Photos of original FG42

[hansellhd]

The Spit was a beauty Queen but the Fw190 would eat it for lunch.

[Peter Laidler]

Are there any flying FW 190's still in existance? Is that a flying example or just an old colour photo Hansel?

Back to the FG42 thing though. I'm suprised how comfortable and ergonomic the swept back pistol grip really is. While it LOOKS wierd, it is in fact very practical

[jmoore]

There ought to be at least one Dora FW190 that's flyable (or could be made so) out there. It was at Georgia Tech in the early '60s and sold to a fellow I knew. He turned it pretty quickly for the princely sum of US$40,000...!!! He only made about tenfold, but anymore?

Engines are pretty scarce.

I wonder if they still run up the Ki100's engine at the IWM any more.

[villiers]

Yes I do like the SMG42 but it was having some FTF issues and I had to send it back to SMGGUNS in TX. to work on it, I hope to have it back some time next week.

The other Rifle is a PTR44 SSD clone of the MP44, I have had issues with that rifle as well. First thing is the 2 mags that came with it were defective, then after 2 years the OP-rod/Carrier Broke and I had to replace it with an original from a MP44 all is well now but it was a pain in the A$$ trying to get it repaired.

HDH.

So is "SMGGUNS in TX" the company that imported a batch from the German makers? Or do they make their own replica?

[boltaction]

Awesome rifle and great pics!

I have an original FG42 bayonet of the third type, like yours. I always assumed that it once had a cap over the end, but see that yours does not either. The only markings are on the little rocker ends. By any chance, can you make out the markings on your bayonet? Mine has a "2" on one rocker and a partial that looks like three letters (possibly "agv") on the other. I would be very interested to compare the markings on yours, if you would be so kind to share.

Here are some photos of my bayonet. The only markings on it are on the two push buttons. One is a 2, the other is a three letter code which looks to me like a gcy or maybe gty or guy. I took a photo using a magnifying glass and shooting through the magnifying glass, which actually worked not too badly. According to Michael Heidler's excellent book on German Ordnance Codes, "gcy" was L.O. Dietrich, "Vesta" Nahmaschinenwerke in Altenberg, known to manufacture components of MG 81, HFW, and Bayonets. "gty" is a less likely option, while "guy" is Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Buhrle & Co, known to make automatic weapons (Oerlikons) and bayonet parts...........

Yours you say has an "agv" on it. agv was code for Berg & Co, in Solingen/Ohligs, listed as making S84/98 bayonets from 1941-44, so definitely a possibility. It would seem that maybe there were two manufacturers for these bayonets.













Ed

[hansellhd]

So is "SMGGUNS in TX" the company that imported a batch from the German makers? Or do they make their own replica?

They make there own in Texas.

SMG Guns | Semi Auto FG42 Project!

[marysdad]

Thanks so much Ed!

I see that your bayonet does have an end cap. Our two bayonets are identically-marked.

The partial mark on your bayonet was the lower portion and the partial mark on my bayonet was the upper portion. When I superimposed the two, it is clearly "gcy". Dietrich was not a maker of bayonets for the Kar 98k rifles, so if they are a documented maker of bayonets, these bayonets may be what the that references. I have Walter's earlier book on the Letter Codes, which doesn't mention bayonets among items manufactured by Dietrich.

Readers should note that our photographs are deceptive as to just how tiny this marking is. The surface on which the three letters are stamped measures 3 mm. high by 5 mm. wide. The pink rectangle in the image below serves to illustrate the actual size of the flat upon which the marking is stamped.

[Peter Laidler]

Good phrase there Marysdad. We use a slightly different variation that goes
'...... there's usually a very simple explanation that most laymen can give an answer to but there's always a more sophisticated explanation that the so called experts huff and puff about.

Have a nice rest of the day

[Garandy]

Are there any flying FW 190's still in existance?

This is the only recently flown FW 190 I can think of with an original BMW 801 engine: Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 : The Flying Heritage Collection

There are some replicas out there made by a company caled Flugwerk with other engine types that have flown as well.

Jmoore, I'm pretty sure this is the FW 190D-13 you are refering to that was formerly owned by Georgia Tech: Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13 (Dora) : The Flying Heritage Collection

[jmoore]

If the FHC's P40C was formerly Steven Grey's (which it sounds like it is) it lost a lot of it's good handling when the wings were rebuilt (in the US- the fuselage remained in England where it was rebuilt using some of our parts) without using jigs. (And new leading edge formers that were poorly formed.) After a few test flights it was unloaded pretty quickly!