~ WW2 German MG42 Machine Gun with Drum Mag, Bipod and Link Belt – Old Spec ~
As can see in the pictures the piece can cock, dry fire and can be stripped.
The registered serial number of the certificate is 5389.
The stamp on the breach reads ‘M.U. M.G.42 5389e dib’.
Please observe the pictures for all the waffenampt stamps, proofmarks and other serial numbers.
~ Condition ~
The piece is lovely. One of the two catches of the bipod came off but it can be reattached with ease.
MG 42 Machine Gun: Historical Overview
Development and Introduction:
The MG 42 was developed as a successor to the earlier MG 34, which, although effective, was complex and expensive to produce.
Introduced in 1942, the MG 42 was designed by Metall und Lackierwarenfabrik Johannes Großfuß AG.
Its goal was to create a weapon that was cheaper, more reliable, and easier to mass-produce than the MG 34.
Technical Features:
Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser
Rate of Fire: Extremely high, around 1,200–1,500 rounds per minute, earning it the nickname “Hitler’s Buzzsaw” because of its distinctive, terrifying sound.
Operation: Recoil-operated, roller-locked mechanism.
It used belt-fed ammunition and could be operated by a two- or three-man crew.
The gun featured a quick-change barrel system to deal with overheating during prolonged fire.
Combat Use:
Widely used by German forces on all fronts during WWII.
Used both as a light machine gun (LMG) with a bipod and as a medium machine gun (MMG) with a tripod.
Its high rate of fire provided devastating suppressive fire and proved highly effective against infantry and light vehicles.
Legacy and Influence:
The MG 42’s design was so advanced that it directly influenced post-war machine guns.
Its immediate post-war successor in West Germany was the MG 3, essentially a modernized MG 42.
Other designs, such as the US M60 and even elements in the Belgian FN MAG, were influenced by the MG 42.
Continued Use:
The MG 42 and its variants remained in use in several countries long after WWII.
The MG 3, a post-war version, remains in service today in many NATO and allied armies.