID

[Czar44]

I found what appears to be a German Gewehr K43 ten round magazine amongst my grandfather's things. He served in WWII and may have taken this off a German soldier, as we never had this gun. I would like help identifying the markings, I can't seem to find an exact match anywhere. I've been told that it was manufactured at the height of WWII in 1944-1945, and that it is rare because it still works perfectly and has not been modified in anyway (i.e. to conform with hunting laws).

Is K43 more rare than G43?
Is this good condition for a magazine that is 70 years old?
What would one go for IF we decided to sell it?

Pictures:

Top
https://24.media.tum...bvc0o3_1280.jpg

Side
https://24.media.tum...bvc0o1_1280.jpg

Stamps
https://31.media.tum...bvc0o2_1280.jpg

Any and all help would be appreciated,

Czar

[JKindred]

Your photos are not showing but to answer one of your questions, while expensive G43 / K43 magazines are not rare.

[Czar44]

Updated links to the pictures:

Top
https://24.media.tumblr.com/1b1da1e74c8 ... 3_1280.jpg

Side
https://24.media.tumblr.com/bba58d9b2f7 ... 1_1280.jpg

Stamps
https://31.media.tumblr.com/00f72bbe2d7 ... 2_1280.jpg


Some more info:

After looking up the Waffenamt number, I found that it was made by "Südmetall AG" in "Mussbach a.d. Weinstr." I am unfamiliar with this company, but apparently it was located in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, which is a state in South West Germany that borders France. I know the Rhine was tremendously important during WWII, was this factory set up in the heart of where the fighting was? Would this tell me exactly when it was made?

As for the price, I have posted links below to the highest selling items on ebay (about half the items are $400+ and the other half are around $90-$250). I'm just curious as to what would make them worth so much, if they were made by a special manufacturer or during an important time of the war. The links provided are both current listings and sold items, you can click on the "See Original Listing" link to view pictures and any posted information.

$450 Current Listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-G43-K43-10 ... 461fecb66c

$550 Current Listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-G43-K43-10 ... 43c9d3ae8f

$500 Sold
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1944-G43-K43-10 ... 461e9d8cbe

$320 Sold
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-WW2-GERMAN ... 58ae7b138a

$600 Sold
http://www.ebay.com/itm/G43-10-round-Ma ... 19e986ef6a

$600 Sold
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1944-G43-K43-10 ... 43c6073784

[JKindred]

Someone paying over a couple a hundred for one just shows they didn't have a clue what to pay for one. MP44 magazines are harder to find and usually sell in the S400-500 range tops.

If I could sell the ones I have for over $500 each there would be a couple dozen more on the market. Over the years I have seen g43 magazines offered for $150-200 each at the Show of Shows go unsold.

[John G.]

G43 Mags. usually retail for $90.00 ("Good" used) to $200.00 (Exc.) .... any more is "sucker pricing"..... (which eBay is famous for....!) ....but, of course, there are plenty of fools out there....

Obviously "extra" magazines are always scarce.... many rifles have missing magazines.... collectors want magazines for clip pouches and for display, shooters want extra magizines, re-enactors want extra magizines.... but they aren't worth $500.00 plus unless you have unlimited funds.... which certianly isn't a realistic appraisal/valueation.

If you're looking for suckers.... eBay or Gunbrokers is a good place to take advantage of the unknowing.... but not very ethical when you know better.
John G.