This is an extremely rare very late war rifle that was produced by the DWM factory in the Posen/Wartheland area of Poland and presented to the Gauleiter of Wartheland in early 1945 as indicated on the presentation plaque that is inletted into the right side of the buttstock. This exact rifle is pictured on page 152/153, in the book "Desperate Measures" by Darren Weaver. The plaque reads "Dem Fuhrer/DEM DEUTSCHEN VOLKSSTRUMES/GAU WARTHELAND/ Zum 22.1.1945/GauwirtSchaftsSkammer/Wartheland". A loose translation is: From The Economic Chamber of Commerce Wartheland to the Leader of the Peoples Army Wartheland. At this time the leader or Gauleiter of Wartheland was Obergruppenfuhrer Arthur Greisser, a brutal SS man who was an ardent Nazi and strict enforcer of the German ethnic cleansing policy in Europe. After the war Greiser was captured by the allies, tried, convicted of war crimes and was hung in Poland in July 1946. These late war rifles represented Germany's final attempt to manufacture a simple but serviceable weapon for the Volksturm and are extremely rare in any condition much less a presentation model. These rifles were to capitalize on the traditional turning and drilling operators in lieu of the costly and time consuming heavy machining of traditional rifle production. The receiver, bolt and barrel are all machined with the remaining parts being simple steel stampings or welded operations. This rifle does not have any standard markings or proofs however the top of the receiver ring has been roll-marked or engraved with the original style "DWM" factory logo inside a banner with the left side of the receiver stamped with three small "x" proofs or marks. The late war stock is made from beech or pine with the 1 1/2 inch X 2 inch silver presentation plaque, noted above, inletted into the right side of the stock. The stock is fitted with a simple flat sheet metal buttplate, cross-bolt and late war wire sling swivel on the front of the stock. The front sight is an unusual machined version that has been dovetailed into the front of the barrel. It has a ten round K-43 magazine marked "aye/WaAB43".

Fine as partially refurbished with 80% of the dark blue/black finish overall. The sides of the receiver shows areas of heavy pitting, which may have resulted from it being a poor casting during manufacture. The bolt is still in the semi-white finish and is marked "W1" on top. The stock as noted is made from beech or pine with no markings except for the small presentation plaque noted above. The refinished stock is in very good condition with no handling marks, but has been lightly cleaned or sanded to remove an old GI type varnish. A very rare and very unusual late WWII presentation rifle.