Happy New Year for 2014.
David
P.S.
The Champagne and Scotch are long since gone.
Two Gustloff assembled guns....one in 1939 the other in 1943.
Gustloff's code in 1943 was 'dfb' and '936' in 1939 (Heereswaffenamt WaA4)
The manufacturer (or principle assembler) was Gustloff-Werke,Waffenwerk Suhl.
NOTE;
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 it became known as Gustloff-Werke, their name was later changed to Gustloff-Werke, Waffenwerk Suhl.
Top cover markings- serial number – 5447 ,with two WaA519 stamps, with the code “cof”. (“cof” and WaA519 were for Carl Eikorn, Waffenfabrik,Solingen,Nordrhein-Westfalen--sub-contractor for the top cover).
1939 MG34 markings.
SOME HISTORY REGARDING MG34s AND MG42s;
The official adoption of the MG34 as the universal machinegun for the German Army took place on January 24 1939.
Right from its introduction it was unsurpassed for its simple operation, although it needed careful maintenance as it was somewhat sensitive to dust and cold weather.
The total war time production of MG34s was approx.440,000 guns.
Gustloffs’ production in 1939 with the 936 code was within serial numbers 3480d-8730d, their total wartime production with the BSW, G ,936, and dfb codes was estimated at 130,000 guns.
Total production of all manufacturers in 1939 was estimated at 44,181 guns.
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Production of MG42s by Gustloff with“dfb” code in 1943 within serial number range 1543-9317 is unknown.
Gustloffs’ total wartime production of MG 42s is estimated at 105,000 guns.
The total number of MG42s produced by all manufacturers in 1943 is estimated to be 119,895.
The total number of MG 42s produced during the war is estimated at 750,000.
The MG 42 was officially adopted by the German Army on October 12 1943, although thousands of guns were already in use.
David
David
P.S.
The Champagne and Scotch are long since gone.
Two Gustloff assembled guns....one in 1939 the other in 1943.
Gustloff's code in 1943 was 'dfb' and '936' in 1939 (Heereswaffenamt WaA4)
The manufacturer (or principle assembler) was Gustloff-Werke,Waffenwerk Suhl.
NOTE;
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 it became known as Gustloff-Werke, their name was later changed to Gustloff-Werke, Waffenwerk Suhl.
Top cover markings- serial number – 5447 ,with two WaA519 stamps, with the code “cof”. (“cof” and WaA519 were for Carl Eikorn, Waffenfabrik,Solingen,Nordrhein-Westfalen--sub-contractor for the top cover).
1939 MG34 markings.
SOME HISTORY REGARDING MG34s AND MG42s;
The official adoption of the MG34 as the universal machinegun for the German Army took place on January 24 1939.
Right from its introduction it was unsurpassed for its simple operation, although it needed careful maintenance as it was somewhat sensitive to dust and cold weather.
The total war time production of MG34s was approx.440,000 guns.
Gustloffs’ production in 1939 with the 936 code was within serial numbers 3480d-8730d, their total wartime production with the BSW, G ,936, and dfb codes was estimated at 130,000 guns.
Total production of all manufacturers in 1939 was estimated at 44,181 guns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Production of MG42s by Gustloff with“dfb” code in 1943 within serial number range 1543-9317 is unknown.
Gustloffs’ total wartime production of MG 42s is estimated at 105,000 guns.
The total number of MG42s produced by all manufacturers in 1943 is estimated to be 119,895.
The total number of MG 42s produced during the war is estimated at 750,000.
The MG 42 was officially adopted by the German Army on October 12 1943, although thousands of guns were already in use.
David
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