www.MG42.us

Hello,

I dont know if this is in the right section? Anyway, here goes...

I'd like some opinions on this lafette if possible:

Thanks,
Patrick

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/8793 ... 7494_z.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/8803 ... 71c6_z.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/8793 ... 2669_c.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/8803 ... 738e_c.jpg

Looks like a nice modified 34 Lafette to me.

Is this a converted 34 lafette? I thought it was an original lafette 42? Thanks

This is a dedicated 42 Lafette there is no 34 parts making up the cradle, note pressed steel attachment for the rear end of the shock absorber. It is also 43 dated.

However, I am 99.9% sure the range plate is repro!

Are you able to request more (specific) photos as there are some particular areas that need to be looked at?

Tom.

Hi Tom,

Glad to hear it's a correct 42 lafette. May I ask what you think to the paint, looks original to me?

I don't really know about the data plate myself. What is it you would like pictures of?

Thank you,

Patrick

The 3 looked like an 0, on my screen. What's with the MG34 bolt box?

Some more pictures:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3769/8793 ... 818b_z.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/8803 ... f1b6_z.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/8793 ... 52ff_z.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/8803 ... 8eb1_z.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/8803 ... 5c04_z.jpg

Thanks for sharing the extra pics. You can also post them to this site also which makes it easier on the viewers.
As has been said German mg34 converted to mg42.

Later 42rocker

Sorry about the pictures, they didn't seem to upload when I tried to post them here. May I ask how you know this is a converted 34 lafette? Also was this conversion wartime or post-war? What do you think to the pads and paint?
Thanks

Patty218 wrote:Sorry about the pictures, they didn't seem to upload when I tried to post them here. May I ask how you know this is a converted 34 lafette? Also was this conversion wartime or post-war? What do you think to the pads and paint?
Thanks

A 42 lafette, would have a spare bolt box for an MG42. The one shown has a box for an MG34. If you look at what is painted(looks like original paint, but I cant see any red primer?) the parts like the trigger mechanism and front mounting pieces, are not painted - like therye were added alter. Look at the round piece on the front, that too should have been painted with the mount.

Pics part 1
Later 42rocker

Pics part 2
Later 42rocker

Overall I would say that this tripod is good.
What concerns me about the range plate is several things. Firstly, the first column of numbers are butted right up to the dividing line. Secondly the font and size varies i.e. small numbers (1st col), large stretched numbers (2nd col), slightly smaller numbers, so it would appear (3rd column) and the variation continues on the rest of the plate.
My plate and other German plates are consistant and perfectly spaced.
Rivets seem to be overly large and to my mind would be a German sin to overlap the data with the rivets. Also the corners have that clipped look as opposed to a uniform rounded appearance.

Take note of this repro plate:



My plate on the left and another on the right confirmed as German:



The bolt box is correct for an MG42. The characteristic of a '42 box are the two rivets, close together and off-set, for a single leaf spring to retain the bolt. The '34 box had two rivets either side of the box latch to affix a double ended leaf spring.

Concerning parts that are painted and unpainted then it is perfectly consistant that the tripod was factory painted in Gelb. If it was painted in the factory then it would explain why the weapon lock/release, buffer and other parts are in a raw state, so to speak. This was standard practice.

Red oxide, I think, can be seen where the MG's lugs drop in. The possible reason why red oxide can be seem in this area is because it is exposed to a compressive wear from the lugs whereas all other parts/surfaces are subject to lateral wear which would be more damaging.

The date I think is a '43' because everything adds up i.e. factory Gelb paint, 42 tripod, 42 bolt box - everything adds up to latter war 43 date and not 1940. Also, I think the right hand, mid point of the digit appears to turn in as a number 3 would but not on the left side.

I think the pads have been replaced at some point as they don't look age or leather correct.

Wear and tear seems correct, belt wear, spent case ejection, everyday wear etc etc and indeed it does not have that new look e.g. bright steel. Of course, a bit of imagination and a year or so in a damp barn will also do the same.

What would be nice, if your able to get them, is to have photos and/or info on the rest of the codings and stampings. The markings on the T&E unit, markings top left of the main A-frame, maker stamp on the top hinge of the front leg, maker stamp on front lug of front leg adjuster, maker stamps on top of inner cradle bearing bolts (if any) and traverse limiters (if any).

Tom.

Thank you Tommygunn for the in-depth explanation. I have attached a few more pictures below that show the only other markings that I have pictures of currently, and another picture of the main markings on the cradle - which show the '43' stamp a lot clearer.

I've also sent pictures to Bergflak, and his opinion is: "An absolute 100% lafette! I find nothing wrong"

Thanks

Tommygunn wrote:

The bolt box is correct for an MG42. The characteristic of a '42 box are the two rivets, close together and off-set, for a single leaf spring to retain the bolt. The '34 box had two rivets either side of the box latch to affix a double
Tom.

Good catch

What price is being asked for it?

Tom.

Patty,
Have you bought it because I just found a classified for it and it is down as sold. No date on the ad.
The ad has quite a hefty price but since it looks good it might be worth it. It is a big number though.

Tom.

Interesting point
"""The bolt box is correct for an MG42. The characteristic of a '42 box are the two rivets, close together and off-set, for a single leaf spring to retain the bolt. The '34 box had two rivets either side of the box latch to affix a double
Tom."""
Thanks for bring this point out. Normally we look inside the box. Thanks for the highlight bbigbore.

Later 42rocker

Hi Tom
Yes I have bought this one, just waiting for it to arrive now. It's not cheap, but these original ones ( the ones that aren't yugo/post war altered) and in original paint are only going to increase in value, and over here in the UK - WW2 lafettes (of any kind) are hard to find, and there are dealers charging near enough the price I've paid, for yugo converted ones!
Patrick

The rivets on the plate must be wrong, thas all I can see.