MG34 shroud wear marks

[anjongni]

This nice "cra" shroud from G/B is notable in that it seems to have never been re-arsenaled. It's fairly early, yet none of the nomenclature was ever lined out or ground off. And look at the impression the rear sight left when in the vertical position. It was shot, a lot. Also, the blueing is worn in front of the sight where it appears to have been in a mount of some kind. The rear 'leaf-spring' under the shroud is broken or removed. What kind of mount would have caused this kind of wear? Any ideas?....Phil

[Der Alder]

post war Israeli carry handle?

[42rocker]

Love the non-hacked nice markings. Enjoy.

Later 42rocker

[anjongni]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =355578127 Thanks 42, sorry if I gave the impression that I won it....55 bids made sure I wasn't even going to try this one. Someone got a really nice, well-used, very original shroud with some mysterious "wear marks"....Phil

[42rocker]

With it selling for that number I almost have to ask -- What did I miss?? A few years back that price would have almost bought a complete mg34 parts kit.

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

Just looked again. The sellers are good folks. I would buy stuff from them anytime.

Later 42rocker

[Tommygunn]

I would say the wear and tear to the barrel shroud blueing was done by the clamp of a Lafette 34 the marks all seem to line up with clamp and base components. Have a look at these photos for how the parts line up: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/ ... ostcount=5

Tom.

[42rocker]

Tom
An interesting point. Also interesting is the fact the the lafette in the picture is a mountain lafette. Notice the back legs.
Thanks for sharing those pictures.

Later 42rocker

[anjongni]

I think you nailed it Tommy...the wear marks are from the clamp on a lafette 34. I had never seen a close-up of how it grasps the shroud. Great photos! Is it "rare" that this shroud was made in '41, never returned to the arsenal to be remarked, not defaced by the Russians or sanitized and stamped by the IDF, fired a lot, especially from the lafette, and turned up in the USA?
I believe I read here that we have the Eastern front allies to thank for their beautiful cosmoline-preserved German guns. That the western allies destroyed captured stuff wholesale. And that the Russians didn't take many prisoners among machinegun crews. They died fighting next to these guns....Phil

[anjongni]

Did you notice that the BSW 1939 shroud in the pictures is missing the latch and the bolt roller catch?....Phil

[Tommygunn]

Phil,
I did. I know there is different nomenclature but are you refering to the barrel shroud/take-down latch and the bolt handle retention latch. You implied that the second latch had something to do with the bolt, from memory when I had a 34, I only recall this holding the bolt handle in the forward position not having anything directly to do with the firing mechanism.

If you do a general search under Lafettes and 34's you should easily be able to find other info and pics on this guys stuff. There is definately a picture of his mountain lafette floating around as I've got it on my hard drive.

Tom.

[olli]

The bolt handle retention latch is needed when fireing the gun.

[anjongni]

https://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/product. ... ctid=78486 Here's one, I believe that by catching the lower bolt roller upon recoil, it "stalls" the bolt for an instant to allow the round to get down-barrel...also keeps the c/h from rattling around...Phil

[Tommygunn]

Fellas are you sure about this because it seems very bazarre especially so for a German made weapon?
Surely, the delay comes from the fact that the lugs on the bolt head engage the breach area and then when the round is fired, and the barrel and bolt recoil as one, it is the rollers camming, in the opposite direction, against fixed/machined parts in the receiver that causes the bolt head to be released from the breach after a 'short recoil'. Considering this component is spring loaded in the wrong direction i.e. it is going with the flow, then I can't compute why it would help with any of the locking, firing, recoil process.
Why would a, comparatively, mildy spring loaded lever only impart pressure on one roller via a small nubbin?

Please, someone, run me though it.

Tom.

[olli]

Its writen about in Myrvangs first book.

[Tommygunn]

I've got to get my hands on a 34 again.

Tom.

[anjongni]

Tom, " the bolt catch prevents the bolt from premature unlocking, and it also serves as a catch for the cocking handle." The threads on the bolt/barrel are course enough to unlock easily by themselves from cartridge recoil (see Blish research on the Thompson lock), so the little catch hits the lower set of rollers and "stalls" the bolt long enough for the bullet to exit and pressures to drop before the unlocking sequence resumes....Phil

[Tommygunn]

Thanks Phil.
Still seems quite peculier though.

Tom.