MG34 snail drum

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Good Evening folks just got this a few days ago and wanted opinions on it, it's dated 40 but i think its been repainted for post war. It was wrapped in paper and has cosmolene on it.
Any suggestions.

Joe

[MaxxBrunn1938]

2

[ChrisCook]

mg34/42

Standard 50 rd. drum for MG34/42. Snail drum is used as a reference for Luger drum mags, and associated submachineguns with a similar magazine. Your drum was repainted postwar by the Yugoslavians. Yugoslavia used many MG42 items postwar, and they were repainted with this shade of green paint. You will see barrel carriers, drums, drum holders and other items repainted this color. Chris....

[R. Schnee]

Gurttrommel

Chris is right, it has been repainted by the Yugoslavian army. It is a nice early drum though. Note the gun serial number that has been stamped into the drum by hand. This is common on drums dated 1939-1940.

[Alan Smith]

On the serial number stamped into the drum, are we sure it corresponds to an MG-34? After all, the serial number in question has a double letter suffix "dd". I am not aware of any of the MG-34 production progressing into double suffix serial numbers.

Possibly this is the manufacturer's serial number for the drum?

[FestungSpanien]

Has it been denazified as well or the WaA is so weak it can't be seen?
And I do agree with Alan, is really that double d from a MG34 serial number?

[roughshooter]

Dear Sir,

The WaA is usually weak on this item, it hasn't been de-nazified. The Yugos didn't care about stuff like that. The stamps are just usually weak, its normal.

Look closely at the 'serial number' if it is numbered to an MG34 I have never seen this done before in this way. I have seen a period picture of an MG42 with a 50 round drum where the serial number is painted on though. But Alan is right the MG34 never reached 'dd' suffixs. Perhaps a possible explaination is to look closely at the typeface. Its different. Perhaps this was post war stamped for an MG34 or 42 used by the Yugoslavs, or even the M53 Sarac.

Can anybody tell me what maker mark is WC40 ? As I have a few.

Regards Craig.

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Well without removing the paint there is a slight WA83 or 63 just to the right of the dd. Can't make out the eagle thou.
I'd also like to know who the maker is as well . Would it be best to keep as is or remove the paint and redo it in german color?
Thanks
Joe

[roughshooter]

Well without removing the paint there is a slight WA83 or 63 just to the right of the dd. Can't make out the eagle thou.
I'd also like to know who the maker is as well . Would it be best to keep as is or remove the paint and redo it in german color?
Thanks
Joe

Dear Joe,

Remove the German paint !

Use a solvent based stripper but be warned it may take many attempts. I used what in England we call Nitromors. That Yugo paint is really hard to get off and it will take time. I used a wire brush and sand paper on mine. The paint was so thick I could not even see the arrows inside the drums to indicate the direction of the belt. You will not be able to leave the German paint and strip off the Yugo stuff ! When the paints gone you will see the stampings clearly.

So any takers as to who WC40 relates too ?

Regards Craig.

[FestungSpanien]

NO idea as for the maker, but I have a very nice WC43 marked one that I would like to trade for an early one.
Thanks
Ace

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Well took somw Brake Cleaner to it today to the WaA area and it only took a few swipes. I think the Yugos stripped it to repaint cause all there was was a primer coat and then the Yucky green.. It is marked WaA83. the serial number looks to be added later by them.

Joe

[jmilesII]

so what color were these originally when the germans used them in WWII??

ive seen them tans, field gray (like a gray blue), and I have one that is brand new condition all black 43 dated I think???

Ive got some barrel carriers too, that have been repainted by the Yugos, with german markings underneath, can anyone reccommend a paint to use to retore it to look original? after stripping the Yugo paint off of items like this? does someone sell tan or gray paint like what the germans may have used?

[R. Schnee]

Paint can be found on a lot of different websites. Start looking for reenacting supply websites and you will soon find the paint. Many paint stores also have the ability to mix gray and tan that is normally found on German equipment. These are listed under the RAL codes. Getting the sheen right is the hard part.

[ChrisCook]

Drum

so what color were these originally when the germans used them in WWII??

ive seen them tans, field gray (like a gray blue), and I have one that is brand new condition all black 43 dated I think???

Ive got some barrel carriers too, that have been repainted by the Yugos, with german markings underneath, can anyone reccommend a paint to use to retore it to look original? after stripping the Yugo paint off of items like this? does someone sell tan or gray paint like what the germans may have used?

1944 Militaria handles quite a few German Paints, you can also take a piece of original equipment to a good paint shop and have them make up a batch based upon that. Chris..