Original Item: Only One Available. This is a truly amazing piece of history and it belongs in a museum.
All parts have matching serial numbers, no spare, replacements or wartime substitutes; this MG is in virtually brand new un-issued condition. This is one of the very best condition MG34 parts sets on the market today. IMA had a similar parts set on offer a few years ago for $12,000 and it sold within days.
Released in the 1970s from military stores (in Portugal) this is one of just 500 MG 34 LMGs produced by WW2 Germany and delivered to Portugal in early 1944. Portugal had adopted the MG 34 in 1940 designating it the M/940 but re-designated it the M/944 when this shipment arrived.
Straight off the German WW2 Production line in Bruno each gun was dot Coded (Waffenwerke Brunn A.G. of Brno.) and marked: Konstruktion Rheinmetal-Borsig, together with production date of 1944 and individual MG contract delivery number, this one being #651. All this information is on the top cover together with the subcontracting maker code of “brp” (Mannesmann-Rohrenwerke A.G. of Dusselforf) and the Serial number #686.
This weapon was delivered in the original near perfect condition wood transit chest, fully marked with matching serial number (#686) and model designation. Included in the interior is the original Portuguese Army issue “Log Book(marked M/940)” showing with date entry when each of the FIVE (matching serial numbered barrels all with a suffix 1-5), were test fired and how many rounds. The barrel log shows only three separate entries with the total number of shots fired through each barrel to be only 310 discharges total! Every spare barrel is stored in a virtually un-issued condition steel barrel carrier complete with sling. Every barrel carrier also bears the serial number of the barrel it encloses.
The transit chest has individual compartments for the bipod and the bakelite butt stock to so each could be stowed safely and securely. The MG has a supporting frame so it is held stationary whilst being transported. Also included, in a custom compartment, is a dark leather armorer kit comprising (again marked #686) of various tools, broken shell extractor, oil bottle, spare matching serial numbered bolt suffixed #2 (two complete unissued bolts included), hot barrel pad, original leather sling, canvas and leather action cover, two spare main springs and rubber muzzle cover.
Again, every serial numbered part of this MG 34 Parts Set matches, all read #686 including the wood butt stock. In virtually brand new condition this offering is truly outstanding. We also include a fully inert display stripped receiver made from original MG 34 components, obviously from another gun, should the weapon need to be assembled and put on Display. So you can use it as a parts set for a semi-auto build or have perhaps one of the finest MG34 display guns in the world.