mg42 front shroud question

[trooperjim]

I am new to the forum since I am now building an mg42! My question is on my mg42 shroud where it was cut, it looks like there are small (approx 1/8") holes drilled at the front of the shroud. Does anyone have a picture of one like this? Is it original? what is the purpose? I want to build it back as original. I notice the Yugo shrouds that I have are just plain.

[42rocker]

First Welcome to the site. The search button helps with a lot of problems.
Myself I've had a long day and I'm sure that others will be along to help out and if not then tomorrow I'll try to give you a hand.

Good Luck

Later 42rocker

[drooling idiot]

never saw that before , no idea what purpose it would serve.

[42rocker]

Well I'm more awake now than the first post. Was taking photos last night of my German MG42 and MG34 set ups.

What you have is a common "German WW2" barrel shroud, not yugo. Look at the front sights from the side. Note the double "U" pattern. You have a WW2 German barrel shroud. The muzzle area is the type that is referred to as "with holes". Go to
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1830&start=20
then download the pdf file from Kada (Great Study) and look at page two type 1. See the holes, well yours was cut at the holes. Following the study you can find out who made that type and get a time period they were made and somewhat how many were made.
The Double "U" is great as it states clearly German WW2. Also the Holes because only the Germans during WW2 did the holes.

Good Luck and Enjoy the rebuild. If you have more questions let us know.

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

Well I think that I'm awake but had to edit the mistakes in the above post 4 times. I'm sure that someone can find a few more errors. But I give those away freely to them.
Well looks like your into a rebuild and looks like you have found a good jig setup to use. Way to Go.
Now you stated that you want to be as correct as possible... CAN'T say enough, download Kada's study, read it then read it again and then go to his website and see the new study (German only) and follow the studies... They will try to guide you in what front you have, to what rear to use (Good Luck in getting a correct rear to use) and more about the markings that you should find or want to copy. Also items on where the rivet goes on the bottom and short or long tang on the lafette pin/grip stick holder and a few more things. That's if you want to be as correct as possible.
If you were super luck or spent a lot of money you have a three cut complete receiver to rebuild. I've seen "3-cut original receiver from the same mg42" that have had different style companies parts before. Wrong, the complete receiver can be followed and traced, catching the mis-match guys out there.

So How About a few more pics of your kit and maybe we can offer some info, parts or whatever.
MORE PICS PLEASE...

Later 42rocker

[trooperjim]

Ok,

That file helps alot. She's a bit of a frankenstein but i'm trying to do the best with what I have. Like I would ever sell it anyway! not.

what I have is:
the front shroud which is shown. type 1 UU. Unfortunately it was cut between the rear site and the trunion.
as far as the rear receiver I have an old yugo with the long tripod mount (which i will change)
german buffer and wood buttstock (eagles)
german pistol grip frame w/ bakelite (which i will not destroy for the rebuild) (eagles)
german spring
german charging handle (cof)
top cover (cof) (eagles)
german feed tray (cof)
german marked bolt (which i will not destroy for the rebuild)
german bipod
german barrel
german barrel extension
german sights and barrel door.
and a bunch of extra yugo parts

I will post some pictures when i get my camera out. What markings would this have at the rear on an original rear receiver?

[42rocker]

Wow... Sounds like you have been busy getting stuff together.. Looking forward to a few pics.
I would always try to use a yugo bolt and gripstick as you need to redo them in some way. Keeping the German stuff for another day. I have very few German marked wedges (inside bolt part), one of the few that I have was (of course) drilled for a semi auto firing pin.
""" What markings would this have at the rear on an original rear receiver?"""
For that again I would look at Kada's study for the side markings. Then look around this website for more then ebay and gunbroker. I have downloaded any pics that I see of mg42 rear right side markings. As far as the top goes normally 3 WaAmps. I'll try to find a pic later and post it up over the weekend to this thread.
You should review Kada's data and figure out using the double "U" front sight and "holes" and figure out who made it. Then using the company and time period it should have been made, be able to figure out what should be on the rear stamping. arz, rea, brp or other types of markings that could be there.
With a double "U" and using holes and Kada's charts you could use about any company and be correct. Also looks like without a German rear you would get to pick what time period that you want. Ok, early time not late as holes were used more at the begining. You could even do some reworking on that yugo rear and make it look like a German rear with work that is. Finding true German rears is getting harder and harder.
Any rate, lots of "fun" work is ahead, Good Luck with it. From the list of parts you already have, your on your way.
Looking forward to pics and seeing the build and then a range report of how well it worked.

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

Dude did you say
"""rear receiver I have an old yugo with the long tripod mount"""
Only German rear receivers have long tripod/grip stick mounts. Double check this.
Looks like a type 2a receiver build could work well for this. Only 2 of the three companies used this type.
Narrow this down and I'll dig up some side marking pics for you later.

Later 42rocker

[trooperjim]

Yes, According to the receiver study, it is a long tripod mount. Behind the gripstick, it is the larger square hole which is probably 3/4" x 3/4". I don't know anything about the rear receiver, it was cut and all the markings are gone off of it. I'm just assuming it is a yugo. I'll get some pics up before the end of the weekend.

[42rocker]

TrooperJim
Markings on the top
Normally 3 WaAmps one on each side and one just to the rear of the rear rivet. These are not the best pics but I had them on the hard drive. Hopefully it will show you where to look. If I get a chance I'll get camera out Sat and take and post a nice one of the top. Take a look for those marks.

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

More info for everyone. Kada has updated a few things and added more. Just wish I could read German.

http://www.parabellum.at/

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

Well here are a few pics of a ima 3 cut rear receiver that I have. Wish that I had bought more of them from ima during that brief time that they had them. I have circled the WaAmps that are normally on the rear of a German receiver. Look carefully for them under light and use a magnifier to aid you. Good Luck.
What does the left side of the rear of your receiver look like anyway?

I will be making a post with pic #33 and looking for a few thoughts on it later. Look inside at the remains of the grip stick holder / lafette peg holder.

Later 42rocker

[trooperjim]

Well Here are a few pics of my project. My lighting is not the best. Let me know if you want anymore. and for anyone that is wondering, it has a block for the bolt and a block for the gripstick. This is a semi-auto build.

[trooperjim]

I'm pretty sure my rear section is a yugo however, someone did a bunch of welding and grinding on it before i got it.

[42rocker]

Don't want to argue with you to much, but I think that you have a German rear receiver, not yugo. I believe it to be a dfb MU type of receiver. Lets see large rear opening and off set (poorly removed) rivet (front one buffer pads), your pic 5. Those two things only happen on German receivers not yugo. That said if you want to call it yugo, go for it it's yours. Myself I would think about calling it a German made dfb MU (MU means 1944) and have the side lettered like the one that I posted. Different serial number if you would. Also looks like one of the ima 3 cuts that was welded back together. Again your pic 5, and following ad, see top pic look where cuts and your welds are, The front piece length changed greatly very short to long like the one shown.

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=9293&p=71556&hilit=ima+3#p71556

Also check Kada's site, I can read the pics even if I can't read the German.

http://www.parabellum.at/

Important pic ripped from Kada's site

image132.jpg (15.32 KiB) Viewed 2772 times

All in all forgeting about names for a minute. Looks like you have a great start. Please keep working at it and get another piece of history working again. Do you have rails yet? If not think new ones that way you can drill the holes in the rails where they need to be drilled.
Nice Top Cover.
Do the camming pieces match? (some folks call them trunnion piece) As someone states the mg42 does not have a "true" trunnion just camming pieces.
Well keep working at it. Good Luck with doing the front area. I would use Brian's Front Receiver Bushing,
http://www.brpguns.com/categories/Semi- ... Semi-Auto/

I like it when folks post """ I want to build it back as original.""" Rather than all I want to do is make this thing work no matter how many different parts I have to use. From as many different style weapons I have to rip parts from.

Good Luck in rebuilding history.

Later 42rocker

[trooperjim]

I will look at it and see what I can figure out. It would be a dream if it was a german receiver! I'll get some more detailed pics on that section. Is there a source for replica stamp sets?

[trooperjim]

Here is a pic of the rear section on the bottom. Everything looks a little rough still. I still have a little "body" work to do before she's finished.

Here is a pic of my 1943 British Bren that I just finished last month.

[42rocker]

Nice looking Bren mark 1. Did you redo an IO cut or a MGS cut. Looks like it was an IO style cut from the pic.
Did you get it to the range yet?

On your mg42 rear pic note how the rivet holes are not in a line. That's like the dfb MU receivers. On yugo receivers they are in a line.

Thanks for the pic share.

Later 42rocker

[trooperjim]

I Can't remember where I got the bren from. I want to say it was military gun supply. It was quite a project. All I have to do is test fire it and figure out what type of finish to put on it.

As far as the MG42 goes...that's the best news i had all week!

[42rocker]

If you put together a mgs cut bren then this mg42 build will happen. IO cuts are a lot easier.
Enjoy the mg42 build. Remember cut yugo parts and save the German. Looking forward to range reports on both.

Later 42rocker