German small arms pics: The pictures

Great collection Bill! Thanks Volk for posting them.

Yes, I would love to see the grenades too. I was going to ask if you had any.

The G43 is my favorite, but, Man I wish that was my collection

 

Hi again Bill,

you don't have to locate the manufacture code for me. Could you please instead tell me more about the triangle markings, I know very little about the different markings on the German rifles. It's a nice collection you have and I hope we will see more of it.

Best regards/ Daniel

 

Greetings Daniel -

Sorry to have had to wait so long to get back to you concerning your question of the colored triangles on G/K 43 ZF 4 sniper scopes, but here is your answer.

Quoting from Peter Senich's outstanding publication, "The German Sniper 1914-1945", page 328 about the markings on the ZF 4 scopes -

"Manufactured by Voigtlander & Sohn ( ddx ), Opticotechna ( dow ), and J.G. Farben-industrie ( bzz ), the sights bore the manufacturer's production mark, the ordnance designation "Gw ZF 4", a white, green, or blue triangle to indicate reliable function limits of each device in various climates, and a production serial number. Although the aforementioned markings appear to be the most frequently, specimens have also been noted bearing a "G43", "K43", "ZFK 43", and "KFZ" designation as well."

Now, the white triangle indicated favorable operation under standard weather conditions, the green triangle favorable operation under the extremely warm tropical regions, and the blue triangle favorable opertion under the extremely cold conditions encountered in areas such as Russia and the Scandinavian countries.

My own ZF 4, original wartime production is an example of the much rarer, and harder to come by Opticotechna ( dow ) manufacturing company with a blue triangle. Very tough to get. In fact, I traded with a friend of mine who owns a K43, now with my former Voightlander & Sohn ( ddx ) scope with white triangle.

Hope this helps answer some questions for you, and again, sorry about the length of time it took me to get you the answer. With my job, it will cause me to have to create pauses at times here.

Bill

 

Man, that's some collection you have there Volkbert. How much did it cost altogether?

 

Thanks for the great answer Bill.

Munken, it's Bill's collection.

Best regards/ Daniel

 

OK. Bill, how much did they cost all together?

 

Bill,

I know the allies and axis both used the "Belgium made Browning Hi Power 9mm" was it the waffen ss that mainly used it? When was the eagle and swastika stamped on them? My father said my grandfather had two of them with consecutive numbering. dont know what happend to them.

 

Munken -

It cost me a lot of time and effort.

DB -

I'm not sure about the answer to your question right off. I've got to head out for work today, so I've not a lot of time at the moment to research this one out. Give me a couple of days and I'll get back to you on this.

Bill

[ 20. July 2003, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Bill Smith ]

 

No problem Bill!

Take your time.

 

Bill, I meant in dollars, money. Even I understand that you must bspend much time to keep weapons in good shape but i'm courious about WWII weapons valiues. I would like to own some WWII weapons When i have money for it but thats a long time until i will try to buy any.

 

DB, ref the 'Belgian-made Browning Hi-Power'...

This was the Mle.35 GP 'Pistolet a Grande Puissance' ( 'High-Power' ) made from 1935 by the FN factory at Herstal, near Liege, Belgium. 69,000 of these had been made in total before the German invasion of Belgium. Some existing stocks were immediately pressed into service by the Germans.

Production then resumed with the pistol becoming the Pistole 640(b) in German nomenclature. Some 319,000 were made between 1940/44. Belgian versions were slotted for a shoulder stock and had tangent sights, German production models lost, first, the slot and finally the tangent rear sights with standard of finish declining noticeably by 1944.

First deliveries were, in fact, exclusive to the Wehrmacht, with 153,464 being delivered by the end of 1942. Latterly, the guns were favoured by the Waffen-SS and the most famous picture of a HP-equipped German soldier is 'that' photo of the blonde Panzer Grenadier taken near Poteau in the Bulge campaign.

Hi-Power drawings had been sent to Britain from Belgium ; Britain did not have the capacity to produce the weapon so the plans were passed to the Inglis factory in Canada who commenced production as the 'Inglis-Browning Hi-Power'. Relatively limited quantities were issued ( I don't have figures ) and went mainly to Commando and Airborne troops ( General Urquhart cetainly carried one at Arnhem, for instance ).

Today, Waffenamt-marked examples are highly sought-after and good ones command some quite high prices. Forum member Matt ( mp38 ) - who we haven't heard from for a while - has a very nice example in his collection and I'm ashamed to say that I'm very envious.....

And here's a little piccie ( use the 'enlarge' icon ) : -

http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos/FV-FN-HP35-Nazi-WaA103-5x100px.jpg

[ 21. July 2003, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]

 

AAAHHH, Thanks Bull! That picture almost made me and my father cry . My father said that pic is exactly the way both of my grandfathers looked except the were not adjustable sites.

Anyway, Thanks for the pic and info!