One of the signature weapons of WW2, the MG42 machine gun combined portability with a devastating rate of fire. The infamous German machine gun dominated the battlefield, proved immensely influential on post-war machine gun design, and has become one of the most coveted arms for today's military collectors.

An MG42 for sale.

Whether you're in the market for an MG42, an StG44, a Stoner 63, or a crown jewel rarity like the M240, machine gun lovers will find a treasure trove of Class III collectibles at Rock Island Auction Company. Click on the images throughout the article to learn more about each model.

An M240 general purpose medium machine gun, a crown jewel of arms collecting.

The MG34 Universal Machine Gun

Introduced prior to WW2, the Maschinengewehr 34 was developed from the earlier MG30 light machine gun. The German Ministry of the Reichswehr desired a universal machine gun that could fill numerous roles, from LMG, HMG, vehicle gun, and anti-aircraft gun. The MG34's design was refined by noted arms engineer Heinrich Vollmer of Mauser, and the machine gun went into production in 1936.

This MG34 machine gun realized $94,000 in May of 2024 with RIAC.

The MG34, chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, became the backbone of the German infantry squad early in the war and the go-to weapon for defending fortifications and armored vehicles. Crafted of high-grade milled steel and engineered with tight tolerances, the machine gun proved slow to manufacture and required extensive upkeep to maintain. The German Wehrmacht sought out a successor that could be produced more quickly and was better equipped to endure the elements and the rigors of combat.

The MG34 offered devistating firepower.

Who Invented the MG42?

In early 1937, the German Army Weapons Agency sought proposals from manufacturers for a stamped steel universal machine gun. The Johannes Großfuß Metal and Lacquerware Factory, experienced with sheet metal production, assigned engineer Werner Gruner to develop a prototype.

Though the company had no prior background in small arms, their expertise in mass production combined with Dr. Gruner's ability to quickly familiarize himself with machine gun mechanics added up to a winning design.

The MG42 was invented by German engineer Werner Gruner.

MG34 vs MG42

The Maschinengewehr 42 employed stamped hardened carbon steel metal for its main components that could be welded or riveted together, lessening the time and amount of high skilled labor and hand fitting required for machining and assembly. The design also minimized the use of expensive alloyed steels that were scarce in wartime Germany.

Where the MG34 required up to 150 man hours to assemble, the MG42 could be produced in nearly half the time. The resulting machine gun was slightly longer and lighter than its predecessor, weighing 25 1/2 pounds unloaded.

The MG34 (top) and the MG42 (bottom).

When was the MG42 Made?

The MG42 entered production in 1942, with the German Africa Corps being issued the weapon in May. By years end, over 17,000 MG42 machine guns had been produced, and the weapon was deployed to every German battlefront.

Like the MG34, the MG42 filled numerous roles, allowing for rapid tactical movement from a bipod or mounted on a sturdy folding tripod to providing support fire. Though intended to be operated from a fixed position, the weapon was maneuverable enough to be shoulder fired or fired from the hip in rare defensive situations. The MG42's compact design also made the platform an ideal option for gun emplacements and vehicle use such as a coaxial weapon in German tank turrets.

Though the MG42 was a squad machine gun, some German machine gunners were trained in the Sturmfeuer technique, or "storm fire," a triangle stance where the body weight is shifted to the front leg.

The MG42 tripod weighed over 50 pounds and was typically carried by an assistant gunner, while other squad members carried spare barrels and ammunition. The tripod included an optics mount, sighting equipment, and an advanced T&E mechanism. A telescopic base and extending legs provided increased ground clearance for sustained fire, and an integral recoil buffer aided in accuracy. The tripod could be adapted to accommodate a pintle mount that allowed the MG42 to serve in an anti-aircraft role.

This WW2-era MG42 tripod includes a range chart on the rear of the base and a pair of leather pads on the front leg.

MG42 Fire Rate

The air-cooled, short-recoil-operated MG42 quickly earned a fearsome reputation on the battlefield thanks to Dr. Gruner's delayed roller-block bolt locking system, which enabled a firing rate of more than 1,200 rounds per minute. This left the American M1919A4 Browning and British Vickers in the dust, which struggled to achieve 600 rounds per minute. Launching such a high volume of 7.92x57mm Mauser rounds at a muzzle velocity of nearly 2,500 feet per second created a formidable presence on the battlefield, though this blistering cyclic rate came at a cost.

The MG42 barrel change system was swift and simple, keeping the machine gun in the fight for the long haul.

This belt-fed beast burned through ammo and tended to overheat quickly. An MG42 barrel was typically swapped out after 250 rounds to avoid warping and prevent cook-offs. German machine gun squads carried up to six spare barrels and were trained to switch them out in under 7 seconds without any tools apart from hot mitts, one of the fastest barrel-change systems of the period. Gunners were trained to use short burst fire rather than hosepiping to maximize combat efficiency during prolonged engagements.

What was the Nickname for the MG42?

The MG42's high cyclic rate gave it a distinct and intimidating sound, very alien to allied troops trained around slower-firing weapons. The German machine gun's scorching speed meant that individual shots were replaced with a steady, disturbing roar. Some British soldiers called the MG42 "Calico-tearer." Russian troops dubbed the gun "the Linoleum Ripper."

Fighting alongside the Allies, the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces, "The Smoking Snakes," dubbed the MG42 "Lourdinha." The nickname was inspired by the fiancé of one of the soldiers, as the sound of the gun reminded him of her sewing machine.

"Hitler’s Buzzsaw" become the most famous nickname for the MG42.

The most popular nickname for the MG42 among American GIs was likely derived from one of the weapon's German monikers, the "Knochensäge", or "bone saw." In the December 20, 1943 issue of 'The Kansas City Star,' a story titled 'ALLIED SOLDIERS USE CAPTURED BUZZ-SAW MACHINE GUNS' described the MG42 as "a high-speed machine gun which fires 1,100 rounds per minute and sounds like a super buzz-saw," later adding, "It's fire power is so terrific that it has been known to cut men in two."

"Hitler’s Buzzsaw" was such a terror in the field that the United States War Department produced a training film to combat the machine gun's psychological effect on soldiers titled 'Automatic Weapons: American vs. German.'

The film’s narrator downplayed the MG42's lethality while calling the weapon inaccurate, assuring his naïve audience that "The German gun is good, but ours is better." The narrator claims that the Americans have opted for guns that shoot slower but more accurately, asserting that the MG42 eats up ammunition almost three times as fast and requires more troopers to carry ammo. The film concludes, "Their automatic weapons may fire fast, but if you know your stuff you can stop 'em cold. Remember, their bark is worse than their bite.”

Troops who faced the MG42 quickly learned to respect the deadly German machine gun and wait for their enemies to change barrels, to run out of ammo, or for artillery or tank support to deal with the dreaded menace.

The MG42 was a terror on the European battlefield.

In his memoir, 'Not All of Us Were Brave,' Private Stanley Scislowski of the Canadian Unit D Company, Perth Regiment, describes the reputation the MG42 developed with his 11th Infantry Brigade. As Scislowski recounts, "Brens could only push out a maximum 540 rounds per minute, while the MG 34 delivered eight to nine hundred, 42 could spit out twelve hundred. Someone somewhere on the battlefield came up with the term "rubber gun" for the Jerry MGs - an apt name, but nonetheless that's what we came to know them until the more descriptive term "cheese-cutter" took over. By whatever name we called it, the Jerry machine-gun was a weapon to be feared."

MG42 in the Field

Mass production techniques allowed German factories to produce well over 400,000 MG42 machine guns by war's end, 50,000 more than its MG34 predecessor. The MG42 was primarily manufactured by Mauser, Maget of Berlin, Gustloff-Werkes, and Steyr.

An MG42 for sale, a technological marvel of German engineering.

Allied infantry doctrine often centered on the rifleman spearheading assaults, with support fire provided by the machine gun. The mobility and overwhelming firepower of the MG42 allowed the German Wehrmacht to instead place the machine gun at the heart of their assault tactics. Six-man machine gun crews were dispatched where manpower allowed, with multiple riflemen in supporting roles. The MG42 could be effectively operated with three men when necessary: a gunner, a loader, and a spotter.

The Allies faced Hitler's Buzzsaw on every major European battlefield after its introduction in 1942. In 'Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact,' author James H. Willbanks notes how the MG42 served even more effectively as defensive platform. The gun's highest year of production was in 1944, when Germany was defending on all fronts.

The Fallschimjager deploy their MG42 in the rubble of Monte Cassino

During Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy, the Germans held Monte Cassino for about four months using the MG42 to repel assaults. The MG42 presented an equally terrifying opponent to the Allies on D-Day. In his memoir, 'WN 62: A German Soldier's Memories of the Defense of Omaha Beach, Normandy, June 6, 1944,'  Private Heinrich Severloh claims to have fired 13,500 rounds with his MG42, earning the title 'The Beast of Omaha'.

Is the MG42 Still In Service?

In the post war years, the MG42 influenced numerous next generation firearms. Its direct successor was introduced in 1958 with the MG1, an MG42 chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The MG1 saw several upgrades, notably the MG3 in 1966, which has become one of the most produced machine guns in history.

In the late 1940s, the U.S. Army tested the MG42 and incorporated several design elements into the T44 machine gun prototype, including a quick barrel release the MG42’s ammunition belt-fed mechanism. The prototype's firing action was inspired by the German FG42 paratrooper rifle.

Some elements of the M60 were inspired by the MG42.

The T161E3, or what would become the M60 machine gun, was America's attempt to develop its own squad automatic weapon and replace the aging BAR and 1919A6 Browning. Many other firearms have taken cues from the MG42, including the Stoner 63 with its quick change barrel system, feed tray, and top cover.

A Cadillac-Gage Stoner 63 modular belt-fed light machine gun, previously registered to the Gross Pointe Shores, Michigan Police Department. Includes a bayonet, two extra barrels, a magazine loader, and accessories.

How Much is an MG42?

Machine gun prices have been trending strong at Rock Island Auction Company. With a limited number of fully transferable MG42 machine guns available, it's no surprise that this German stalwart is highly sought after by military collectors. Looking at some recent examples sold in RIAC auctions, MG42 values have been making impressive gains.

In 2023, the two MG42 machine guns sold at Rock Island Auction Company achieved $47,000 and $52,875. In 2024, an MG42 produced by Gustloff Werke earned an outstanding price of $76,375, and the following December a Steyr MG42 garnered $88,125, exceeding its high estimate but nearly 96%. In May of 2022, the company sold an MG42 that tripled its high estimate and realized a staggering $129,250, demonstrating the rising value and investment potential of this iconic machine gun platform, particularly examples with period accessories.

In May of 2022, this MG42 with extra parts and a belt loading tool shot past its estimate at Rock Island Auction Company and sold for $129,250.

MG42 Legacy

Where the elegant Luger and Walther frequently represent the WW2 German pistol in film and media, and the MP40 is used to depict the Reich's advanced handheld firepower, the terror of the German war machine is often embodied by Hitler's Buzzsaw. The MG42 is featured in countless classic films like 'The Longest Day,' 'The Great Escape,' and 'The Dirty Dozen' and makes notable appearances in modern blockbusters like 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Fury', and HBO's 'Band of Brothers' miniseries.

Over the last two decades, the MG42 has been introduced to millions of video game fans in popular series like 'Medal of Honor,' 'Battlefield,' 'Call of Duty,' 'Wolfenstein,' 'Brothers in Arms,' 'Company of Heroes,' 'Far Cry,' and many more. The MG42 chambered in .308 has become a rather infamous weapon in 'Fallout 76' and is known for its impressive rate of fire.

The MG42, has left its mark on the big and small screen.

Some original examples of the MG42 machine gun remain in stock with numerous militaries and irregular forces, with the most common examples being the M2 variant. Semi automatic versions of the MG42 are available, including examples produced by Georgia-based BRP Corp and Neanderthal Armory out of Lehi, Utah. These firearms are typically produced from a combination of original parts and a modern production semi-automatic only receiver and trigger group.

A semiautomatic MG42 from BRP Corp sold at RIAC in May 2023 for $7,638.

MG42 For Sale

Renowned for its reliability, portability, power, and ease of production, the MG42 set a new standard for machine gun design, influencing firearms development for decades to come. Today, this legendary weapon has transcended its wartime origins to become a coveted collector’s piece, prized for its rarity, engineering brilliance, and its legacy as the most dominant German machine gun of WW2. A determined military collector can find the MG42 for sale at Rock Island Auction Company.

An MG42, Germany's stamped-steel "Einheitsmaschinengewehr," or universal machine gun.

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A Daewoo marked "Maremount" M60.