Wandering38

Very cool photo of the 81z on what looks like a vehicle mount. Thank you for sharing it. I have not seen that one before. The 81z was also mounted in static AA roles by ground troops as well as in pedestal mounts on Uboats. There are actually five different manufacturers: byf, fzs, gal, gcy, & fwh. As you mentioned, there are two types of Topcover. All five makers used the milled cover, and only the the later byf guns used the stamped type (by my observations).

Have you had any luck finding your chutes? A dewat mg81 sold today at centurion for 15000 (including premium) Im sure some of you all saw it as well. It had the feed chute & feed tray, which are a huge positive. Someone here got it, perhaps?

Agreed 100% - looks good from what I see.

The serial on the trigger is correct for a gun this early, and the electric pencil numbers on the internal parts are original german and correct also (not Russian). I see no evidence of renumbering (except for the buffer). It was standard german procedure to electric pencil small internal parts because they were hand fitted, but stamping them could deform them. Just like every other german gun, the earlier examples are numbered more extensively than later examples. It is correct for an mg34 of this year to be numbered on the trigger with a stamped number. Around late 1940/1941 they switched to electric pencil on the trigger, and then after 1941/42ish stopped numbering triggers entirely. The Russians did indeed use the electric pencil post war, but only on the major parts. They didnt normally renumber the smallest parts. On the large parts, they would typically grind off or strike out the german numbers, leaving very obvious scars. This gun has definitely been reblued, but it has NOT been renumbered, with the exception of the buffer, which clearly is marked off-center with a new number and the old number defaced yet visible. The stock cup is also a replacement, as is the stock. The original stock in this date range would have had the metal corners. The X does indicate Soviet capture, but this gun is mostly factory-original. I would be very proud to own that.

Here are a couple photos of the 38/43 paratroop model. It was a deactivated war trophy welded in the chamber, and the receiver was torch cut later. The stock was missing when I got it.

How do you explain this theory when the guns were marked 38/42 and 38/43 from the factory? If Beretta marked them “38/42” and “38/43”, it would seem they were using these designations officially. This is not a theory but what says Mr. Balzi on his book "I mitra italiani 1\915- 1991" that wrote in collaboration with the former director of the Gardone proof house and many Beretta's engineers. 7198FRh37NL.jpg Well it is not correct, because there are very many guns marked “38/42” and I have a parts kit from a veteran bringback of paratrooper version that is marked “38/43”

How do you explain this theory when the guns were marked 38/42 and 38/43 from the factory? If Beretta marked them “38/42” and “38/43”, it would seem they were using these designations officially.

Congrats on your accomplishment. I've been watching your hunt over the years, and your achievement is remarkable and commendable. Best of luck