Mg34 repro lafette slings from IMA
Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:27 pm
I just wanted to let everyone know about the Mg34 repro lafette slings from IMA. I just recently purchased one and left a review on the IMA website after several emails to the customer service department. The slings themselves are well constructed and while not an exact duplicate should be good enough for those that cant find one or dont want to make there own. There was one problem, there should be two swival hooks on each strap, these only ship with one making it difficult to attach to the D-rings on the lafette mount. When I emailed this problem to customer services I received the reply:
"Sir: All of our tripod sling sets, including original slings in storage, only have one swivel hook on each strap. Could you please send us a picture of your tripod and attachment points? I believe these are only supposed to
require one hook. David, IMA customer service"
I then inquired again if they were going to resolve the problem when i sent them references to period photos of the strap and the actual lafette with straps including hardware on both ends. This was his response:
"Sir: I checked the stock in our warehouse and all of the GG3466 tripod sling sets only have one clip on each strap. I spoke with our director regarding this and he stated that there is only one clip on each of the individual slings that are attached to the lafette tripod. The other end was strapped on directly so it could not easily be removed. If you look at the pictures on one of the websites that you referred me to you will notice that there is only a clip on one side of the sling attached to the lafette tripod, the side further to the left. The right side you can see the sling passed through one of the D-rings that are attached directly to the tripod. There is no clip visible on that side. David, IMA customer service"
http://www.germanmilitaria.co.uk/pics/laf421.jpg
I guess that means I wont be getting the missing hardware? Note his picture reference in the link above is a modern mg42 pic, not a period photo.
Brian Abela
"Sir: All of our tripod sling sets, including original slings in storage, only have one swivel hook on each strap. Could you please send us a picture of your tripod and attachment points? I believe these are only supposed to
require one hook. David, IMA customer service"
I then inquired again if they were going to resolve the problem when i sent them references to period photos of the strap and the actual lafette with straps including hardware on both ends. This was his response:
"Sir: I checked the stock in our warehouse and all of the GG3466 tripod sling sets only have one clip on each strap. I spoke with our director regarding this and he stated that there is only one clip on each of the individual slings that are attached to the lafette tripod. The other end was strapped on directly so it could not easily be removed. If you look at the pictures on one of the websites that you referred me to you will notice that there is only a clip on one side of the sling attached to the lafette tripod, the side further to the left. The right side you can see the sling passed through one of the D-rings that are attached directly to the tripod. There is no clip visible on that side. David, IMA customer service"
http://www.germanmilitaria.co.uk/pics/laf421.jpg
I guess that means I wont be getting the missing hardware? Note his picture reference in the link above is a modern mg42 pic, not a period photo.
Brian Abela