This is a very nice WWII German MG42 light machine gun as produced by the Gustloff-Werkes in Suhl. They were a mass produced, highly effective, machine gun that was one of the most feared WWII German weapons on the battlefield. They were easily transported by the average German soldier and they were the corner stone of every German Infantry company. They were probably the best light machine guns manufactured during WWII, so much so that in 1943/44 the U.S. Army copied the design to evaluate it for our use, later using many of the features in the development of the M-60 machine gun in the early 1960s. They were a wartime improvement over the earlier all machined MG34 that utilized new and innovative mass production techniques of stamped steel parts that were welded or riveted and combined with limited machined parts. Together they allowed the German factories to manufacture well over 400,000 of these machine guns during WWII. They had a new delayed roller-block locking system with a quick change barrel, with an extremely high rate of fire (1,200 rds/minute). This quick change barrel feature allowed the German soldier to rapidly change out barrels, during battle without any tools. This helped extend the barrel life and prevented cook-offs. These desirable machine guns were made by four primary companies; Mauser, Maget of Berlin, Gustloff-Werkes, and Steyr. The left side of the receiver is actually marked "M.U./M.G.42/6230/d/dfb", indicating manufacture by the "Gustloff-Werkes-Suhl". The front of the receiver has the original WWII folding bipod and the center section of the receiver, (the machined top cover center support) and barrel jacket are stamped: "awn/5799/a" and "5799/a" respectively. The stamped top cover is stamped with the wartime code: "cof" with an "Eagle/WaA619". The barrel is marked "NE/BNZ/45/WaA623/5377" with a double firing proof. Most of the various parts carry some kind of a German WWII Waffenamt proof. The left side of the feed tray is stamped "30" which may indicate it has a conversion feed tray installed. It has the original folding front sight and tangent rear marked 2-20, (200-2,000 meters). It has the earlier wooden buttstock. This wonderful MG is complete with 3 ammo boxes, 6 drums, 2 drum carriers, sling, bi-pod, 11 machine gun belts, 7 machine gun belt leaders, 30 dummy cartridges.