During a recent visit to the Springfield Armory National Historic Site Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, Small Arms Review was granted access to the area of the museum where weapons not on display are stored. Only 16-percent of the museum’s collection is currently on exhibit.

One might wonder why some of the more unique, one-off firearms are not on display. I have asked this question of several museum curators over the years, and the answer is always the same. The average military museum visitor is interested in seeing a rifle or handgun that was issued to them, their father or grandfather. Most are not interested in one-of-a-kind prototypes.

High Standard T48 7.62mm FN FAL Rifle Serial Number HS-1

One of the rarest FN FAL rifles was manufactured by the High Standard Corporation, Hamden, Connecticut in 1954. The Belgian FN FAL rifle, as originally manufactured in Europe, was produced using the metric system of measurement. Canada, Great Britain and the United States all used the Imperial system of inches. Any rifle produced in these countries would need to adhere to their standard of measurement. One of the obstacles encountered with the Belgian rifle was that all the factory drawings were done using the metric system.

The Springfield Armory was busy with the T44E4 rifles and numerous other projects and decided to turn the task over to a commercial entity. Bids were taken for the project, and the contract was eventually awarded to the High Standard Corporation. As part of the agreement, High Standard was to manufacture at least 12 functional FN FAL T48 rifles from their final drawings. Harrington and Richardson received a contract and manufactured 510 inch-pattern T48 rifles for testing and evaluation.

Inland M1 Carbine Serial Number 1

The M1 carbine was manufactured during World War II, issued to primarily arm personnel who were not engaged in front-line infantry fighting. The carbine used a new 7.62x33mm cartridge with a 110-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity at approximately 1,970 feet per second. The carbine was designed to supply a more effective weapon to those who would normally be issued a handgun. The M1 carbine was manufactured by a large number of contractors. One of those contractors was the Inland Division of General Motors. In the museum’s holdings is the first production M1 carbine made by Inland, serial number 1, with two unusual characteristics: a “web” forward of the trigger guard and a corrugated curved butt plate. The first five tool room models of the Inland carbine were made by R.F. Sedley, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

T29 .30 Caliber Grease Gun Serial Number X38

The experimental T29 submachine gun was developed by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors during the fall of 1944. The T29 is a straight blowback M3A1 “Grease Gun” chambered for the .30 carbine cartridge. The barrel is 14 inches in length; the overall length is 28.8 inches. Development was terminated with the introduction of the select-fire M2 carbine.

Savage Submachine Gun .45ACP Serial Number X-1

The experimental Savage submachine gun, caliber .45, was manufactured by Savage Arms, Utica, New York. Equipped with a folding spike bayonet, magazine and sling, this submachine gun shares many features with the production Reising M50 submachine gun and feeds from a 20-round Reising magazine. The weapon was designed in the 1940s by Eugene Reising for Savage Arms.

High Standard Submachine Gun .45 ACP Serial Number 7

The High-Standard Submachine Gun Caliber .45 was designed by Carl G. Swebilius of High Standard with the patents assigned to the corporation. The .45 caliber prototypes were made by High Standard; production UD42 9mm models were manufactured by Marlin for the United Defense Supply Corporation. Reportedly only seven weapons in caliber .45 ACP were made for submission to various testing boards.

Submachine Gun Thompson M1A1 .45 ACP Serial Number 1244194

Manufactured by Savage for the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Connecticut, this is a presentation M1A1 Thompson submachine gun with a polished blue finish. The serial number represents the total number of Thompson submachine guns; 1928, M1 and M1A1 models made by Savage. The weapon was donated to the Springfield Armory NHS by Savage Arms, Westfield, Massachusetts on October 17, 1978.

Swedish-K, 9mm Caseless Ammunition Serial Number 356615

A submachine gun that was introduced to the Navy SEALs at Fort Bragg and remained in their inventory through the Vietnam War, was the Swedish Model 45, also known as the m/45 or Swedish-K.

A Swedish-K submachine gun, serial number 356615, was converted by the U.S. Smith & Wesson Corporation to electrically fire caseless 9mm ammunition. The m/45 was followed by several S&W Model 76 submachine guns that were designed for caseless ammunition before the program was terminated.

Smith & Wesson Model 76, Caseless Ammunition Serial Number X219

Model 76 serial number X219 was one of several Model 76 submachine guns converted to fire caseless ammunition. The ammunition was fired electrically. Power was supplied by a 30-volt dry cell battery located in a compartment forward of the trigger guard. The magazine release lever was redesigned to clear the battery box. Note the on-off safety switch on the pistol grip (barrel is missing from the weapon).

U.S. Rifle, M1 Caliber .30 Serial Number 1

Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts in May 1934, this is the first model shop semi-automatic, gas-operated (gas-trap) M1 Garand rifle with 8-round clip feed mechanism. Manufactured by semi-production, tool room methods in the Model Shop at Springfield Armory under direct supervision of John Garand. The cost to the government for the 80-model shop M1 rifles was $1,831.00 in 1934, or $32,268.51 in 2018 dollars.

U.S. Rifle, M1 Caliber .30 Serial Number 81

This M1 was manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts in 1937. It is the first series production model M1 gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle with 8-round clip feed mechanism. Parkerized finish with many small parts blued. This is the first production line M1 manufactured in 1937 at a cost of $214.54. Serial numbers 1 to 80 were tool room models.

U.S. Rifle, T20 Caliber .30 Serial Number 1

The T20 was manufactured at Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts in October 1944. Experimental gas-operated, select-fire rifle, essentially a modified M1 adapted to a 20-round detachable BAR box magazine. The receiver was made .3125-inch longer than a production M1 to solve a problem feeding from the BAR magazine. The weapon was designed to fire from open bolt in the full-auto mode; closed bolt in semi-auto mode. The open bolt feature did not adequately solve cook-off problems.

Muzzle velocity was 2750 feet per second and cyclic rate of fire 500rpm. Weapon has an overall length of 44.5 inches, a barrel length of 24 inches and weighs approximately 10 pounds without accessories. Development of the T20 model was terminated in January 1945 with recommendations that minor changes and strengthening of various components be made. A rifle incorporating these minor design changes was designated as the T20E1.

Remington T22E2 .30 Serial Number 1

Concurrent with Garand’s work on the T20 rifle, a competitive contract was awarded to Remington Arms Company to develop an improved M1 rifle. Remington’s prototypes were designed around a standard length M1 receiver. Like the T20, the T22 used a BAR-style 20-round magazine. Manufactured and developed by Remington Arms, Ilion, New York. The T22E2 was essentially an M1 converted to select fire and modified for a detachable box magazine.

Belt-Fed German Fallschirmjagergewehr, FG42

After World War II ended, the idea to develop a new U.S. general purpose, light machine gun was renewed. A captured World War II German weapon, a late model FG42, was examined and adopted as a base design. The FG42 (Fallschirmjagergewehr, or Paratroopers Rifle) was a limited production, shoulder-fired, rifle caliber weapon intended solely for the German paratroop forces, produced from stampings and welding.

The mechanical solution for the conversion was engineered by the Bridge Tool & Die Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1946. The resulting weapon is a conversion of the Type 2 FG42 German paratrooper rifle with the belt feeding mechanism of the Maschinengewehr 42, a German, belt-fed general purpose machine gun, fabricated from sheet metal stampings. The Bridge Tool & Die conversion weapon is a gas-operated, blowback type combination—air-cooled; bipod supported; with forward handgrip and rear shoulder stock. The receiver cover is marked WaA 147.

T33 Clarke Arms Rifle Serial Number 8

The Clarke Arms Company of Boston entered their T33 series rifles in the U.S. Ordnance Department’s lightweight rifle competition. The T33 rifle development program was begun in March 1949. The weapon was a lightweight, selective full- and semi-automatic rifle. The purpose of the lightweight rifle program was to replace the M1 rifle. This project was suspended in late 1950, because the weapon lacked sufficient ruggedness and demonstrated poor performance under adverse conditions. The Clarke Arms Company dissolved on December 22, 1954.

T44 Rifle Serial Number 1

The first 7.62mm T44 rifles were built on .30 caliber T20 receivers. Spacers were used in the receiver to adapt the T20 receiver for the shorter 7.62mm cartridges. A new short receiver, specifically designed for the 7.62mm round, was introduced on the T44E4 model.

First Production M14 Rifle Serial Number 2000

The first U.S. M14 rifle off the series production line at the Springfield Armory in 1957 was serial number 2000. The presentation grade rifle was finished in a high polish blue with a fine black walnut wood stock.

M14E2/A1 Rifle Prototype, Springfield Armory M14 Serial Number 6488

The M14 rifle as issued, was very difficult to fire accurately in full-automatic. As a result, many were issued with selector locks, limiting their operation to semi-automatic-only. In attempt to design an M14 that could effectively use its full-auto feature, the USAIB/M14 was conceived at Fort Benning, Georgia, by Captain Durward D. Gosney. The Springfield Armory M14 Serial Number 6488 was fitted with an in-line pistol grip stock, wooden foregrip, muzzle stabilizer and commercial rubber recoil pad. In this configuration, the M14 demonstrated that the automatic fire accuracy requirements could be consistently achieved.

Due to size limitations, only a small portion of the unique firearms stored at the Springfield Armory Museum are featured in this article, as are the brief descriptions. Watch future issues of Small Arms Review for more in-depth articles and photos on many of these weapons.

Special thanks to Curator Alex MacKenzie and the entire museum staff.

For more information about the museum:

Springfield Armory National Historic Site
One Armory Square, Suite 2
Springfield, MA 01105-1299
Phone: 413-271-3976 Website: nps.gov/spar

WW2 reenactor with FG42 at the ready.

By Oleg Volk

The FG42 rifle from SMG Guns is a unique design. A semiautomatic rifle modeled on a World War 2 selective fire rifle, it follows the original as faithfully as the American federal laws permit, actually improving on the original in certain respects. The rarity of the FG42, of which only 9,000 were manufactured, and the restrictive regulations governing ownership of automatic weapons, added up to keep the market price of the few transferrable examples very high, recently approaching $100,000. Since the weapon is also eminently functional, it remained an unreachable object of desire for many collectors and recreational shooters until SMG Guns stepped up and began producing accurate reproductions. Their FG42 variant was several years in the making and had to live up to high expectations and turned out very well.

Greatness sometimes rises from overcoming adversity. In May 1940, the Fallschirmjägers – German paratroopers – had plenty to overcome as they were dropped onto the British-held island of Crete. In part due to the limitations of their parachute design and in part due to the preference for low-altitude drops, most of them jumped with only pistols for firearms and had to scrounge for the separately dropped containers with machine guns and rifles. About a quarter did have MP38 submachine guns, but their effective range proved insufficient for countering rifle fire from the defenders. The disjointed but spirited defense of Crete eventually failed, but not before inflicting such heavy casualties on the German paratroopers that no large scale airborne invasions were ever attempted by them again.

From this Pyrrhic victory, the Luftwaffe made the obvious conclusion: the troops should be armed immediately upon landing, preferably with a weapon that matched the range of the enemy rifles and bested the arms of the foe in firepower. The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 – paratrooper rifle 42 – was specified in 1941 to that end. The proposed weapon was to combine traits of a rifle and light machine gun, being lightweight and able to shoot fully and semiautomatically with the standard 7.92x57mm Mauser service round. The genius of the FG42 was that it came very close to fulfilling several apparently incompatible roles.

The FG42 is a 20-shot select-fire weapon, operating from a closed bolt in semiautomatic mode and from an open bolt in full auto. This expedient permitted better cooling in rapid fire while retaining good accuracy for slow, longer range engagements. To achieving this unusual arrangement, the gun dispensed with a firing pin spring entirely, using the return spring of the bolt carrier also to fire. As a result, the entire long stroke gas system makes a perceptible jump of about one quarter inch on firing. Considering the sheer mass involved, there’s no such thing as a light primer strike with an FG42. While it evolved gradually, firearm historians recognize two main models (as opposed to about 8 sub models). The first is easily visually distinguished by a sharply backward-raked pistol grip angle, a bipod mounted under the front of the gas tube and a stamped metal buttstock. The second reverts to a more conventional grip angle, a more forward-mounted bipod and a hollow wooden stock that substantially improves the shooter’s comfort in cold weather. The relocation of the bipod reflected the growing realization that the ten-pound weapon was too light to produce acceptably low dispersion or high enough density of fire to be a successful light machine gun. The short 38-inch weapon fits a 20-inch barrel by locating the magazine on the left, in line with the pistol grip. Short compared even to the 98k carbine with its 24-inch barrel, it was fitted with a muzzle brake that did little to reduce muzzle flash. The innovations of the FG42 were several: a straight stock to reduce muzzle climb, the concomitant tall folding sights so common now, a mechanical buffer in the stock that permitted the entire action to enter the stock on recoil, and the rotating thumb safety that also lives on in many later weapons. Standard load-out of an FG42 gunner was eight 20-round magazines in chest pouches.

The downfall of the FG42 in real-world use was the manufacturing cost. The extensive precision machining and the high quality materials required were quite beyond the German capability by the time all the design bugs had been worked out. The far cheaper STG44 was preferred for mass production. Like the Wheelock rifles of the 16th century, FG42 was too expensive and too much of a specialist’s weapon for a mass war of peasant levies. Like the rare rifled Wheelock’s that often sported range-adjustable sights and set triggers, the FG42 was studied closely after the war and influenced the M60 machine gun and the M14 doctrine of use. Aside from that, it remained largely unavailable to the civilian shooters of America until SMG Guns brought out the semiautomatic clone; first in 8x57mm and later in the more available 7.62×51.

The differences between the original and the reproduction are very subtle. Besides the obvious absence of the automatic mode, the modern gun has better fit and finish. The woodwork is crisp and the bluing is even. The first 8mm reproductions used Czech ZB26 light machine gun magazines, cheaper and more available by far than the original FG42 20-rounders. The 7.62mm version uses M1A magazines with G3 followers, though the sample I had came with re-shaped M1A followers instead. The change was necessary as the FG42 has no automatic bolt hold-open.

The rifle came in a sturdy plastic case, with a clear instruction manual, a well-made sling for carry or supported firing, and two magazines. The aperture sight was set to 300m, pressing on top of the aperture and rotating the dial spun it through the range of 100m to 1000m. The safety was quite stiff, in keeping with the original. Several users tried to open the bolt by pulling on the shell deflector. The actual charging handle is similar in shape but further forward and takes a considerable effort to operate. The handle reciprocates on firing, so the support hand should stay on the forend behind the protective ridge. While the FG42 second model comes with an adjustable gas regulator, it was found to be reliable with no adjustments between ammunition types. 120 rounds of steel-cased Tula ball, 80 rounds of Australian military surplus ball, 20 of Federal Gold Match hollow point and 20 Federal Fusion soft points were used in the test. The weapon cycled all with the same brisk efficiency, ejecting all empties a couple of feet out. Felt recoil is on par with an AR-15 carbine firing 5.56mm, so it was quite safe to let slightly-built 14-15 year olds fire it from prone position. Part of the low recoil comes from the overall mass and the long stroke gas operation, part from the muzzle brake but most from the ingenious recoil-absorbing stock. The stock is an intricately carved piece that provides an excellent cheek weld. It doesn’t have a buttpad, so should not be used for hitting doors or helmets lest it cracks.

The weapon did not heat up unduly in semiautomatic use. Vents in the forend are offset to the sides, so the hot air is channeled away from the sight picture. Others have called the pepperpot muzzle brake concussive, but it was found to be far milder than most other designs. The muzzle flash is about average for a military rifle, but thinned out and mostly below the line of sight for the shooter. The trigger is crisper than in a Mil-Spec AR-15 but heavier at about 8 pounds. It was found that the obvious forward lurch of the piston, bolt and carrier, all locked in with the firing pin when the trigger is released, does not disturb the aim.

Compared to semiautomatic reproductions of light machine guns like the Bren or DP27, FG42 is a marvel of mobility and convenience. Compared to the M14 and FAL, it gives up just a little as a CQB weapon while improving some ways in the support fire role. The rifle is fairly accurate: with iron sights and, with this author’s imperfect technique, it produced 2-inch groups with match ammunition, 2.5-inch groups with soft points and surplus ball, and 3-inch groups with the rather dimensionally inconsistent Tula plinking fodder. Based on my experience with scopes vs. un-scoped rifles in general, I suspect that the mechanical group size would be rather better. A scope mount is available but the original or reproduction optic is a bit of a hassle to put into it, according to Rick Smith of SMG Guns. The mount itself slides easily onto the receiver in a manner similar to the modern HK rifles.

For storage or navigating a hostile environment, the magazine well can be covered with protective shutters. The mechanism ran very clean and had little carbon build-up. Disassembly is pretty straightforward, but putting it back together requires attention to detail. If the charging handle isn’t inserted before the bolt carries is sent home, then the gas regular has to be removed and the piston pushed out from the front. It’s an error you make once, usually if trying to re-assemble the rifle without consulting the manual.

As a gun enthusiast, this author shoots many different weapons every year and the FG42 was one of the most pleasant ever fired or operated. It works, it doesn’t punish the shooter’s shoulder or cheek on recoil, it’s accurate enough to engage point targets and just feels like a well-manufactured sample of well-designed machinery. Everyone who tried it, from kids to World War 2 reenactors, enjoyed the experience. Since the rifle used for the test was SMG’s demo sample, several people were disappointed who had their wallets out to buy it. This rifle isn’t cheap at $4,995 but it’s a fraction of the price of the original, and it appears to be more effective in semiautomatic mode. As a historically accurate reproduction it is impeccable, and as a shooter is a delight. See SMG Guns web site (smgguns.com) for the back story on the development and also for the modernized tactical variant they recently developed.

Vienna’s Museum of Military History is one of the most important military museums in the world. Located near Vienna’s city centre, it’s near to the famous Belvedere Palace and very well connected by public transport.

The location is part of the Arsenal, Vienna’s former garrison. Its building was purposefully built as a museum between 1850 and 1856 by order of Emperor Franz Joseph I; thus being the oldest museum in Vienna and also claiming to be the oldest purposefully built museum in the world. The architecture of this building and the remainder of the original complex are very interesting, ascribing to Byzantine, Hispano-Moorish and Neo-Gothic styles. Most of the original complex is now a public park and also hosts the museum’s outdoor exhibits.

The museum covers the historic period from 1618 to 1945 (although the outdoor exhibits includes many more modern pieces) and is a very lively organization, hosting several activities ranging from period swordsmanship to cannon firing, culminated by the Montur und Pulverdampf, a huge historical re-enactment event. For more information and videos, please, check on Google and YouTube.

Getting back to the museum proper and having admired the façade, one can dedicate time to visit the outside exhibits. Composed mainly from one of the best ancient artillery collections, this exhibit is partially covered under two roofed pavilions. There are also aircraft and military vehicles. Admittance to the external exhibits is free unless there’s any activity in progress.

Inside the main building you will be greeted by the Commander’s Hall – a pillared hall decorated with the statues of the main military commanders in Austria’s history.

A chronologically organized visit starts in the first floor. Its left wing has two halls dedicated respectively to the 17th and 18th centuries. Opposite is the zone covering the historical period from 1789 to 1866. Back at the ground level, the left wing covers the period from 1867 to 1918, with a hall dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph and the Sarajevo assassination and another to World War I. Opposite the Commander’s Hall are the Republic and Dictatorship (1918-1945) and Austrian Naval Power Halls.

The 17th century was a troubled period for Europe, starting with the 30 Years’ War, which convulsed the continent from 1618 to 1648. That’s the historical period that saw the restoration of permanent armies in Europe. The museum hosts an impressive collection of body armour from this period as well as pole arms and a very informative audio visual display showing the actual operation of a musket. There’s also a very well preserved carriage mounted volley gun.

The next section covers one of the most important episodes in Europe’s and world history: the 1683 Ottoman’s second, and last, siege of Vienna which was the last attempt of the Ottoman Empire to conquer Europe. The victory of the combined Imperial and Polish armies signalled the start of the Turkish retreat from the continent. The displays of Turkish weaponry are very interesting due to their exoticism, including the famous compound bows, which at that time still rivalled, and even surpassed, firearms in terms of range and rate of fire.

In the 18th century hall is a very well preserved small mortar, known as the Belgrade Mortar, credited with having fired the shot that blew the main magazine of the Belgrade fortress on August 14, 1717 causing more than 3,000 casualties and precipitating the fall of the city. Another very interesting display contains several hand grenades dated circa 1765.

Crossing the building to the opposite wing is an exhibit dedicated to the French Wars. The main piece from a technical point of view may very well be the oldest military aircraft still preserved, which is a French observation balloon. Another very interesting display is the presence of a couple over/under flintlock muskets, presented as soldier’s weapons. There’s also a single tube rocket launcher together with a selection of rockets and artillery shells from the first half of the 19th Century.

At ground level is the wing dedicated to the second half of the 19th century until 1918. There’s a very interesting display showing the development of the breech loading rifle in Austria and also a representation of that country’s sidearms.

There’s an entire room dedicated to the Sarajevo assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, which was the spark that ignited the First World War. Preserved there is the car in which the crime took place, the pistol used by Gavrilo Princip to commit the crime and even the uniform worn by Archduke Ferdinand on that fateful day.

Following that room there’s an extensive collection of objects covering World War I comprising even a specimen of the infamous French Chauchat light machine gun. The array of weapons from both sides is extensive that includes flamethrowers, machine guns, personal armor, chemical warfare equipment and even some medieval looking maces for hand to hand fighting. Artillery from the period ranges from a small hand portable cannon to a very imposing 38cm howitzer. There’s even an original Albatross B1 airplane prototype, as well as several armoured domes taken from fortifications, some of them wearing impressive battle scars.

The presence of several specimens of the Vilar-Perosa machine gun was most interesting. It was the first pistol caliber machine gun, chambered for the 9mm Glisenti round, and fed from a top mounted, detachable magazine. It was twin conception (a double gun) intended to be used as a light machine gun/automatic rifle, complete with bipod and spade grips. On display is a specimen mounted on a special wooden structure designed to be suspended in front of a man’s chest so he could fire the weapon while advancing. The basic gun was 21 inches (533 mm) long and weighed 14.34 lbs (6.52 kg) – quite a handful for such a feeble cartridge. After the war, almost all the surviving pieces where stripped from their twin mounts and given conventional stocks giving birth to the OPV and Beretta 1918 submachine guns.

The “Sea Power Austria” room is dedicated to Imperial times when Austria (now a landlocked country) operated a sizable naval force, a period spanning 200 years ending in 1918. On display is an impressive model of a battleship, several antique torpedoes, and even a conning tower salvaged from a sunken WWI submarine. The collection of small arms includes some Colt revolvers.

The exhibit dedicated to the World War II has an interesting array of small arms including a FG42 rifle. There is also a machine gun turret from an American bomber, accompanied by an electrically heated airman’s suit, and several other aircraft.

There’s also an instrument panel from a Me 109 fighter as well as a WWII jet engine and a Fiesler Storch short take off and landing light airplane. Artillery is represented by an 88 mm Flak 36 together with a searchlight and a German 75 mm antitank gun. Other anti-tank weapons are a Panzerfaust, a Panzerschreck rocket launcher and a British PIAT grenade launcher. Inside this same hall there are several German vehicles, both wheeled and tracked, and a most impressive Kettenkrafttrad half track motorcycle complete with cargo area tarpaulins and towed chariot.

There’s also a specimen of the SdKfz 302 Goliath – the German unmanned ground vehicle. This was a miniature wire guided tank, complete with armour and tracks, used to place demolition charges.

If you are accompanied by persons who are not that interested in military history, they can visit the nearby Belvedere Palace, originally home of one of the foremost imperial generals and now an art museum, housing some of the most famous paintings by Gustav Klimt. If you need to recover energies after the visit, one of the most popular restaurants in Vienna, Salm Bräu, is next door to Belvedere Palace.

Museum of Military History, Militärhistorisches Institut, A-1030 Vienna, Arsenal, Objekt 1.
Phone number: +43-(0)1- 79561-0.
Website: www.hgm.or.at.

Public transport: underground line U1, Südbahnhof station and U3 Schlachthausgasse stations.
Bus lines 13A, 69A, streetcar lines 18, D.

Open daily (please, check before visit, as at least several museums in Vienna close one day per week) from 9am to 5pm. Closing days: 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 1 November, 24, 25 and 31 December.

Entry fee is 5.1 € (includes audio guide in several languages, including English), additional small fee for picture taking, no flash or tripod allowed. Informative sheets in several languages are available. English speaking staff. There are facilities for physically impaired persons. There’s a small café in the premises and nearby hotels and restaurants.

By Jeff W. Zimba

After years of fielding questions about the possibility of hosting an SAR Show on the East Coast, it finally became a reality this May.

On May 2nd through May 4th over 7,500 people visited the York, PA Expo Center for the first Annual SAR Show East.

With dealers and visitors from all corners of the United States, this first East Coast show was a great success for an initial show in a completely new area.

Just like those who were the pioneers of the now enormous SAR Show West in Phoenix, AZ, the vendors who displayed at SAR East have earned their continued positions in upcoming shows. The years following an initial show tend to have a massive growth rate and the location at York, PA allows for that very growth in both display area and ample parking. If the growth of this show follows the trends established at SAR Show West, we expect this room will be necessary very soon.

Items as rare as one would expect to see only in museums were in abundance and were displayed beside the latest in Class III technology. An original Liberator pistol was only yards away from an extremely rare Japanese prototype submachine gun bearing serial number 1. Across the room were a pair of FG42s beside a Stoner 63, situated across the aisle from a large, beautifully displayed exhibit of Thompsons, Thompson accessories and memorabilia from the Thompson Collectors Association. Those entering through the main SAR entrance were treated to a large display of different models of Maxim machine guns and U.S. Armament Corporation’s amazing inventory of five brass 1877 Bulldog Gatling Guns.

For those looking for weaponry a little closer to the modern category, there was an equally impressive assortment to view from new manufacturers like FNH USA, Precision Weapons Corp., TSC machine, Autoweapons, BRP Corporation, EDM Arms, Coastal Gun, Inc., Marcolmar, Anzio Ironworks Corp, and many more. For very new pieces on display, one could spend several hours looking at BRP’s latest offerings including their radical STG 34K, TSC Machine’s new HK Style systems, Precision Weapon Corporation’s AK-Style rifle in 7.62x25mm and the new 5.7 upper receiver for the AR-15/M16 system coming very soon from Dan’s Sporting Goods. This is just a small sampling of the many fine items for sale throughout the show.

If you enjoy going to the shows to catch up with fellow long time enthusiasts, this show would not have disappointed you either, with such “usual suspects” in attendance as Tom Nelson, Charlie Erb, Bob Naess, Dan Shea, Bob Landies, John Tibbetts, Dolf Goldsmith, Dennis Todd, Robert Segel, Ed Weitzman, Gordon Miller, etc.

Next year’s East Coast Show has already been locked in, and once again it will be at the York, PA Expo Center. The dates are May 1, 2 & 3, 2009. If it follows a similar pattern of growth displayed by SAR Show West, we should have a 30% increase in both tables and in attendance over this year. If you have not signed up for your display space yet, please contact the staff at Moose Lake Publishing, LLC very soon and keep your eye on www.smallarmsreview.com for information and updates.

Moose Lake Publishing, LLC
SAR Show East
631 N. Stephanie St. #562
Henderson, NV 89014
(207) 565-2926
www.smallarmsreview.com

By Frank Iannamico

During the Second World War the German Wehrmacht fielded some of the most unique and advanced weapons of the conflict. Many of the design features and manufacturing methods can still be found utilized in the modern weapons of today. Although German arms like the MG42, MP44 and the MP40 were certainly innovative, there was one design that really stood out. That weapon was the rare Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 or FG42.The FG42 was manufactured especially for the elite Luftwaffe (German Air Force) paratroopers the Fallschirmjäger.

The FG42 is a lightweight select-fire weapon that appears to be very similar to a modern assault rifle except that it is chambered for the full power 8mm Mauser cartridge. The 8mm (7.92×57) cartridge was the standard rifle and machine gun round of all the German forces in WWII. The German paratroopers insisted on the full power cartridge because of their experiences in the invasion of the British held Greek isle of Crete in May of 1941.

The German airborne invasion of Crete was a disaster for the Fallschirmjäger. For one thing the 38,000 British, New Zealanders and Greeks who held the island were fully aware of the forthcoming invasion and were well prepared. Even though the Germans eventually won the battle their casualties were extremely high. Adolph Hitler was infuriated with the high cost of taking Crete and lost all confidence in the future of the airborne concept of warfare.

After the German gliders and paratroopers landed on Crete they discovered that they were well dispersed from one another and separated from much of their equipment, which included their rifles, machine guns and ammunition. The machine guns and much of the paratrooper’s equipment had to be air dropped separately in containers because of the weight. The Fallschirmjäger troops were left only with their short-range MP40 submachine guns and pistols with which to fight the British Empire troops that were well dug in 1000 meters away. The virtually defenseless Germans were easy prey for the defending troops that were equipped with long-range .303 caliber Enfield rifles, Bren guns and artillery.

The development of the proposed FG42 was first requested by the Air Ministry through the German Army Weapons office, the Heereswaffenamt. The request was denied partially because of the rivalry that existed between the German Airforce and the Army. The German Air Ministry took up the task themselves and began searching for contractors to develop and produce their proposed new weapon exclusively for the Luftwaffe. Many German companies were contacted, but only two companies, Reinmetall and Kriegoff, were interested in pursuing the development of the new arm. Both companies submitted prototype weapons, and Reinmetall’s design was chosen for further development. Even though Reinmetall designed and developed the FG42, Kriegoff -Suhl was eventually chosen to mass-produce it.

Design engineer, Louis Stange, conceived the FG42 at the German Reinmetall-Borsig factory. Mr. Stange was a very talented weapons designer having designed, among others, the MG34 and MG42 machine guns. While the FG42 was being developed and tested, the new 7.92×33 Kurz cartridge was also being developed by the army. As the principle designer of the weapon, Louis Stange thought that the new midrange Kurz round would be ideal for the new FG42, and a few weapons were converted to fire the 7.92 Kurz cartridge. The small 7.92 Kurz round made the required weight and other design specifications of the FG42 much easier to meet. The Luftwaffe paratroopers however, adamantly opposed the use of anything but the full power 8mm cartridge for the weapon. The Luftwaffe’s original concept of the FG42 was that it would replace the service rifle, sniper rifle, machine gun and submachine gun with one weapon. Such a weapon would be ideal for lightly equipped paratroopers and perhaps prevent future disasters as had occurred on Crete.

The FG42 had its combat debut in May of 1943 against the British Army at the battle for the island of Rhodes. Certainly the most famous exploit involving the FG42 weapon was the German rescue of Italian leader Benito Mussolini on September 12, 1943. Mussolini was being held at a mountain top resort in Italy by Italian partisans. A daring glider attack was planned by the Nazis, and Mussolini was successfully rescued by the Fallschirmjäger and SS troops that participated in the operation.

The FG42 was produced in a number of variations. There were several prototypes and experimental models. The only FG42’s that were manufactured in any substantial numbers were the E and G models. The early E models differed so much from the final G variation that they hardly appear to be the same weapon. Even the magazines are not interchangeable between early and later versions. There was even a fair amount of minor feature variations within each model designation. Some features that were common among all models were the folding bipod, straight-line buffered stock, the high profile folding sights, and the 4-sided spike bayonet. Another characteristic all models of the FG42 share is an excessive muzzle flash. The steel double-stack magazines were manufactured in both 10 and 20 round capacities.

The FG42 weapon is gas operated, featuring a gas piston and cylinder assembly located under the barrel. The bolt is attached to the top of the gas piston assembly. The bolt has a camed slot cut into it that rotates the two bolt lugs in or out of the locked position via a fixed stud that protrudes from the gas piston rod. The spring-loaded firing pin is mounted on top of the stud. The sear is moved right or left by the detent stud on the selector for semi or full auto fire. The gas piston has two sear engagement notches, one for semi-automatic fire, the other for full automatic. The FG42 fires from the closed bolt position for semi-automatic and from an open bolt when in the full-automatic mode. Although when firing from the open bolt position, the bolt still turns and locks to the breech before firing.

The 1st (production) model, also often referred to as the model E, is most easily recognized by the radical angle of its pistol grip. The E model featured a receiver painstakingly machined out of steel. Little thought of expense or difficulty of manufacture was given to the early FG42. The E model featured a buffered stamped steel (or aluminum) buttstock, and a bipod that was located just forward of the forearm. The bipod folded forward when not in use. The magazine well is located on the left side of the receiver. The magazine could be replenished via five round stripper clips while remaining in the weapon through a guide machined into the receiver. A single selector lever marked E-S-D controlled the safe-auto and semi-automatic modes of fire. When the selector is placed in the safe position the detent stud of the selector fits into a locking hole in the sear, preventing it from moving. The cyclic rate of the E model was fast at 800-900 rounds per minute. A threaded muzzle brake was installed on the end of the barrel. The E model brake has 32 small 1/6-inch holes drilled in it. The ZFG-42 four-power scope was often issued as standard equipment with the weapon. The E model was very compact with an overall length of just 37.2” and a weight of 11.06 pounds fully loaded. The finish on the E model was a dark blue-black color.

The 2nd (limited production) model, also known as The F model, was totally redesigned and was quite different from the E model. One of the biggest differences was the use of a stamped sheet steel receiver instead of the milled steel receiver used on earlier versions. Critical wartime shortages of steel forced the design to be altered to use more stampings. The pistol grip was re-configured with a more conventional and ergonomic angle. The F model also featured a spring-loaded ejection port cover, a spent case deflector, a wooden buttstock, a redesigned muzzle brake and a variable gas regulator. The bipod was relocated to the muzzle of the barrel and now folded rearward against the barrel when not in use. The model GWZF4 scope was issued with the F and G versions. The safety and fire selector controls were now two separate levers. The newly located separate safety lever blocked the tail of the sear when applied, preventing it from moving. The rounded cocking handle of the E model was replaced with a hook style lever. The overall length of the F model was slightly longer than the E model at 38.2 inches. The F and G models were generally finished in black or the clear phosphate often seen on German weapons of the era. The F or 2nd model was only made in limited numbers and is extremely rare.

The 3rd model, or G model, was the final production version and differed only slightly from the F model. One of the most obvious changes was that of the muzzle brake, that now was a ribbed design. Both the F and G models were fitted with durable double wound springs throughout. Most of the G models were manufactured by Kriegoff, stamped with the code fzs, or L.O. Dietrich using code gcy. Waffenampt inspector stamps, normally seen on other German weapons, are not present on FG42s, because the weapon was not obtained through the normal channels, of the Hereswaffenamt, the German Army Weapons Office.

Accessories issued with the FG42 weapon included a leather sling, and a grenade launcher that screwed onto the barrel in place of the muzzle brake. A cloth bandoleer that was worn draped around the neck was provided, The bandoleer could carry eight spare magazines.

Although the exact number of FG42s manufactured is unknown, it has been estimated that only 5000 to 7000 were made. Only a few of that number survived the war and only a fraction of those made their way to the United States. This of course makes it one of the rarest weapons available on the class III collector’s market today. As a class III enthusiast you certainly know the word expensive is always used in conjunction with rare, and this certainly applies to all models of the FG42. The magazines alone for the FG42, when they can be found can cost as much as many lower end class III weapons. Although the wartime production of the FG42 was relatively small, it had great impact on post war weapons development.