Fallschirmjägerwehr 1942 FG.42

Anybody have more info on this weapon?

Fallschirmjägerwehr 1942 FG.42
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The total number of FG.42 rifles produced was quite minimal compared to other firearms but introduced several breakthroughs in weapon design. The requirement for this design was to produced an ideal weapon for airborne troops which could be used as a fast firing rifle and a light machine gun as the Luftwaffe had decided that a bolt action carbine was inadequate for combat as was the short range machine gun. Existing designs were too bulky and heavy for airborne drops which prompted the Luftwaffe to put in an order for a suitable weapon. The only two companies to take up the project were Rheinmetall and Krieghoff as the other two major weapons producers Mauser and Walther were heavily involved with other projects. The Krieghoff weapon proved unsuitable and the design of Louis Stange of Rheinmetall was accepted and after trials in 1942 an order was placed for 3000.
This weapon did have its drawbacks-the main one being the use of a full power 7.92mm cartridge which made the weapon somewhat unstable when used in the LMG role. This prompted a major redesign by the manufacturers who made the weapon longer and heavier, the stock was made from wood instead of steel, the grip was moved to make it near vertical, the trigger guard was made removable as well as changing the magazine design. A four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt spring and recoil spring were changed to a wound wire type, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and bayonet mount were changed. All new production models were fitted with a scope mount as standard.
These design changes were so extensive that only in appearance were the old and new weapons vaguely similar. It is ironic that the majority of weapons were produced by Krieghoff (who's initial design had been turned down) as the Rheinmetall plant lacked the facilities for production. All weapons were stamped with the initials 'fzs' which denoted a Kreighoff weapon.

 

Hi David,

The FG42 is one of my favorite WWII Guns. I have a number of WWII guns, including a .50 cal M2 that comes out of a crashed B-17, but finding one of these is hard. I saw a partial parts kit for $7000 on a guns forum. But aparently there are 2 versions. Check this guy out, he is remanufacturing all the parts but beware! they are very pricy!

www.fg42.net

Regards

 

Hinrik do you have a web-site addy for your museum ?

~E

 

Beautifull guns Viking! Are those original scopes? If so what kind? What front were they most used on. Sorry for all the questions.

 

Hinrik - do tell us more !

DB - take a look at : -

http://www.ww2forums.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000175#000005

and scroll down for further discussion.

This rare and desirable weapon was used mainly on Rhodes, for the 'Skorzeny Mussolini raid', at Cassino and in the Ardennes.

 

Hi guys,

Sorry Erich, but I dont have website on our museum, yet, but I am planing to open one. I have a website on my BSA M20 WWII motorbike, which I am restoring, take a look:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/viking27_is/

David, yes I think the scopes are original, but the mount is a remanufactured one. Interesting about the jamming problems on the FG-42, never heard that before, but then again I am not an expert on that weapon. I wonder if this machinist is making his parts better quality then the original once? But looking at his prices, seams you will have to pay around $12000 for a working gun!

I have 6 machine guns in my collection: M2 BMG .50 cal from B-17, ANM2.30 cal wing gun from P-39. MKII .303 Nose gun from RAF Hudson III, Vickers "K" gun .303 from RAF Hudson III aft turret. German MG-15 7.92mm Aircraft gun. Lewis 1918 30-06 WWI aircraft gun, used on Icelandic fishing trawlers in WWII.

Regards

 

I may have mentioned this before, but a great book to get hold of for FG42 info is Robert Bruce's 'German Automatic Weapons Of WWII' ( Windrow & Greene 1997 ).

This book is 'different' because the author live-fires all the guns himself with full descriptions and colour photos. It includes FG42/I and 42/II and is ( almost ) the next-best-thing to firing them yourself.

 

Martin, it is an excellent book isnt it. I find it very hard to get tired of looking through the pics and reading the information. It is particularly useful for re-enactors as it has information on stripping and assembling some weapons.

As for the FG42, I have never seen a real one outside a museum however Japanese replicas (of high quality) sell for £800 ish over here!

 

Hey, I'm glad someone else here has got that book !

W&G went 'bust' quite shortly after it was published which is a real, real shame. This and George Markham's 'Guns Of The Reich' are the two small arms books which I refer to again and again and..... ( a for both of them ).