Unusual German MG Barrel

[4b1t]

Going through a stack of stuff to sell overseas and found this barrel amongst a bunch of MG34 barrels.

As you can see it is almost identical to a standard MG34 barrel except for the locking shoulders for the trunnions.

The barrel is EXACTLY like all other MG34 barrels dimensionally except for the shoulders which are half the width and extend back further.

The barrel is German marked and I believe BSW coded.

Looking through references and Internet search it is not MG30, MG15, MG34/41, MG34S.....it MAY be MG17 or MG81, as I have not found a pic/documentary proof of those designs.........so what is it ????

MG34 on left for comparison

MG34 bottom for comparison

 

[Claven2]

It looks like an MG30 barrel to me.

 

[4b1t]

Here is a pic of the MG30 barrel out of the original manual and a diagram of the Hungarian issue MG30. They have a pronounced shoulder and external threading where they screw into an extended barrel extension with the locking lugs at the back of the bolt, unlike the forward locking interrupted thread of the MG34. (see last pic)

The barrel I am trying to ID fits in an MG34 perfectly, it just has about half an inch to rotate due to the narrower shoulders vice being held by trunnions solidly.

 

[gaff]

any chance of getting some pictures of the markings?

 

[Claven2]

Have you checked to see if it will fit into an MG34?

 

[gaff]

Solothurn s2-200 would be my guess or a mg34s barrel collar on a mg34 barrel.

 

[Lee Enfield]

There was an mg34s in the UK with an mg34 barrel housing that appears to have been possibly a field replacement.

 

[4b1t]

Here is a pic of MG34S barrels. They are shorter than MG34, have a much larger muzzle diameter to increase boost, yet have the same trunnion locking shoulders of an MG34.

The one I have is a totally different beast. The locking shoulders on mine are too narrow for either an MG34 or MG34S.

The Solothurn S2-100, S2-200, MG30 and M31 (essentially all the same design) used a locking ring that engaged the rear of the bolt, opposite to the front locking lugs design of this barrel.

Based on the BSW factory code, markings and waffenamt WaA4, manufacture date is 1935/36. Best guess so far is a prototype MG34 barrel or an early production version of the MG34 circa 1935.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Best I can do. Checked my German Machine Guns, very poor picture of barrels for comparison, but it claims parts for the MG 81 are "very similar, but not interchangeable". My bet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_81_machine_gun


Grizz

 

[4b1t]

Best I can do. Checked my German Machine Guns, very poor picture of barrels for comparison, but it claims parts for the MG 81 are "very similar, but not interchangeable". My bet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_81_machine_gun


Grizz

Only problem is that MG81 barrels were quite short - 18.7 inches, whereas this one is the same as a standard MG34 at 24.7 inches. Note also in the cutaway pic that they had a distinctive muzzle bearing and large boost area.

 

[gaff]

(The MG81 was developed to be simpler smaller lighter, and cheaper than the MG34. therefore no attempt was made to have interchangeability of parts between the two weapons if any minor parts are similar or identical this is strictly coincidental.in the early stages of development the MG81 had a barrel of the same length _600mm or about 24 inches- as that of the MG15 ,the machine gun it was intended to replace. )it was adopted by the Luftwaffe in 1938 in the 475mm version.
the MG81 was totally a Mauser design. BSW did not exist before 1936, when the Simpson brothers went into exile.
LMG32 designed by Ernst Altenburger (The barrel extension was eliminated and the head of the two- piece bolt locked directly into a locking ring on the rear of the barrel) fore runner to the 34 and 81.
early 34 production did change removing features .( rate reducer)
the barrel collars on late 81 barrels do not look like the one you have, although similar.they actually look closer to the 34 than yours.
being BSW, I would expect it to be a production gun .

 

[4b1t]

Well it only took a year and a half, but I solved the mystery.

Finally got a copy of Folke's book on the MG34 and identified the barrel. It is from a Variation 2 MG34. According to Folke, variation 1 MG34s were manufactured by BSW (originally Simson) in 1935, serial numbers 1 to 300. In 1936 they developed the variation 2, serial numbers 301 to 2300. In 1937 they moved on to variation 3 which became the standard production model.

He further states that no examples of the first and second variation MGs survived the war, only pictures and diagrams from manuals. He has a picture of a variation 2 locking collar on page 63 that is identical to mine. Mine is marked BSW with 36 for year of manufacture and serial number 334, which all fits.

How did the barrel survive and end up in Canada, who knows. Overseas or in the U.S. It would be of value to an advanced collector. Sadly here in Canada it may only prove useful as a fireplace poker I think!

Here is a pic showing the difference to a production MG34 barrel, in this case a 1939 936 code (Gustloff Werke Shultz) barrel.

 

[223762]

Reidar from Bergflak may be interested in it. hes all over ultra rare german stuff.

i remember seeing this thread and was stumped. thanks for sharing.

 

[gaff]

Sweet that you were able to figure it out .