Is this MG42 sling a wartime original?

[Cincylance]

***I'm posting a duplicate post here because the one on the equipment forum isn't getting any action***


Gentlemen,

I recently bought this sling off Gunbroker.com mainly because I needed a sling for a MG42. After receiving it, I'm half convinced it is a wartime original.

However, the attachment hardware that normally is WaA marked is without any markings and there is an odd area of black ink that looks as though it is possibly covering up some other info. Also, there is a "44" stamped into the cloth.

Whether or not this is real doesn't really matter to me as I plan to use it. I'm just curious what I've got.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Cincylance

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi, I have never seen a wartime sling like this before.

I think you are right to be wary of it. The inked out markings and that "44" plus the lack of WAa markings all ring alarm bells with me. If I had to guess I would say Czech??

Cheers, Ade.

[captainhoot]

Hello.

I'm not sure whether this is original wartime or not.
However, I want to rebutt Adrian's post.

Just because " I have never seen one " means nothing, in the great
scheme of things. I have never seen a giant squid or octupus, but they
exist !!!
Having said that, if you look at Folke Myrvang's book on MG-34/Mg-42
there is a MG-42 sling like this pictured on page 435. The fact that there are no stamped markings on the hardware makes one wonder, though...
As for the markings on the cloth....???
There are no great references to either prove or disprove the details
of such a rare item...
As for Adrians' post : It should be weighed against Folke Myrvangs'
documentation they such and item actual exists. Whether this is
original wartime item or a Czech reproduction, the jury is still out
my friend.......
hope this helps.

-Capthoot

[François B.]

Hi, I have never seen a wartime sling like this before.

I think you are right to be wary of it. The inked out markings and that "44" plus the lack of WAa markings all ring alarm bells with me. If I had to guess I would say Czech??

Cheers, Ade.

I go with Ade,

the structure of the webbing cloth looks like Czech to me.......

And no WaA stamps in the metal, only a ink stamp 44....

Sorry, but I would walk away from this one..... To much alarm bells.....

[Gary Cain]

The hardware is correct(probably period, but the hardware was being made into the 60's) but the webbing is positively Czech.


Gary

[Cincylance]

Great replies. Thanks, everyone. To reiterate, I am not all that worried about it's "Nazi" status and value since I only paid $55 for it. More importantly, I was wondering about the origin of this item. I have Folke's book and I think this one looks identical to his. I plan to see him at Knob Creek in October, so maybe I'll bring it with me to show him and get his opinion.

In the meantime I plan to use it on my C&R MG42!

Cincylance

[searchandfind]

I know this topic is old, but I´m a new member in this forum and I have some special info. I know the dealer who has bought more than 8000 MG42 in the nineties from the Austrian army with all accessories like beltfillers or gunners pouches, all origin from the second world war. A lot of the thousands carrying slings were the same like the pictured one. All slings had an ink mark (Eagle + WaA), but nearly all marks were removed, so there is the dark spot.

Greetings from Austria
Christian Kada
www.parabellum.at

[roughshooter]

Austrian Mg42's

Dear Gentlemen,

I agree with all the comments above but wish to also air my humble opinions.

It is well known that slings were made for the MG42 postwar but captured wartime MG42's have been widely used all over the place, Italy, Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia and the whole of the former Yugoslavia to name but a few countries.

Compounded to this is the fact that postwar MG42s' or dervivatves have been produced in over 10 different countries. The end of Yugoslavia war alone brought lots onto the surplus market and its well known that the Czechs made this sling postwar. It looks exactly the same. Mg42 slings turn up all over the place.

Whilst your sling may well be a Czech one thats been messed with to give it a 44 stamp for fake authenticity I can confirm Christians story above. 8000 MG42's were released onto the surplus market in the 1990's. Most if not all had webbing slings fitted to them. Many of these guns are seldom seen today, they were the best Mg42's to every be released and are highly prized by collectors. They have 'gone to ground' so to speak.


Refer to page to page 435 of Folke Myrvangs book and the second sling from the top is a late war MG42 sling exactlly like the one our American friend has described.

Mr Stevenson is right. I acknowledge you need to be careful. The Czech slings are near if not identical but I can show a picture hear of a genuine MG42 late war sling, look closely on the second picture I have posted and you can make out where a stamp has been and its been rubbed out leaving a blck smudge mark. This sling has no markings at all on any of the metalwork. The bottom line is if you want to be sure buy a leather one with markings thats are accepted as being right (even that you must research of course) but I know this sling is 100% genuine !

Believe you me I know exactlly where this gun came from and they don't come much more direct than this. The Austrian Army.

By the way Christian I think we been in contact before about P38's nice to see you on this forum you P38 knowledge will be welcome....Austria is so small..

Regards Craig.

[roughshooter]

Picture 1

[roughshooter]

Picture 2.

[Bergflak]

Well, among us MG34 & MG42 collectors these Austrian or Bundeswehr made slings are well known as postwar made. The absensence of WaA's on the harware means little, as the parts on late war slings were seldom stamped.
These slings are simply postwar (and the inked out markings should raise the alarm bells for every collector!). The German army NEVER made any slings for the MG42 in webb (or ANY other gun, maybe except for a very local production for some VG weapons!)

And wake up and smell the bacon! Which militaria dealer would have sold ANY original sling (even a leather one) for $ 55,- unless he knew exactly what he had (a postwar sling)
Why is there no WW2 pictures showing a webb sling in use? And at the same time; why is there hundreds and hundreds of well used webb straps hitting the market at low prices?
And the last one; What part of an MG42 would wear out first when it saw continued postwar service and would have to be new-made.......?
These slings are in fact for the MG3, simple as that.