[Mr.Maim]

Spring rates and screws and such. Former is mechanical. Latter is like putting a 1928 sight on a 1917...purists, you know.

Ah, understood, but they do work just fine I've seen plenty and am stocking up on MG15 drums in anticipation...

Thanks for starting this thread Abominog!

 

[CaptMax]

Only thing better than owning a Mg34 is owning several. Nice assortment Abominog, thanks for starting this thread. I remember how much work you put into that tripod, it is a thing of beauty now.
Glad I bought my semi parts from TNW before they quit building them. Too bad these 34’s have dried up like all the other good parts kits out there.
CaptMax

 

[42rocker]

Very Sweet Gun to shoot. FA or Semi.

Later 42rocker

 

[MG34_Dan]

Here is one of Mongo's videos from back in '05. At 1:41 into the video is one of my MG34s during a 1000 round burst. The shooter, Chris, is actually bored.

 

[Abominog]

One of us has a BSW 39. Omg.

Where’s Allen? He hasn’t chimed in. I think he has almost every year and manufacturer.

 

[ajmdreammg42]

One of us has a BSW 39. Omg.

Where’s Allen? He hasn’t chimed in. I think he has almost every year and manufacturer.

LOL I wasn't going to steal your fire Abominog but since you brought me up....... Been trying to collect every MFG code, and build them into semi's- not just collect the shroud. I don't think I can do every year and code. I still need a S/243, 5A, G, and a circle chain marked shrouds but dont have the money to really look for them now but would do some serious trading for any of these marked barrel shrouds. So anybody has any of these markings lets talk. My favorite ones I have is the BSW 1938 panzer, 1937 Rheinmettal and a BNZ 41 that is all matching, that one I think is the rarest. Waffenfabrik Steyr (BNZ) made only 7,000 of them only in 1941 then I believe they switched to making MG42's. That is the lowest production MFG with the rest of the MFG's producing 60,000 OR more. The earliest marked shroud I have seen was a 1936 dated one. I do not think there are any dated earlier than that because before that date it was still being tested in field trials, but who know maybe something will show up someday. Well here is my list and some eye candy

dfb 42 1079 Panzer
dot 1945 8006 Panzer
BSW 1938 6373 Panzer
dfb 42 5524 X 936 entire kit crossed out restamped
bnz 41 6696 entire kit match
dfb 1941 2092 has early BSW shroud
B 1937 1845 early type shroud ( Rheinmettal) marking
dfb 41 1054
dot 1944 3862
dot 1943 1421
936 1941 2125
936 1939 4488X 8074
ar 42 5010f
cra 1942 3130c

 

[haakster]

Mg34

Now that's impressive! Regards, JH

 

[Abominog]

There is something so wonderfully gothic about that BSW.

 

[Abominog]

Question on barrel jackets. Both Myrvang and conventional wisdom state that the DOT jacket hole pattern is unique. However, I don’t see that. Looking at mine they all appear the same. One might suggest that DOT jackets had been used for replacement on my CRA and DFB but in the case of the both there are witness marks and the underside of the DFB jacket is stamped 936.

Thoughts and observations?

 

[ajmdreammg42]

I can try to look at my jackets later this week when I get the time. I always thought it was only the early jackets that were different- 5 hole verses 4 hole is what I always refereed the difference too

 

[heckinohio]

Parts prices....

We were at Knob Creek more than several years ago........ a vendor in the middle of the swap area had 6-8 MG 34 kits at $395. My companion said those are going to be real pricey in a few years.......we looked but didnt buy........so much for hind site......The only MG 42 parts set I bought was $125. from the west coast......still have most of it.

Heres Donna when she got caught in a rain out prior to getting to shoot........the perfect scowl....dfb 1941, #1159 i, paper says Germany.


PJH

 

[Abominog]

Donna looks unhappy. I’d have been happy to shoot it!

 

[m4a1sof]

The MG34 is my favorite belt fed. It is a work of art, one should be prominently displayed in the Guggenheim museum . I had to pair down my belt fed collection some years ago, I had an M60, an MG42, and a MG34. It wasn't a real hard decision.....I kept the MG34. Mine is a DOT 41 mostly matching.

 

[m4a1sof]

We were at Knob Creek more than several years ago........ a vendor in the middle of the swap area had 6-8 MG 34 kits at $395. My companion said those are going to be real pricey in a few years.......we looked but didnt buy........so much for hind site......The only MG 42 parts set I bought was $125. from the west coast......still have most of it.

Heres Donna when she got caught in a rain out prior to getting to shoot........the perfect scowl....dfb 1941, #1159 i, paper says Germany.


PJH

My case of hindsight was way worse. I was also at Knob Creek back in the early eighties. Ken Keilholz had a table with a mint condition first model FG42 for sale for $6,500.00 and I passed on it. Doh!

 

[Abominog]

Anybody know anything about this book?

 

[Cal.BAR]

My case of hindsight was way worse. I was also at Knob Creek back in the early eighties. Ken Keilholz had a table with a mint condition first model FG42 for sale for $6,500.00 and I passed on it. Doh!

If it makes you feel any better, IF you had taken that 6,500 and invested it into even the most basic index fund, you'd be able to buy ALOT a FG42's

 

[m4a1sof]

If it makes you feel any better, IF you had taken that 6,500 and invested it into even the most basic index fund, you'd be able to buy ALOT a FG42's

Thanks for trying to make me feel better, math is certainly not my forte but I did some quick calcs. and the best I can tell 6,500 with a generous annual return would be worth roughly 180,000 to 200,000, not enough to buy even one FG42. The last FG42 I was able to find for sale sold three years ago at the RIA auction for 241,500.00 and it was a second model, the first model is worth even more. Plus I would have had the FG42 to shoot and fondle and pretend I was a fallschirmjager for the last four decades, that would be priceless . Plus I was a machine gun fanatic in my twenties, the last thing I would do with 6,500 is invest it, so now I don't have the 200,000 OR the FG42

 

[Mr.Maim]

Anybody know anything about this book?

Looks like it is slated for release in April 2020

https://www.schifferbooks.com/the-german-mg-34-and-mg-42-machine-guns-in-world-war-ii-6836.html
https://www.amazon.com/German-MG-34-Machine-Guns/dp/0764359363

Hardcover, 9" x 12", unfortunately only 80 pages

Part of the Classic Guns of the World series of which there are several already in publication (Sten, Thompson, Garand, MP18-MP40, othres...) that all have good reviews but a common gripe is that they are small (fewer pages) than most other books in the genre.