I know most collectors of the Rg34 have little (if any) interest in Post-WW2 variants. There has been a steadily increasing interest in Cold War weapons and militaria for decades. I am going to flesh out this thread with the variants I either have acquired or observed. To begin, the first kit pictured recently sold at auction (and for very little). Most of us are familiar with the cleaning kits used by West Germany, of which this appears to be an example. I had yet to see one with a HKW until this kit appeared. In addition, the all black phenolic resin oiler and RGK appear WW2 vintage and the HKW very late war or post-WW2 fabrication with the "long" pin.
West Germany held large amounts of WW2 period equipment in storage, and this included the Rg34. It is known new kits (some attributed to G APPEL) were made in the post-WW2 era, but the majority of these kits are largely unattributed. Components typically include a orange with black caps plastic oiler, beaded RGK with flat metal link patch loop, and no HKW. Sometimes a cleaning brush or tool is found as well. I have a suspicion the early kits once had a HKW. When the West German army adopted the FN/FAL (G1) and later HK G3, these kits were the ones initially issued. Since the HKW no longer had any purpose, I suspect they were removed from the kits. This also may explain where a number of similar HKWs turned up years ago and were being sold from sources in Germany (8/19/0700 see post#4). Eventually, the HK G3 pattern kit in the contoured, green plastic box replaced everything else.
Bottom row #2 is a typical, unattributed PW W German Rg34. Beads are heavy split alloy, chain/flat link is blued and a brush is supplied. Bottom row #1 & #3 + top row #3 is kit marked "Rg.f.Gew" & "WBC" | "4/63" on the underside of the lid. This kit has much smoother alloy beads and a flat link. I also believe, from the production date of these kits, they were a newer contract and probably not supplied with a HKW.
West Germany held large amounts of WW2 period equipment in storage, and this included the Rg34. It is known new kits (some attributed to G APPEL) were made in the post-WW2 era, but the majority of these kits are largely unattributed. Components typically include a orange with black caps plastic oiler, beaded RGK with flat metal link patch loop, and no HKW. Sometimes a cleaning brush or tool is found as well. I have a suspicion the early kits once had a HKW. When the West German army adopted the FN/FAL (G1) and later HK G3, these kits were the ones initially issued. Since the HKW no longer had any purpose, I suspect they were removed from the kits. This also may explain where a number of similar HKWs turned up years ago and were being sold from sources in Germany (8/19/0700 see post#4). Eventually, the HK G3 pattern kit in the contoured, green plastic box replaced everything else.
Bottom row #2 is a typical, unattributed PW W German Rg34. Beads are heavy split alloy, chain/flat link is blued and a brush is supplied. Bottom row #1 & #3 + top row #3 is kit marked "Rg.f.Gew" & "WBC" | "4/63" on the underside of the lid. This kit has much smoother alloy beads and a flat link. I also believe, from the production date of these kits, they were a newer contract and probably not supplied with a HKW.
Attachments
Last edited: