1919/1917 BHP bracket and cam rivets are now available!
M2/M3 rivets too!
More to come.
Interested in any of this stuff?
I'm working on it, current status as of 08/27/08.
Update as of August 27,2008.
I have had further discussions with Tech. Branch personnel, and made another submission asking for classification of Housings in a different configuration. I am again waiting for a response.
Update as of July 15,2008.
I spoke with the responsible agent at Tech Branch Tuesday.
“Funny you should call,” He says, “I was just typing up the response to your submission.”
“Well is it a yes or a no?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s definitely a ‘no.’ If I remove the plate from the inside of the receiver, I can build a fully functional MG-3 machine gun.” He went on to marvel at the quality of the Housings. Apparently most of the staff there were very impressed also. They figured I paid big bucks for these things, and said they were every bit as good as the stuff coming off the line at HK. It’s going to be such a shame to cut these up.
AAAGGGHHHH!!!
Well, they’ll send me the pieces
My intention (for a variety of reasons) was to produce and market a partially completed (i.e. 80%) Housing/receiver. The Housings I submitted included a bolt-blocking device similar to those long used by the MG-42 crowd, and implied to be sufficient in earlier discussions with Tech Branch personnel. Things change. The agent said the letter would include a list of recommendations as to how to make the receiver legal. Once I have it in hand, I’ll look into a redesign, and see if it can be produced in a cost effective manner.
What’s another year or two? Sorry guys.
An initial submission of drawings and photographs, and numerous conversations, led to these two configurations. They indicated both of these would be acceptable, but will not make final classification until actual examples are examined. Once in hand, they said "no."
The Housings are formed from a single piece of 2.5 mm (approx. 10 G) sheet steel, as were the originals. The post war MG-3 spec. is used, because it is the best information available.
No. 1 is the basic formed sheet steel Housing (receiver) as it comes from the dies. No machining or welding operations have been performed.
No. 2 is what the original drawings refer to as the "Housing, welded." Assembly of this Housing starts with the same basic stamping shown as No. 1. To it are welded (from front to rear) the Guide Bushing, two Filler Strips, the Guide Plate, and the Welded Part (for housing). An additional weld is made on the forward right side of the feed way, to join the center of the upper and lower portions of the housing. No riveting operations have been performed, so all internal components have yet to be installed.
When I started this, I had no idea it would take so long. There are only a few companies that can do the complex forming these Housings require, and I'm not one of them. Moreover, they like to produce things by the thousand, not hundred.
I'll continue to post updates when there is something substantive to say. Thanks for bearing with me, at this point I've been throwing money at this for over two and a half years.
MSG