WW2 light machine gun?

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Marco, Jul 12, 2004.

  1. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Anyone got any idea what the picture below shows?

    [​IMG]

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  2. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Could you supply some more details such as where the photo was taken.

    It does not seem to match any WW2 weapon.
     
  3. DirtyDick

    DirtyDick Senior Member

    Perhaps some derivative of the German MG34/MG42?

    Breech end looks a bit like a Sten stuffed into a longer barrel, but I suppose that is a generic gun look since the Sten was so cheaply made. Perhaps some sort of late-War DIY LMG?

    Might be completely in the wrong direction, not much of a WW2 gun buff.

    Richard
     
  4. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    the most puzziling part is the squareish trigger guard. that rules out a couple of weapons.

    Also, it would appear to have a wooden stock, which has rotten away, that rules out the MG15.

    the nearest ones are
     
  5. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    since the Sten was so cheaply made

    The Germans copied the sten, but the fakes were easy to find, as they were much better made!!!
     
  6. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Hi chaps. The consensus on an other forum seems to be that it is a composite:

    "Looks like bits of 4 relics put together. at left the receiver from a Sten or the German MP3008 copy of it, into which is wedged part of an MG 15 which has a swivel mount from a vehicle or aircraft and then on the right the barrel of an MP40 sub machine gun. The bipod looks as if it is off an MG 34 or MG 42."

    I tend to agree because nothing except the MP40 and it's relatives have a barel like this weapon.

    The picture was send to me and I was told it was bought in Northern France.

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  7. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Just a couple of things.

    If it is a sten then it is a the german copy as the ejection slot id in the right position.

    Also the mg15 had a carrying handle which was on a ring

    The Mp40 series had a solid barrel not a sloted one.
     
  8. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    MG15 for comparison
     
  9. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Hello Morse,

    The barel is sollid and goes through the sloted jacket. Accoording to the owner the jacket and barel are indeed loose.

    I think someone’s leg (and/or wallet) was pulled....

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  10. DirtyDick

    DirtyDick Senior Member

    [
     
  11. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Originally posted by Marco@Jul 13 2004, 10:46 AM
    Hello Morse,

    The barel is sollid and goes through the sloted jacket. Accoording to the owner the jacket and barel are indeed loose.

    I think someone’s leg (and/or wallet) was pulled....

    Regards,

    Marco
    Now I come to think about it, maybe it could be that little known weapon.....
    ..............................................................................................................................................................The heinz 57! :D :D

    Somebodys wallet was being pulled!

    :ph34r: :ph34r:
     
  12. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    by the Wehrmacht in the 1930s, and was rushed into service from 1941 since it was the only SMG design immediately available that could be made in large numbers and with the readily available resources.

    That was the "Lancaster" Gun, which was a copy of the MP28 and mainly used by the Navy.

    The first time they were used in combat was during the "Altmark" incident!

    There is a stall in the Barras in Glasgow selling a Lancaster Gun, along with a Browning Automatic rifle, PPSH and Mauser k96!!!!



    How bad was this weapon? I've heard that it was unreliable, unattractive and in accurate, but only chosen since it was far cheaper than the Thompson SMG then being imported from the US: I assume the Thompson was subsequently taken out of frontline British service before 1945?

    The Thompson remained in operational use up to the end of the war. The gun I think you were talking about the M3 "grease Gun".
     
  13. DirtyDick

    DirtyDick Senior Member

    Hi

    I subsequently read that the Thompson remained in service with British units in Italy (8th Army) until 1945 - I assume for logistical reasons and since they could cadge ammo off the Americans - but that it had been replaced by the Sten among UK-based British & Canadian forces prior to Normandy Landings.

    Re. the Lanchester: wonder whether I misread it or whether Hastings was mistaken?
    Recall 'Grease Gun' being unpopular, but didn't know it had been withdrawn from service during the War.

    I assume the stall in Barras had those weapons for its own protection and has since gone nuclear.

    Richard
     

    Attached Files:

  14. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    I subsequently read that the Thompson remained in service with British units in Italy (8th Army) until 1945 - I assume for logistical reasons and since they could cadge ammo off the Americans - but that it had been replaced by the Sten among UK-based British & Canadian forces prior to Normandy Landings.

    The Thompson was also used by 14 army in the far east.


    "Re. the Lanchester: wonder whether I misread it or whether Hastings was mistaken?"

    Britain actually ordered 50,000 lancaster gun but the Sten was just coming into production and was much better.

    But since the lancaster was a copy of the MP28 then hastings was correct.

    As for the stall, the weapons are deactivated but the stall holder does not sem to have a licenese to trade in weapons!!!
     

Share This Page