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Sturmgewehr 44

Discussion in 'Small Arms and Edged Weapons' started by PactOfSteel, Jan 17, 2008.

  1. PactOfSteel

    PactOfSteel Dishonorably Discharged

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  2. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Totally agree. This was by far another of the weapons that the Germans designed and the allied countried copied. I don't care what the US Army says, the M-60 machine gun is the German MG42.

    [​IMG]

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  3. PactOfSteel

    PactOfSteel Dishonorably Discharged

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    couldn't agree more about the M-60! it looks identical to the M642. The Germans just own the competition when it comes to designing weapons. Tell me our modern day helmet doesn't look a tad similar to the M42 helmet?
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  4. Tony Williams

    Tony Williams Member

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    Nope.

    The AK was certainly inspired by the StG 44 (whatever Kalashnikov might say) but it wasn't a copy: the design of the action is completely different.
     
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  5. Tony Williams

    Tony Williams Member

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    Nope.

    The M60 design borrowed certain design elements from the MG 42, and others from the FG 42, but it wasn't a straight copy of anything. In particular, its action is entirely different form the MG 42's (it's gas-operated rather than recoil-operated).

    Nearly all of the elements of automatic weapons were patented by the early years of the last century (many of them by Maxim and Browning). Almost every design since then has borrowed heavily from earlier ones. That's entirely reasonable - why bother to reinvent the wheel?
     
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  6. Seadog

    Seadog Member

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    The minis so popular in use today, are directly descended from the Gatling guns of the 1800s. Weaponry is more a matter of identifying failings in an existing design, and deriving methods to eliminate them, than totally new technology. Troops are not thrilled with designs that are too radical.
     
  7. Jaeger

    Jaeger Ace

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    M-60 the MG-42????

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!
    I don't know what your on mate, but I'd like to try it.
    We normally say about the creation of the M-60. You take the best MG ever built, and the first Assault rifle ever built FG-42 (and yes it's doesn't rank as an assault rifle since it has a full calibre) and you end up with the worst MG ever built: Dear Lord please fire !! the M-60.
     
  8. Sloniksp

    Sloniksp Ставка

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    Well said, I believe that Von Poop has adressed this issue.

    Just because weapons might look a like, or one is an inspiration for the other, it does not mean that they are the same.
     
  9. Fallschirmjaeger

    Fallschirmjaeger Member

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    I got a quick question about the Sturmgewehr 44. On the barrel(left side) what is the thing above it? Is it for looks? It looks like a rod with a ball on it.
     
  10. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    The purpose is twofold : it is so that rifles can be stacked together ( butt-down ) and it is also the end of the threaded, removable plug from the end of the recoil mechanism gas chamber.
     
  11. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    One thing I noticed is that the rifle is used in the film 'Downfall' and is the first time I have seen it in a film. Interesting. Aiming for accuracy for a change?
     
  12. PactOfSteel

    PactOfSteel Dishonorably Discharged

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    its widely known that this gun inspried the AK-47 design, I was listening to the director's commentary for The Downfall movie and the director even said the Russia's modified the design for the AK.
     
  13. Tony Williams

    Tony Williams Member

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    That's like saying "an Audi is just a modified BMW". After all, they've both got an engine, four wheels....

    The StG 44 uses a tilting-block action, the AK a rotating bolt. That's about as different as gas-operated weapons can get.

    Why should a film director be assumed to be an expert on small arms design?
     
  14. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    I think it's fair to say that the MP-44 'inspired' the general idea of the AK47 ( eg the intermediate cartridge, use of stamped/pressed steel, etc ) but, as Tony says, in terms of actual design the two weapons are actually quite far apart......
     
  15. PactOfSteel

    PactOfSteel Dishonorably Discharged

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    I'm not disagreeing with you guys, you probably know more about gun parts than me, but you have to admit the design is similar in nature. The director did say that the Germans should have the credit for the AK-47, then again the director is a German afterall.
     
  16. Stefan

    Stefan Cavalry Rupert

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    The director is also a victim of the same common missconception as you.
     
  17. Sloniksp

    Sloniksp Ставка

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    In that case the Russians will take the credit for the Panther. Or any other modern tank as the IS-3 is considered the Mother of all MBT. ;)

    As you can see, such a comparison has serious flawes.......
     
  18. T. A. Gardner

    T. A. Gardner Genuine Chief

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    This is like quoting The History Channel or Military Channel as a credible source...... :p
     
  19. PactOfSteel

    PactOfSteel Dishonorably Discharged

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    for the second time

    I'm not disagreeing with you guys, you probably know more about gun parts than me, but you have to admit the design is similar in nature. The director did say that the Germans should have the credit for the AK-47, then again the director is a German afterall.
    __________________
     
  20. Stefan

    Stefan Cavalry Rupert

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    The director is wrong and the design is only similar in that it uses similar cartridges and has a similar layout.
     

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