MG 42 Question.

[helmet guy]

What kind of metal finishes can one expect to find on a wartime MG 42 ? Did they use only a blued finish or can parkerized and black oxide finishes be found. I have seen MG 42's with a flat greenish gray finish. Would this be original wartime and if so what kind of surface treatment would this be ?

[phil337]

early mg42 Blued finnish - last mg42 production were phosphated late 1944/45 production

[Haubentaucher]

What kind of metal finishes can one expect to find on a wartime MG 42 ? Did they use only a blued finish or can parkerized and black oxide finishes be found. I have seen MG 42's with a flat greenish gray finish. Would this be original wartime and if so what kind of surface treatment would this be ?

They are all blued, but some production series began to be phosphated at early 1944. The finish is very light grey. See the next picture.

http://www.bodenfund-originale.de/me...s/MG42bnz4.jpg

Since may-june all MG42 had this phosphate finnish, but some times some pieces like handles, action covers and others remained blued.

Regards,
Haubi

[Haubentaucher]

What kind of metal finishes can one expect to find on a wartime MG 42 ? Did they use only a blued finish or can parkerized and black oxide finishes be found. I have seen MG 42's with a flat greenish gray finish. Would this be original wartime and if so what kind of surface treatment would this be ?

I forgot, grey parkerized and black oxide are undoubtly postwar or MG53 / MG1 / MG3.
Regards,
Haubi