Buying an MG42 lafette - Questions??

[Patty D]

Hello,

I am looking into buying a lafette tripod for my MG42, and I was wondering, if its a Yugo converted lafette 34 to a lafette 42, is this a big drawback in terms of collectablity and value?? Or if in good condition does it not matter?

Another thing, did some WW2 German lafettes never have dates/markings on the top cradle, and only on the height adjustment piece?

Thanks,
Patrick

[me6_130]

I suggest you had a look at Reidar's article, it's very informative:

http://www.bergflak.com/lafette/markings.html


Carles

[mg42rip]

If I were you I would find an original 42 Lafette they were all dated but not all search and fire mechanism were.

Carles is right you should check out the link. If you find one and need help with marking s I can help you. They were all marked In the same place.
Ed

[Patty D]

Thank you Carles and Ed,

I have just had a look at the link, it's is very, very useful for both the markings and paint used on the tripods.

However, in doesn't go much into detail about value and post war use. Obviously I would prefer a full original lafette 42, but the post war Yugo used ones are more than half the price, but apart from range/data plates did they change any major parts?

Another thing, markings wise could the top cradle just be marked with a code (ecy) and no date/detail number.


Thanks for your help, Patrick

[IMBLITZVT]

I think you will find that the original German ones will retain and grow in value much faster. In Europe, were most guns can not be shot, collectablility is everything. People want original German items. Yugo stuff is just place holders until they can afford the real deal. In the US, this is not always the case since half the people are shooters. To them as long as it functions fine, they don't care about the markings. So if you are in the UK, I would think original German is the way to go if you can afford it.

The Yugo pods are very close. There are some small things that are different besides te markings but they are small items. If you just need the "look" yugo will pass for the real deal 99% of the time.

[Grossfuss]

MG42 Lafette

Hi,
I should go for a German tripod if you can afford one, it'll hold its value.
Beware of Yugos masquerading as German with changed range plates and pseudo makers' marks. Some dealers don't even bother to fill in the 4 holes where the Yugo serial number plate was attached to the top cradle.
There was a late model German Lafette on ebay.de last week that went (relatively) cheaply, possibly because it looked as if it had been badly pitted under the new grey paint.
If you finally track down your German Lafette, the next pitfall is to avoid one that is a converted MG34.
There are pictures of a ground-dug example that would prove that this was a legitimate wartime German modification but the easy signs are (1) the heavy mounting for the rear of the front shock absorber with the characteristic MG34 flat plate on top to support the gun during barrel change - the correct MG42 fitting is of thin steel - check out the photos in Folke Myrvang's book(s).
(2) The rear gun-mounting hooks for the MG34 have a groove machined on the inner face - those for the MG42 are the same thickness throughout.
All that then remains is to try and find all fittings and maker's marks on the rest of it to be of a suitable period - later tripods used steel wingnuts etc. etc.
I could go on all night - oops! I just have!
It's a shame you weren't buying a few years ago when the Austrian batch were around but Ryton's had a few more recently.
Above all - good luck with it!
Grossfuss

[Patty D]

Hi,
I should go for a German tripod if you can afford one, it'll hold its value.
Beware of Yugos masquerading as German with changed range plates and pseudo makers' marks. Some dealers don't even bother to fill in the 4 holes where the Yugo serial number plate was attached to the top cradle.
There was a late model German Lafette on ebay.de last week that went (relatively) cheaply, possibly because it looked as if it had been badly pitted under the new grey paint.
If you finally track down your German Lafette, the next pitfall is to avoid one that is a converted MG34.
There are pictures of a ground-dug example that would prove that this was a legitimate wartime German modification but the easy signs are (1) the heavy mounting for the rear of the front shock absorber with the characteristic MG34 flat plate on top to support the gun during barrel change - the correct MG42 fitting is of thin steel - check out the photos in Folke Myrvang's book(s).
(2) The rear gun-mounting hooks for the MG34 have a groove machined on the inner face - those for the MG42 are the same thickness throughout.
All that then remains is to try and find all fittings and maker's marks on the rest of it to be of a suitable period - later tripods used steel wingnuts etc. etc.
I could go on all night - oops! I just have!
It's a shame you weren't buying a few years ago when the Austrian batch were around but Ryton's had a few more recently.
Above all - good luck with it!
Grossfuss

Hi Grossfuss,
Thank you for that information, it's very useful to know, and I can see what you mean now about the rear gun mount, and the thickness differences, between the 34 and 42 lafette. I did see an Austrian used one at regimentals beltring stall last year, shame there doesn't seem to be any left!

Once again many thanks to you and everyone for the help!

Patrick.

[John Slater]

hi PATTY D I bought the 42 laffet from regimentals you saw at the w&w peace show last year

[Patty D]

hi PATTY D I bought the 42 laffet from regimentals you saw at the w&w peace show last year

Hi John, you did well!!! It looked a very nice one, did you paint it up or leave it as it was? If possible, do you have any pictures you could post? Thanks, Patrick

[John Slater]

hi PATTY D I left the paint as it was the paint looks good to me when I finish un packing my boxes and find my camera then I will send you some picts of it with my nice 43 dated mg42 full matching numbers.. the lafett is dated 43 and eat. makers code. yours john

[Patty D]

Hi John, ok thats very good of you! I look forward to seeing it again, and your MG42 sounds very nice also! Thanks, Patrick

[Hans Zeug]

£1,500 42 lafette.

Hi, I don't know how much you have to spend but they fetch a fair amount of money these days, I see that D and B Militaria have an MG42 lafette for sale at £1,500. This one looks to have a converted 34 cradle with all the saliant features that were mentioned by Grossfuss, they also have the MGZ40 sight with it's tin for sale as well. This one looks a bit rough compared to the nice one they had in thier Beltring last year. Would also like to see some pictures of the ex Regimenrals lafette on here. Best regards David.

[Grossfuss]

MG42 Lafette

Hello again,
As Hans Zeug has said, the D&B Lafette is a converted MG34.
They don't show us the markings but the pads have been re-covered in canvas - the handgrip/oilbottle has lost it's lid and one screw's missing from the bolt box!
Good hunting,
Grossfuss

[Patty D]

Hi, thanks again to everyone for their input! I've just noticed that spandau militaria appear to be selling two lafettes, one of which looks the same one D&B are selling, but cheaper on their site, and this time it shows the markings. Their other one on spandau, in tan paint, is it me or do those markings look strange?

If possible, I would like some opinions on this one below:

Thanks,
Patrick

[phil337]

Hi, thanks again to everyone for their input! I've just noticed that spandau militaria appear to be selling two lafettes, one of which looks the same one D&B are selling, but cheaper on their site, and this time it shows the markings. Their other one on spandau, in tan paint, is it me or do those markings look strange?

If possible, I would like some opinions on this one below:

Thanks,
Patrick

this one is good Patty, but note it is missing the oil brush with screw lid. this Lafette was refurbished in Astria due to the paint color, it will have BH 12 on the front tripod mounting, its odd it appears to be a later lafette, but still has the release button on the top, might be transitional before they swapped the release button from the top to the buttom, either way its a good one