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Posted: 11/9/2012 6:26:38 AM EDT
http://www.forgottenweapons.com/caveat-emptor-stg45-prototype/ It seems to be a mystery as to who made it: It really is a gun, and a registered transferable machine gun at that – but it’s not an StG45. It’s not German at all. The first clue that something is wrong is the magazine (which I’m sure any one reading this noticed right away). The mag is not an MP44 magazine, it’s too long front to back. Given that the every single other known German late-war prototype stuck with the MP44 mag and the 7.92×33 cartridge, one would have to wonder why this gun would be the lone exception. Next up, the bakelite stock. Pretty much all the late German stuff was stamped. This thing is definitely not what the seller has claimed it to be. So what is it? Almost certainly Swiss – they experimented with a lot of German-inspired arms ideas (like this one, for instance) in the years following WWII. It’s a legitimately interesting prototype, just not worth anything near the insane asking price (especially given it being chambered in an unknown and thus unavailable cartridge). Well, we just happen to have some photos of it disassembled, in case you are curious: |
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I agree it doesn't look like a Stg 44 / MP 44 magazine, but I don't think it looks the wrong size for 7.92x33. Compare this photo of an Stg 44 mag. http://users2.ml.mindenkilapja.hu/users/cjklan/uploads/mp44-18-optimiert-1.jpg Plus the caliber is listed ast 7.92 K, which is probably "Kurz" or "short" in English. Interesting photos. I think your right. |
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Tilting bolt? looks like, but I would love to see closer pics. I also have no idea how the gas block and the piston system would fit together or how it would work You can see in the bottom pic an opening in the front where the piston assembly fits. Also appears to be a short stroke piston. You can see a separate return spring on it. |
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Tilting bolt? looks like, but I would love to see closer pics. I also have no idea how the gas block and the piston system would fit together or how it would work You can see in the bottom pic an opening in the front where the piston assembly fits. Also appears to be a short stroke piston. You can see a separate return spring on it. looks like the the op. rod would slide in place, and somehow the sling mount would maybe turn and retain the system in place? |
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Tilting bolt? looks like, but I would love to see closer pics. I also have no idea how the gas block and the piston system would fit together or how it would work You can see in the bottom pic an opening in the front where the piston assembly fits. Also appears to be a short stroke piston. You can see a separate return spring on it. looks like the the op. rod would slide in place, and somehow the sling mount would maybe turn and retain the system in place? Good call. I think your right. |
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Tilting bolt? looks like, but I would love to see closer pics. I also have no idea how the gas block and the piston system would fit together or how it would work You can see in the bottom pic an opening in the front where the piston assembly fits. Also appears to be a short stroke piston. You can see a separate return spring on it. looks like the the op. rod would slide in place, and somehow the sling mount would maybe turn and retain the system in place? Good call. I think your right. maybe, but I just don't see how the gas piston would work, how dose it come in to play? |
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Tilting bolt? looks like, but I would love to see closer pics. I also have no idea how the gas block and the piston system would fit together or how it would work You can see in the bottom pic an opening in the front where the piston assembly fits. Also appears to be a short stroke piston. You can see a separate return spring on it. looks like the the op. rod would slide in place, and somehow the sling mount would maybe turn and retain the system in place? Good call. I think your right. maybe, but I just don't see how the gas piston would work, how dose it come in to play? I would be willing to bet that there is a protrusion on top of the bolt carrier much like the protrusion on the carrier of a piston AR. It rides in that groove on the sheetmetal topcover. |
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