[Drenski]

Thought I'd create a post regarding skilled and reputable builders for the new MG 42/59 kits that have found their way onto the market. For myself I was looking into making my kit into a semi just to avoid more paperwork, but I don't think this thread has to be solely for those types of builders. The 42/59 has a pretty unique set of dimensions and "issues" that have to be accounted for; of which many have already been discussed including by our own Abominog on this Forum and Lewman on Weapons Guild, specifically in regards to his jig that has to have some trimming and lengthening done to accommodate the unique dimensions.

Taking into account these unique requirements and the relative newness of the firearm in the US (due to lack of kits in the past) has there been any users here that have had their kit built out already or heard about other members in the community that have had theirs completed (besides riflegurl that sent hers to Lewman). Obviously we have reputable MG42 builders like Bob Naess at Black River Militaria and Jared Lewman with Lewman Arms but it wouldn't hurt to document a few more not as well known or new builders.

One builder I have only heard of when researching someone for my 42/59 is Danford Solutions, can't find too much about them yet besides a few posts on their build.

PS: I may create another thread like this on Weapons Guild but frankly I started here because the UI on this site is LEAPS and BOUNDS better than WG haha

 

[Abominog]

I’d stick with a well known builder with experience in these guns. Why risk a screwup on something so expensive? And who wants to show up on one of Lewmans posts about another gun he has to fix. Not me, man. Is Bob taking these builds, did you ask him?

 

[Drenski]

Is Bob taking these builds, did you ask him?

Of course, but he doesn’t have the capacity at the moment. Though I always expect to have to ask Bob a few times before he has narrowed down his current builds and repairs to take on a new one

 

[jaredrLewman]

If your name has been on a 42, I’ve fixed it.. We repair about 2 of our units a year, not bad considering we do over 50 units a year. Not terrible repair rate if you ask me. And as we do more, guns are coming back in for repair less and less. Essentially we get better with each and learn more.
42/59 has some minor tweaks to build them but looking at the guns we have built using receiver parts from 3-5 different guns, they build easy.

 

[Drenski]

but looking at the guns we have built using receiver parts from 3-5 different guns, they build easy.

Jared what do you mean by that last part 3-5 different guns? Have you built 3-5 42/59's or are you swapping receiver parts?

 

[jaredrLewman]

I mean we have built single guns from the torch cut sections of 3-5 different guns to get enough pieces for 1 receiver. Not the 42/59 as they all have their receivers there. But guys who have collected overlapping sections from multiple guns.

 

[Abominog]

While the MG42/59 kits are, as Jared said, the easiest to build ever to hit the shores, I'd still use caution selecting a builder because the MG42 design has some tricky little elements that can cause big problems- in other words, don't scrimp because it's "easier". Go with an experienced builder. Pay once, cry once.