The manufacturer (or principle assembler) 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 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 in 1939 on the MG34.
The 'dfb' code on the MG42 in 1943.
MG42 sling dated 1943 with manufacturer's markings.
David
Both guns are dewats.
