MG34/42 Drum Question

[bandanabandit1]

Hello everyone, I have been on the search for an original example of a MG34/42 ammunition drum. I have seen what appears to be post-war reworked Yugoslavian (bright green) and Russian (black) reworked drums but cant really find much information on the original examples. What were the finishes like on these? Was it painted a dark green or blued? Does anyone have any pictures or a link to pictures of original German drums? I want to make sure I am looking at an original piece and not something post-war reworked.

Thank you!

[me6_130]

Drums were mostly painted ordnance blue till early 1943. From then on they were painted tan. You might find them in both colours dated 1943, as the chage occured about mids that year. You might find the black "blued" RC, Yugo apple green, Norwegian middle green, Spanish mid to dark green, French dark blue/black, and Portuguese green. This portuguses green is period painting to Portuguese specifications, just as the rest of Portuguse contract equipment.

If you are not lucky enough to find drums in their original colour, you might be lucky to find them in Norwegian, French or Spanish paint, and be able to clean them. Posting some pics of some of mine, side by side to another post war painted.

Carles

[me6_130]

Not only the drums were painted in those colours, but drum carriers also.

Carles

[bandanabandit1]

Thank you for all that information Carles! Do you have any idea where I could source an original German painted one?

[me6_130]

Sorry, I don't know any specific source right now. You'll have to keep your eyes open and go web by web, site by site, unless some other member knows.


Carles


PS: Oh!, keep your eyes well open, because I have recently see some RC or yugo capture, stripped and repainted in German colours sold as original painted.