Dreifuss AA Tripod

[rayman1]

Just wondering if anyone here has an AA (Dreifuss) tripod. Lots of folks have the Lafette 34 tripod but you don't see many AA tripods.

[tomcatshaas]

I would like to get a WWII one, if you know of any. I would also like to see a picture when you get a chance.

TC

[BELTLEAD]

I've got one.They are very rare.The even rarer MG34 aa tripods are the early aluminum models that one of the members has.
The only thing wrong with mine is the postwar paint that the last owner nation used.

[Matt]

Nice Henry.

[RaccoonRough]

Yea Belthead,

What do you do with that Henry Rifle?
I have a Uberti one (.45 Colt) and shoot it in the N-SSA. I also
get together with my buddy and shoot alot of steel targets. I shoot
both Black Powder and smokeless in mine.

I would love to find an MG34 adapter for my MG3 AA Tripod! Does anyone know where they may be found??

RR

[BELTLEAD]

The 1860 Henry is a non-firing replica.The only firing 1860 model Henry I have is a .22 version.

Blitzbikes sells a copied MG34 cradle assembly that is imported from a machinist in Czechoslovakia for less than $200,the problem with the last batch made this summer is the connector piece was machined wrong and that's the most critical part.

The cradle assembly will fit on a postwar MG42 if you modify the top support shaft.
I used my original Dreifuss tripod as a reference to convert a postwar MG42 AA tripod with a spare MG34 cradle assembly,that I sold on eBay about 6 years ago.I advertised it as a replica MG34 AA tripod and the buyer gave me good feedback.
To convert one,pop out the cotterpin that holds the support shaft to the tripod head,remove the pin that holds the MG42 cradle to the shaft,weld the large hole where the cradle pin removed,use a lathe and turn down the postwar shaft to the WW2 support shaft dimentions.If you have a postwar Yugoslavian MG42 AA extension laying around you can also use that for the shaft reference because there almost 100% identical at the part of the shaft that the MG34 cradle attaches.AK47Dennis made posts of one he converted.

[BELTLEAD]

This is what the original MG34 Dreifuss looks like with the cradle removed.





This is a rough drawing of the dimentions you have to cut the postwar shaft down to.

[Bil]

Thanks for the pics and dimentions.About the Czech guy-do you mean that other batches were ok and this one wasn't,or are they all incorrect? Thanks ---bil

[BELTLEAD]

Previous MG34 cradles and connectors were correct.The latest batch was done wrong.Blitzbike's trying to correct the mistake.

I can give more accurate dimentions when I find my machinist caliper.I posted a close measurement to give you an idea.I will give measurements to .001 inch later.

[tomcatshaas]

Previous MG34 cradles and connectors were correct.The latest batch was done wrong.Blitzbike's trying to correct the mistake.

I can give more accurate dimentions when I find my machinist caliper.I posted a close measurement to give you an idea.I will give measurements to .001 inch later.

I bought one of those MG34 cradles early this year. What was wrong with them, and how would I know if I have the correct one or the wrong one?

TC

[BELTLEAD]

TC, You have the correct one.The batch that was made around June '07 had the half-moon connector piece machined wrong.

I made a drawing with the exact measurements for the postwar MG42 AA main shaft that have to be turned-down on a lathe.

[RaccoonRough]

Thanks alot Belthead!

I will be on the lookout for one. Thanks for the picts and measurements.

RR

[BELTLEAD]

I found a MG42 AA postwar shaft in the attic that I forgot to attach on the AA tripod after I machined it. This is what yours should look like after turning on a lathe.

[RaccoonRough]

Thanks,

I was going to get one of the ones from I.O. but I am not sure if they are correct for WW2..................? Are they?

RR

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

They are with a few minor modifications.

[RaccoonRough]

I should have been more clear...........I got an AA tripod. What I was talking about getting was the MG34 Adaptor from I.O. Are they made correct??

RR

[BELTLEAD]

Yes. The Inter-Ordnance MG34 adapter is a strong unit and takes less than a half-hour to install because it requires no machining.Simply remove the MG42 latch assembly from the cradle and bolt it on.This is a picture of the I.O. adapter.

[Bil]

Mine took about 5 minutes-remove a cotter pin,remove the pin,and put in the new piece.It is a well-made part. ---bil

[RaccoonRough]

So they are a correct copy of one used in WW2?

Hey Bil whats up!

RR

[Bil]

I don't think they are an exact copy,but they do work.From pics,it looks like the original is 1 piece.But someone will correct me if wrong, i hope.RR,I am in Calif. for a few weeks. ---bil