Lafette 34 Bolt Box

[DavidH]

Hello,
Can someone please confirm that this is a WWII period Lafette 34 bolt box and what a fair price would be?
As you can see it is post war painted and I'm told it is a later war type. I've got the option to by it for £75 (about $120). I don't have one on my 1940 lafette and it is not the sort of thing I have seen for sale. So some help would be greatly received. These are the only pictures I have.

[42rocker]

Following what you see in the mg34/42 book... 2 spring tabs X 2 = 4 therefore it's for a mg3"4". Only one spring tab
1 X 2 = 2 therefore it's for an mg4"2"... That's my simple rule to use. I think that there are better out there, that said if I needed one I would still think about buying that one. However I will double check the book's pictures again when I get home and try to post on this again.

Later 42rocker

[DavidH]

Eh!! So it is probably for a MG42 tripod rather than a MG34

[42rocker]

One spring with two tabs sticking up. 2X2 = 4 therefore it's for a mg3"4" bolt. Or for a mg34 lafette.
Just looked and can't find my mg34/42 book right now but I'm pretty sure that I'm right as far as following the pics in the book. Still looking for my book and I'll double check it again.

Later 42rocker

[Matt]

Your post makes no sense, 2x2=4? What are you talking about??

The spring in the bolt box pictured in the first post is for the MG34. The bolt boxe for the MG42 has a different type of spring in it.

120 or 75pounds is a good price. - matt

[42rocker]

Matt
Your post.... Well I will try to help you out
In math 1 x 2 = 2
and 2 x 2 = 4

This relates as the following when you have a bolt box in question. You count the number of tabs on the spring. In this case 2 then times that by 2 and you get 4.. That is the last number in mg34.. Last number is a 4...

In the case of a bolt box with only one tab on the spring 1, you times it by 2 and get 2 the last number in mg42..

Some of us folks as we get older don't remember 2 tabs is mg34 and one tab is mg42. But a simple (too me) memory trick is times 2 and it relates to the last number in either mg42 or mg34.

Hope this now makes sense to you Matt. On price I have seen them cheaper several times. However if you need one the price while on the high end is still not to bad.

Later 42rocker

[DavidH]

Thanks for the comments. I think I will get it as I just haven't seen any around full stop.

[DavidH]

The bolt box has turned up, it is well used with a few layers of paint!
Question... did the yugos make these?? If yes how do you tell a yugo one from a German one??

[42rocker]

Please look at the bolt box in the link below, it shows an mg34 lafette and it's bolt box open with a mg34 bolt in it. Please note the fact that the spring has two tabs on it. Again 2 x 2 equals 4 =>mg3"4". If it had only one tab then it would be for a mg4"2" (1 X 2).

http://mg42.us/download/file.php?id=12465&mode=view

Check it out.

Later 42rocker

[DavidH]

Thanks for the picture, it looks like the the boox in the picture is an earlier one that has had the slit cut in it to accomodate the later bolts. The one I have doesn't have the slit, so it would place it later war.
I am ssuming the one I have is Wartime German and not postwar yugo, though I'm not even sure the yugos made MG34 bolt boxes post war?
Would the general opinion be this is a wartime bolt box?

[Matt]

The box is Yugo. The circle with the number in it is a Yugo mark. - Matt

[DavidH]

Thanks Matt,
That is most useful, I think I will be sending it back then, though I'm sure at some point it will reappear repainted with no visible marks!
I had a really good look at the side of the box under a scope and made out a little more, it is difficult to take a photo so I sketched it out what is visible.

[42rocker]

DavidH
Not my bolt box, but still you might want to think about keeping it. When was the last time you saw one for sale? If you see them for sale often then maybe send it back. If you were thinking about repainting it and putting it on, well after you are done will the marks still be visible? Or would you care that much. Or use it for now and then find another one and sell this one.

Enjoy Life

Later 42rocker