Old style MG34 AA Tripod (pre-dreibein)

[Wondering]

At a recent show, I found an old style MG34 AA tripod. It was missing two connector struts for the legs but the vendor thinks he has them back at his shop. I found a reference to this tripod in several places, which mentioned that it was the same tripod used at some point for the MG13. In one of the photos, you can see the brass ring which slides up and down the main body for height adjustment, with the leg struts attached. Check out the nazi eagle proof and the waffenamt in the photo (click on that photo for a closer look). Also, note the interesting method of securing the "lager"--easy on and off. Any way, here are some pics. (I don't have it standing because of the missing leg struts).

[BELTLEAD]

I.M.A. sells that style tripod.I have one complete with the original leather strap.I was told by a warehouse manager from I.M.A. that they were imported from Portugal.

[Wondering]

I.M.A. sells that style tripod.I have one complete with the original leather strap.I was told by a warehouse manager from I.M.A. that they were imported from Portugal.

Do you have a link to this on their site? I looked and did a search for "tripod" and I didn't find it.

[BELTLEAD]

The tripod was still listed on their website the last time I looked a couple of months ago for $395 and with leather streap for $425.I found an old ad from Machine Gun News in 1994 which list the tripod as a MG13/MG34 tripod.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278 ... d-1994.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[BELTLEAD]

[bergflak]

I do not want to be a party-stopper, but that tripod is not German Pre WW2! I guess it is Portuguese, made to fit the imported MG13's in the late 30's. Those eagles are purely fantasy any way. The large fake one resembling a cross between a "Police property" eagle and a "Beschuss" eagle (pressure proofing barrels and bolts). Tripod was imported and sold by IMA, but probably the stampings were added after they sold it. IMA is pritty good at describing anything that actually is marked, and very good at "walking around" other items with vague descriptions!

[BELTLEAD]

Berg your right.How about the fancy proofmarks on those Israeli postwar front sight adjusters

[Bil]

Suppose these are Portuguese tripods with fake marks-how much more does this add to the value? Double? More? It seems they would be pretty rare anyway.I can see where it would be worth the scam on some things,but at what point does it not seem worth it? Authentic socks and underwear? I suppose even that has value. ---bil

[bergflak]

Suppose these are Portuguese tripods with fake marks-how much more does this add to the value? Double? More? It seems they would be pretty rare anyway.I can see where it would be worth the scam on some things,but at what point does it not seem worth it? Authentic socks and underwear? I suppose even that has value. ---bil

The value of a surplus Portuguese made tripod for a MG13 is really hard to estimate. I am not familiar with the price range of the ex-Porto stuff, as I only collect German WW2 stuff myself! This one is clearly not German marked, nor has it ever been. In reality, every original items that has been tampered with looses value, it seldom gains value! Since IMA has had them for sale for several years running, my guess is that there are more tripods around compared to the number of collectors of Portuguese MG's ! By "Nazifying" it the middle men has managed to open up a whole new market that of course is willing to pay more for a alleged German tripod than a Portuguese tripod!
Where ever a buck can be made, someone is willing to run a scam!
Wonder how long it will take before these are "Nazified"? (Also a pure Porto product, never made by the Germans)
http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... cts_id/310

[Bil]

It looks like they already have! No mention of portuguese use.What about the MG15 water-cooled? As far as I can tell,they were also not used by the Germans,rather by the Roumanians ,as the AT61,I believe.May be wrong title,didn't look first].I have pics of the air-cooled used by Germany,no pics of the water-cooled used by anybodt!You are right,once something has been tampered with,it loses even its original value.Although it still is a nice tripod! ---bil

[BELTLEAD]

The Dreiben is much better designed.The legs extend wider to make it a much stabler platform than the Portugese model.

[bergflak]

A good observation, and I must agree! I have never tried to actually use the dreibein/Dreifuß at a live shooting though!