Rheinmetall
Junior Member
When were the first factory tan painted zf41 scope cans produced, 1943 or 1944? And were these initial tan versions numbered? (I know the later ones were not)
zf41 scope can question
- Thread starter Rheinmetall
- Start date
SVW1945
Senior Member
They where not numbered if I recall. I know there was a skid of couple hundred they found in czechoslovakia in the late 90,s. Saw a bunch of them at the ohio show,I bought 10 of them and sold them on ebay in the early 2000's . None where numbered, and none have the brusch tube holders in them. thats a fact, Green ones with the brusch tubes in them are the early ones. Than the later green ones did not have them. Or they just stop making them and the Brusches. So I would think if a Tan one is marked its post war done. I been looking at these for 35 years. Just my thoughts on what I have seen.
Nigromontanus
Senior Member
No, there are numbered tan ones. I have several.
SVW1945
Senior Member
Can you show photos. ? Do they have the Brusch tubes in them ? I have seen only a couple of them. Not sure when they where done.
Nigromontanus
Senior Member
sturmgrenadier
Senior Member
There is a matching byf44 “b“ block with numbered green can in Vol 2b. Nigromontanus just posted a tan “f” block. I‘m sure we could narrow it down a little further.
Rheinmetall
Junior Member
So the factory tan cans only came along in 1944?
sturmgrenadier
Senior Member
Exactly, we need to have the “matching” accompanying rifle to confirm year as well as letter block.
sturmgrenadier
Senior Member
Yes.
As far as green cans without scope tubes, I remember seeing at least one Late green can without the tube.
Yes it my belief that is when they started being painted tan. You see other metal equipment starting to be painted tan (instead of green) around this same time. If I remember correctly it was ordered that the green pigment was to be saved for more important things such as planes.
Nigromontanus
Senior Member
I have one from the C-block with dow #773 in yellow and one from the E-block in green. Tan started somewhere in 1944.
Correct it was the Pigment that was ordered to no longer be used on such items and was to only be used in Airplane paint . Wolfgang was the one who informed me about this order years ago . I believe he has a document that refers to this .
Nigromontanus
Senior Member
Late ones have capital letters.
Emilbusch
Member
Hello everyone,
There are many variations in the evolution of ZF41 boxes which correspond to manufacturing simplifications. I have studied these different versions a lot, it will be a pleasure to share my information on the forum, I will make a post soon. The green box tube disappears before the last model of green boxes. We find it with the WaA14 and another model with the WaA542. Afterwards, the brush disappears, as does the tube.
Regarding color, there is "Heeresmitteilungen"(army communication) documentation which mentions the introduction of the color Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 (dark beige) in 1943 for all war equipment. The zf41 boxes are affected during this period. I do not have details on the month of adoption. But this was quickly respected because we encountered green boxes repainted in beige at the factory. These boxes had to be undelivered stock, repainted to comply with the new color requirements.
There are many variations in the evolution of ZF41 boxes which correspond to manufacturing simplifications. I have studied these different versions a lot, it will be a pleasure to share my information on the forum, I will make a post soon. The green box tube disappears before the last model of green boxes. We find it with the WaA14 and another model with the WaA542. Afterwards, the brush disappears, as does the tube.
Regarding color, there is "Heeresmitteilungen"(army communication) documentation which mentions the introduction of the color Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 (dark beige) in 1943 for all war equipment. The zf41 boxes are affected during this period. I do not have details on the month of adoption. But this was quickly respected because we encountered green boxes repainted in beige at the factory. These boxes had to be undelivered stock, repainted to comply with the new color requirements.
Emilbusch
Member
I confirm what Nigromontanus writes, I also have two numbered beige boxes. With capital letter
Here’s a link to my tan numbered zf41. https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/new-zf-41.7200/#post-48954
It did have some history with it.
Jeff
It did have some history with it.
Jeff
