MG42 Lafette spare Bolt box

[phil_uk]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a correct MG42 spare bolt box for the Lafette tripod, cost not an issue for the correct type, if you have/or know someone who has them, please let me know.

thanks
Phil

[phil_uk]

still looking for one

[JBaum]

www.mg34.com had a bolt box at Knob Creek. I didn't notice whether it was for the 34 or 42. Send them an email and ask. Price was reasonable, but I don't remember now what it was.

[phil_uk]

Thanks for your help Jbaum, i am actually after a specific mg42 type, its the one with the single clasp locking mechanism instead of the common type screw down one, if you know what i mean?

[JBaum]

I've no idea which one it was.... you'd have to email them and ask.

John

[phil_uk]

I finnaly managed to find one, i was extremely lucky to find the correct mg42 one, its in excellent condition, now my Lafette is complete, just giving it a coat of Red oxide primer and Ordnance Tan to match the color of my Lafette.

[mg42rip]

Phil,
I'm pretty sure that is a post war bolt box. I think the one you are looking for looks like this.


Ed

[phil_uk]

post war? where do you base this statement from? please back your statement up i would like to see proof that my mg42 bolt box is post war, they made different styles of mg42 bolt boxes during the war, the type you posted is commonly found on the mountain lafettes, just because it has a different locking clasp doesnt make it post war does it? there is no evidence at all anywhere to say these are post war, the common post war types are the ones found on yugo lafettes, and they look like mg34 bolt boxes.

[phil_uk]

sorry if i sounded a bit irate there i dont mean to be, but i have been comparing the one you posted to original ones, but i find it strange how yours doesnt have the two rivets close together on top of the lid that hold the internal spring?, unless im blind but the spring just looks welded on?, also the internal spring to hold the bolt down on yours looks too large compared to original ones, and also i notice it does not have the internal spacers on the inside, again found on originals, Folkes book clearly states more than one type of mg42 bolt box were made, and also stated ones were field made by the waffenmeister, and ones were made at the factory, im not saying yours is post war, but it is missing some charectaristics of a 42 bolt box, i think possibly mine was manufactered at the factory?

[Blanksguy]

Phil_uk,

I have an MG42 Lafette Bolt-Box identical to the one that mg42rip posted photos of.
Mine is stamped with what looks like the code "BXM" on the lid and is also "waffenampted" on the lid.

Niether the inner bolt hold-down-spring nor the closing-catch are riveted.....these are "spot-welded" which appears to be a "Factory-Design".
Both of the hinges are riveted to the base and cover/lid.

Regards, RichardS in MI, USA.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[phil_uk]

ok no problem,
as i say there were more that one type of mg42 bolt boxes as stated in folkes book,the type you mention above i have commonly seen on mountain mg42 lafettes with adjustable legs, i have just remembered about 8 month ago an exact same type (same lock mechanism) of mine in semi-relic condition with traces of tan paint was sold on ebay germany, i bidded for it but it went for serious money past my budget at the time, i think it went for 150-180euros due to condition oi wasnt bidding on it anymore, i was lucky to get this one, tons better than the post war re-worked yugo mg34 one . I have never seen or heard of any post war ones of these (other than the re-worked 34 ones found on norwegian/yugo ones etc), and dont think its fair to quickly judge somthing as maybe post war because they dont have a certain type.... if someone can come foreword with firm evidence my type is post war then im all ears.....

regards
Phil

[mg42rip]

There are allot of fakes in Germany made to look aged. There are two types the one i posted a pic of and the one with a knurled nut like the 34 bolt box. I would sell yours for 180 euros and i'll sell you the one i have just like yours for 25.00. Yours is Austrian. I can show you ww2 pics of the other types i mentioned but i have never seen an Austrian bolt box in a ww2 picture.

[42rocker]

Thanks for sharing the info and the photos on the bolt boxes.

Later 42rocker

[phil_uk]

There are allot of fakes in Germany made to look aged. There are two types the one i posted a pic of and the one with a knurled nut like the 34 bolt box. I would sell yours for 180 euros and i'll sell you the one i have just like yours for 25.00. Yours is Austrian. I can show you ww2 pics of the other types i mentioned but i have never seen an Austrian bolt box in a ww2 picture.

Austrian? Proof????? i have never heard or seen any of these out of Austria, and as such i beleive mine is a correct ww2 one, surley if you state mine is Austrian then you have proof of this instead of just stating the fact?. you said you were "pretty sure mine was post war" in the first post, no mention of Austrian, sureley if you have one like mine that you say is Austrian then you would have stated it was Austrian originally???.

[Blanksguy]

phil_uk,

As you ask the others to provide their proof that what they say/show is WWII-German and/or Post-War Austrian-Manufacture...........where is your photo-proof that the MG42 bolt-box that you posted photos of earlier is "WWII-German" (?).

Regards, RichardS in MI.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[phil_uk]

you are missing my point ,please all dont take offence, i will state i do not have any ww2 photos of these in ww2, and i doubt many still survive/exist, but i will state one of these i have was sold in ebay germany in semi relic condition with traces of ordnance tan paint left, it would be very hard to "fake" the condition of it was very old to say the least as i heave seen many other semi relic condition items that are very similar in condition, like ground dug lafettes/barrel carriers etc.

My argument was people are always quick to state somthing is "fake" or "post war" or "Austrian" they never seem to be able to back these statements up.......but i know there is no proof of this being "austrian" other than someones hearsay., i am not just going to go on one persons word of it, i have seen a picture of an original conditioned lafette 42 with my bolt box on it and it certainly isnt "austrian", but for copyright i cannot post it as i do not own the rights to the picture. i have also seen for sale yugoslavian refurbished lafette 42's with this type of bolt box on it, as well as the other types, so i strongly beleive this is a ww2 type. As i stated in one of my posts the second type posted is commonly the type for the Mountain lafettes, i have never seen this type on normal lafette 42's before.

I do not claim to be an expert at all, just a proud collector like most people on here, and i do tend to do my own research before i go ahead and purchase items for my collection.

so if it is apparently "austrian" my type, please tell me where you get this information from? until then its just hear say really.

regards
Philip
UK

[42rocker]

On the 1919 website they have a couple of folks kkkriverrat and lucky13 and several others that do a lot of research on the 1919 and search out factory drawings and factory figures. We have had some of that happen, wish that we had more. We have a lot of great diagrams and photos showing how to rebuild and use. And that's also great!!! Thanks. But I would love to see more stuff about who made what, what the yugos made and different ideas.... Of course a lot of it was lost in the war destroyed etc. Well we still have a great website, Thanks everybody...

Later 42rocker

[42rocker]

Great working bolt box info

https://www.bergflak.com/lafette/boltbox.html

Later 42rocker