Seized MG 42:s in Bosnia

[Sigurd Helge]

Is there anyway of telling, by looking at a picture like this, if these MG42:s are German WW2 vintage or Yugoslav Model 53 "Sarac" post war versions?
I have one better picture but no close-ups.

[sigismund]

yes, but few, grips and butt's are of diifernt material when post war made, soemtimes the lever can be differnt, but not in this case.

nice ppsh41 in that picture.

[schönbeck]

ajabaja inte lasta containern full med vapen och skicka hem till sverige!

[Kurt Student]

Greetings,

The JNA ( the Yugoslavian National Army ) used a lot of MG42 from ww2 which were restamped with Yugoslavian markings and the Crvena Zastava (the Red banner) aslo made a lot of copys of it , hell there are so much of MG42 and M53 left in Croatia ,Bosnia and Hercegovina and Serbia that people can get rid of them . I was recently offered an Mg42 which I may yet buy.

The German army still uses an similar machine gun , looks practicly the same only fires NATO rounds and the Americans copyed it after the WW2 creating the M60 .

Overall a great weapon...

[Sigurd Helge]

Interesting info about Yugoslav MG42:s!
I have some experience with the latest post WW2 version; the MG3 and it is truly a great machinegun.
As you say the MG3 (the MG42:s modern equivalent) is very similar but I must point out that apart from different calibres there are some additional major differences, even some that are clearly visible if you compare the different guns.
For example: different bipods and bipod latch assemblies, different construction and look on the recoil boosters, no permanently attached AA sight on the MG 42, only "T"-shaped operating handles found on the MG 3 (MG42 can have both), simpler feed tray on the MG42 (the MG3 has release catch for attachable ammo box), the bolt assembly is simpler on the MG42 (the MG3 has an additional "spring buffer" in the bolt body.

I also believe that, in essence, only the feed mechanism of the M60 is directly derived from the MG42. There are more things that differentiate the M60 and MG42 constructions than share similarities. For one thing the M60 has a completely different operating procedure (being gas operated) as opposed to the recoil/gas boost operating MG42. Also the bolt assembly on the M60 is different. The M60 bolt assembly and operation share more similarities with the (legendary) FG42!
Also the barrel changing construction/procedures are completely different.

[Kurt Student]

Greetings ,

Aaaah the FG42 now thats a piece ,but not very reliable as it fired the 7.92x67 round which can punch holes trought almost anything and the recoil was so great that the scope wasnt very usable .
I would like to see the pics of "newbie" snipers who used teh scope after they fire a clip . A lot of black eyes there hehe