Portuguese contract 34 in transit/storage box.

[Damien Horn]

Here's the latest aquisition, a dewat contract 34 in its transit box. Most of these have been split up now so it was a nice find. Everything matches, except for one barrel tube. It appears it was last fired in 1970. I hope you like the pictures.

[Reichpapers]

Great pic...nice and clean rig you have there.

[ChevyM14]

I am going to build my self a transit box and I (as well as some other members of the board) would be very grateful if you could post some good pictures of all the Hard were, the corners (how they are joned together) and the bottom (I have never seen the bottom of one).

[TOM R]

thats sweet, dimensions on the box would be awsome

[Damien Horn]

Okay, thats not a problem. Give me a few days, maybe the weekend will afford me more time to get it outside again and take all the kit out of it so you get to see the box properly. I was thinking of perhaps moving this set on, but can you guys in the USA have it with an English dewat certificate?
D.

[TOM R]

unfortunatly dewats are not good for usa only demill and that would destroy the gun, measurements would be awsome i need to build a case for mine, also need measurements for a mg42 transit chest

also is the top bottom sides and ends all single planks or are they 2 planks to make up each pannel

[ak47dennis]

Damien

Very nice, that is the second matching MG34 (dot with all the trimmings) that I have seen show up in recent months. I love those chest , would surely make life easier hauling my 34 and all its accouchements.

[TOM R]

I copied this today and the size looks close just need to make the compartments

[Damien Horn]

Sorry fo the delaly, I put it down to no time a wife and 2 kids. I will make an extra special effort to get it done this evening. I will take all the necessary measurements and hope they get you on your way.
I have found an empty transit box that someone has for sale...its the same as mine but empty of gun/gun parts. He wants £75 sterling for it. I am happy to get it for anyone who wants it...carriage will be at cost. If a few of you want transit box's then perhaps you could buy it in between you and make up your own new box's from it. That way you can split the overall cost...just an idea. Anyway I hope to get down to the task later today.
Thanks for your patience, I wish my wife had some.
D.

[Damien Horn]

Hi,
Firstly may I say that I am not the worlds best at decribing all the things you may want or need to be able to make your own transit box, but I have done my best to help all those who are interested in 34 diy. I have also taken a series of pictures which may help you in deciding where to put what and how in you box. Being only able to list a few pictures on the forum I have them on file and those who want them can email me for them directly at mailto:damienhorn@jerseymail.co.uk
So the basic sizes I thought you would need are length 121cm, width 28cm, hight 26cm. The wood looks to be 18mm thick approx.
The front, bottom, lid and back of the box are single pieces of wood. Each corner has the end cut off. The end panels are made up of one piece of wood with seperate pieces added to form an outer square making a recess for the carry handle.The outer square pieces are 55mm wide by 18mm. The ends are 38mm thick approx.
The inner measurements of the box are 25cm x 22.5cm x 113cm.
The hinges are 21cm in from the end the two strips of 55mm wood that run along the lid and the base are 7cm in from the end of the box.
I am sorry to put these details in such a confusing way but I have tried my best for you...I hope you can make something from them.
All the best,
D.

[TOM R]

here are more pics from damien for this chest I am also makin this topic a stickie so it does not get lost

damien thantks for this contribution i know alot of guys want a chest that looks original and this wil help alot, now we just need you to find an mg42 chest

[Kleist]

Is that plywood in the last pic??

[TOM R]

yup

[Demontrooper]

Wow, very nice! Please find a MG42 chest!

[ChevyM14]

how much dos that case way? It look very heavy!

[BELTLEAD]

I.M.A. used to sell those MG34 transit boxes about ten years ago.

[stifeout]

What a Beaut...! When you can some time can ypu post a pic of the external script, if it's in German..I would like to replicate some of it!

[ak47dennis]

The script is NOT German it’s the Portuguese model designation. Here is a picture of the top of my chest just for the heck of it.

[bergflak]

Seems to be some confusion going on about the Portuguese transit boxes! The boxes are in fact just that! They are Portuguese made, and NOT German WW2 manufacture. The Germans never made a transport box themselves for the MG34 or MG42.

[Pug42]

So how were the 1,000 sets of MG34 and matched accessories like spare barrels and bolts etc shipped to Portugal in 1943? Seems entirely reasonable that a box to hold all the bits was made, even if specifically only for that contract (i.e. the Germans never made any for their own use).

Not saying you are wrong, mind - it's just you are the first person I've ever heard say the Portuguese made the box themselves? All previous info has suggested the Germans made the box, for export, and the Portuguese stencilled them..??

We are all curious as to the elusive answer to how consignments of MGs were shipped out to frontline units during the war. Nobody seems to have a clear view of this, and pictorial evidence is hard to come by apart from some custom metal stowage boxes on various vehicles, carts etc.

Hoping you can shed some light...