Gustloff assembled MG42 dated 1943 with their “dfb” manufacturer’s code.
The serial number 5447 appears on the left frame and on the top cover with various sub-contractors codes.
There are accessories to add in collecting this stuff----one of which is a sling.
In 2005 I got the sling shown below from Bergflak in Norway.
It shows manufacturer’s code ‘gyb’ –1943 date—with WaA668 acceptance stamp and WaA892 stamped on the rear shackle.
gyb Bauer, Wilhelm, Friedr., G.m.b.H., Lederwarenfabrik, Offenbach a.M.-Bieber
WaA892 on rear shackle--- Ad. Grohmann & Sohn, Metallwarenfabrik, Würbenthal/Sud.
A comment from Bergflak;
The WaA is often hard to read, depending on the stamping and the material it was applied to. Remember that the WaA is just the signature of the controller, and do not necessarily tell you which factory he was assigned to. The hardware for the sling was probably manufactured at a different site than the actual sling.
Other accessories can include ammunition belts with period head stamped cartridges.
David
A LITTLE HISTORY.
The manufacturer (or principle assembler) of the MG42 shown above was Gustloff-Werke,Waffenwerk Suhl.
The original manufacturing company was Simpson &Co., which was owned by Jewish owners, Arthur and Dr. Julius Simpson. The company was taken over by the Nazis in the mid 1930s, and it became BSW (Berlin-Suhler Waffen-und Fahrzeugwerke.) After BSW became part of the NSDAP stiftung known as Gustloff-Werke, their name was changed to Gustloff-Werke, Waffenwerk Suhl, and their markings changed first to the Gustloff commercial logo, the outline of a capital “G” configured as a shield. It later became numerical code “936” in 1939, and in 1940 the three-letter alphabetic code was introduced in Germany, and Gustloff was assigned code “dfb”. Guns with the “dfb” code have been observed from 1940 (on MG 34s until 1943 and then on MG42s).
Interesting to note that Simpson & Co. was the only factory allowed to make machineguns and Lugers for the Reichwehr during the 1920s. After the war the name of Simpson re-emerged, and the companies’ name was changed once again.
Gustloff’s code ‘936’ on a 1939 dated MG34.
The serial number 5447 appears on the left frame and on the top cover with various sub-contractors codes.
There are accessories to add in collecting this stuff----one of which is a sling.
In 2005 I got the sling shown below from Bergflak in Norway.
It shows manufacturer’s code ‘gyb’ –1943 date—with WaA668 acceptance stamp and WaA892 stamped on the rear shackle.
gyb Bauer, Wilhelm, Friedr., G.m.b.H., Lederwarenfabrik, Offenbach a.M.-Bieber
WaA892 on rear shackle--- Ad. Grohmann & Sohn, Metallwarenfabrik, Würbenthal/Sud.
A comment from Bergflak;
The WaA is often hard to read, depending on the stamping and the material it was applied to. Remember that the WaA is just the signature of the controller, and do not necessarily tell you which factory he was assigned to. The hardware for the sling was probably manufactured at a different site than the actual sling.
Other accessories can include ammunition belts with period head stamped cartridges.
David
A LITTLE HISTORY.
The manufacturer (or principle assembler) of the MG42 shown above was Gustloff-Werke,Waffenwerk Suhl.
The original manufacturing company was Simpson &Co., which was owned by Jewish owners, Arthur and Dr. Julius Simpson. The company was taken over by the Nazis in the mid 1930s, and it became BSW (Berlin-Suhler Waffen-und Fahrzeugwerke.) After BSW became part of the NSDAP stiftung known as Gustloff-Werke, their name was changed to Gustloff-Werke, Waffenwerk Suhl, and their markings changed first to the Gustloff commercial logo, the outline of a capital “G” configured as a shield. It later became numerical code “936” in 1939, and in 1940 the three-letter alphabetic code was introduced in Germany, and Gustloff was assigned code “dfb”. Guns with the “dfb” code have been observed from 1940 (on MG 34s until 1943 and then on MG42s).
Interesting to note that Simpson & Co. was the only factory allowed to make machineguns and Lugers for the Reichwehr during the 1920s. After the war the name of Simpson re-emerged, and the companies’ name was changed once again.
Gustloff’s code ‘936’ on a 1939 dated MG34.
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