Pics of FG42s in Paris

[agentcq]

interesting evolution of the grip angle - though of course most of us wonât ever get to hold, shoot or even see one of these rifles in the flesh, I find it interesting that they took the trouble to change the grip angle on a weapon of such low production numbers, and so close to the end of things. the original grip angle is quite distinctive, looks uncomfortable (to me), but I suppose the idea was to make firing easier if one had to, while still descending?

at any rate, thanks for sharing these, G.O.

The slanted grip angle was for shooting while descending and for shooting with the bi-pod deployed in the prone position.
It does look awkward - I have a SSD version and when actually shooting the rifle, especially in the prone position the grip angle feels quite natural and assists one in keeping their head down.

 

[KDF82]

The slanted grip angle was for shooting while descending and for shooting with the bi-pod deployed in the prone position.
It does look awkward - I have a SSD version and when actually shooting the rifle, especially in the prone position the grip angle feels quite natural and assists one in keeping their head down.

I agree, shot my SMG T1 for the first time in prone and very comfortable. I do have a friend with huge hands and sadly he couldn't get comfortable enough to get a good sight picture with the scope.

 

[JACKDANIELS]

Guillaume,

Si j'ai bien compris le musée de l'Armée t'a ouvert la vitrine !!?

Guillaume, If I understood correctly, the Army Museum opened the window to you !!?

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

Guillaume,

Si j'ai bien compris le musée de l'Armée t'a ouvert la vitrine !!?

Guillaume, If I understood correctly, the Army Museum opened the window to you !!?

Hi Jack,
The curators took the pics for me (posted in August), I took those of the first batch during a visit in May.
I explained to the fellows at the museums the theory that Ryan brought up about Krieghoff Lugers:

fzs FG42 question

Does anyone on here know the fellow with the fg42 collection? I need to see if he has photos of the BAL acceptance (Eagle 2 or Eagle 22). It’s not something normally imaged. We don’t need pics, just images if the acceptance.

www.k98kforum.com

and how FG42s could help.
Unfortunately, the outcome was not the one expected but we may have discovered some clues that early FG42s may not have been made at the same factory than the later ones.
As a first step, I may have to inquire about FG42s with a serial number below 200 to find other BAL22 stamps.

 

[pitfighter]

The slanted grip angle was for shooting while descending and for shooting with the bi-pod deployed in the prone position.
It does look awkward - I have a SSD version and when actually shooting the rifle, especially in the prone position the grip angle feels quite natural and assists one in keeping their head down.

when I owned my original G type, I bought everything that was available in print, and visited examined as many as possible in the flesh (as many of us have done), I saw the ones at the Musee des Invalides, and found several other FG's: Bapty in London, The BC Regiment museum in Vancouver, and several others in private hands (I was especially interested in mag markings). This common explanation for the low profile grip is solid and makes perfect sense.
I will add my personal take here for fun and nothing else.

Silly circumspect opinion by Pitghter, that has no bearing in anything he (I) read or learned:
My opinion is that the low profile grip on the E was designed not stick in your ribs when you rolled on landing
Realizing this was a foolish idea and screwed with aiming the rifle, they changed the grip angle to a better one for the later F and G type models.
The side mounted system, even with a ten round mag (or no mag) makes the rifle bloody awkward, to roll/land with.

Anyway, owning these rifles/systems, especially the originals is a great motivator to get out and learn about history, one of my favorite elements of the hobby.

My original second from top with some replicas.

Some accessories, mostly real - the sight mount (sight itself is original "L" marked) and all but one mag (one below rifle is original) are from SSD.
Sling is a postwar M53 sling, bayonet is a wartime French one cut to size.

I have pics of the Bapty gun and the BC gun if anyone is interested, they were on my Photobucket page, which is weird now.

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

when I owned my original G type, I bought everything that was available in print, and visited examined as many as possible in the flesh (as many of us have done), I saw the ones at the Musee des Invalides, and found several other FG's: Bapty in London, The BC Regiment museum in Vancouver, and several others in private hands (I was especially interested in mag markings). This common explanation for the low profile grip is solid and makes perfect sense.
I will add my personal take here for fun and nothing else.

Silly circumspect opinion by Pitghter, that has no bearing in anything he (I) read or learned:
My opinion is that the low profile grip on the E was designed not stick in your ribs when you rolled on landing
Realizing this was a foolish idea and screwed with aiming the rifle, they changed the grip angle to a better one for the later F and G type models.
The side mounted system, even with a ten round mag (or no mag) makes the rifle bloody awkward, to roll/land with.

Anyway, owning these rifles/systems, especially the originals is a great motivator to get out and learn about history, one of my favorite elements of the hobby.

My original second from top with some replicas.

Some accessories, mostly real - the sight mount (sight itself is original "L" marked) and all but one mag (one below rifle is original) are from SSD.
Sling is a postwar M53 sling, bayonet is a wartime French one cut to size.

I have pics of the Bapty gun and the BC gun if anyone is interested, they were on my Photobucket page, which is weird now.

Hi pitfighter, thanks for your input.
I have a couple of questions for you.
1) Do you have the expanded version (2007) of "Death from above" and is the list of FG42s identified by the authors worth buying the book ? I already have the original edition.
2) Would you be willing to take pics of the various markings of your original one ? Perhaps in a separate post.
As you can see on the pics of s/n 2351, some parts are marked with "fzs", "1" and "2". If the same stamps appear on your gun, it may be the start of a pattern. A speculation would be that some parts of type G guns were sub-contracted (to Rheinmetall ? which is known for the "Bauaufsicht der Luftwaffe" stamp #1).
Thanks

 

[tsmgguy]

Great posts and pics, thanks!

 

[Frysk]

War museum Overloon, Netherlands,
I believe this one was confiscated from a private collector.

 

[pitfighter]

Ownership is in the past tense, Guillaume, like my divorce - I'm first in line to buy it back when the current owner (a member of this forum) gets bored

I've responded by PM with the pictures.

Hi Guillame,

I also sent you pictures of the BC Regiment capture FG42 in Canada.
And their MP44 and MP40, I used to have pictures of the Fallschirmjager helmet and smock, in the same collection, but it seems the old photobucket siter is a bit whack.