ZF4 (ZFK43)

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ZF4 (ZFK43)
multi - 4x - Germany - G43/Kar98/FG42

The ZF4 began as a developmental project at Voigtländer und Sohn of Braunschweig, where it would initialy be called the ZF42. By April 1943 OrgAbt (Organisationsabteilung des GenStdH / Organisational Section of the GenStdH) seeing that the low power scopes like the ZF41 were generally insufficient pushed for their replacment with supreior 3x and 4x scopes. Less than a month later this was supported by In2 (Inspektion der Infanterie; Infanterie-Abteilung /Insoectorate of the Infantry of the HL; Infantry Section of the AHA) who at a May 17, 1943 conferece suggested the ZF41 be cancelled and replaced by the Voigtländer in development as the ZF42. Finally on July 8, 1943 OrgAbt ordered production of the ZF41 cancelled in favor the new Voigtländer scope that was renamed the GwZF4 (Gewehr Zielfernrohr 4-fach), usually shortened to just ZF4. Production was planned to start in November of 1943 but delays would result in the first 500 production scopes not being shipped untill May 1, 1944 (Handrich, 2004). On December 15, 1944 the designation would be changed to ZFK43 (Zielfernrohr K34).

During September and October 1943, still months away from mass production from starting, testing of the new ZF4 scopes on G43 and MP43/1 rifles began at Infanterieschule at Döberitz using early pre-production ZF4 scopes. Additional tests would be conducted in January and February 1944. While the test are today most well known for showing the MP43/1 to be ill suited for use as a sniper or marksman's rifle, the Infanterieschule also reported issues with the new ZF4 scopes themselves. This included parallax issues that varied between scopes, reticles that were misaligned or misshappen, elevations knobs moving while carrying the weapon, a loss of sealing on one test scope, and a second test scope coming apart internally (Handrich, 2004).

The ZF4 would eventually be produced by three manufactures AGFA Kamerawerk (bzz) in München, Opticotechna GmbH (dow) in Prerau (Czechoslovakia), and Voigtländer und Sohn (ddx) in Braunschweig. Voigtländer would produce around 73,000 scopes, Opticotechna around 40,000 with additional scopes made post war for the Czech army, and AGFA Kamerawerk manage around 3500 scopes. All manufactures would suffer from quality control issues, although Voigtländer appears to have suffered the most issues (Espeholt, 2023).

In additiona to the three manufactures listed above, Oculus in Berlin (ddv) is listed as having produced ZF4 scopes by some sources (Wacker, 2011).

Before the end of the war the ZFK 43/1 would be developed as replacement for the ZF4. Post war the ZF4 would continued to be produced by Opticotechna, later renamed Meopta in 1946 after being nationalized. In more recent years Meopta has produced reproductions of the ZF4 scope for the commerical market.

For more info check out http://espeholt.dk for a detailed write up regarding the ZF4.

Images

With German troops on G43 rifle.

With Russian troops on G43 rifle.

With German troops on MP44 rifle.

With German troops on FG42 rifle.

On VZ52 rifle. Have no additional information on this scope mount.

Reticle.

Serial Numbers

As outlined above offical name for the ZF4 changed several times and thus scopes have been found marked G43, K43, and KZF.

The earliest post war Czech scopes made by Opticotechna/Meopta have their german markings lined out with new Czech markings and serial numbers often added. Later Czech scopes were marked Meopta. More modern Meopta reproductions have markings in the style of German wartime scopes.

Serial	Maker	Marked	Images	Notes
12836	dow	Gw ZF 4	1	Dug up from Estonia.
41970	dow	ZF K 43	1	German markings lined out, remarked "U 45" and "4954".
45778	dow	ZF K 43	1	German markings lined out.
54175	ddx	Gw ZF 4	1	Marked "L"

References

Handrich, H. (2004). Sturmgewehr!. Collector Grade Publications.

Wacker, A. (2011). German Sniper Rifles. Propaganda Photo.

Espeholt, C. (Retrieved August 11, 2023). ZF4. http://espeholt.dk/zf4.html