Did the german soldiers camo paint their guns?

[Zielfernrohr]

Hi guys, I noticed in this video of some Fallschirmjäger reenactors in Northern Ireland and I noticed they had painted their Mp40s and Mg42 and I was wondering if they actually did this during WW2?
I have only seen a Mp40 painted white for blending in with the snow during winther and panzerschrecks and bigger weapons with the «Normandy» paint scheme

About 13:40 in the video you see them on the ground here:

 

[Planejack]

I have seen in person an MG42 that had remnants of tan (Dunkelgelb) paint on it. This was on a Lafette Tripod at the old Ft. Sheridan Army museum in Illinois around 1991. I believe too, that the Lafette was painted in a similar color, but in a much more robust effort. So, I do believe this was done, especially in a known and planned defensive environment.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

I think it was pretty uncommon on the guns but yes… some k98s have shown up with remnants of white wash etc. I would imagine some MGs got the same treatment. I know I’ve seen pics of whitewashed MGs but don’t recall seeing any painted

 

[Aaron]

FJR6 is notorious for painting all sorts of gear and weapons including their mg's and Mp40's, ammo pouches, bakelite cases, webbing, ammo cans, helmets, and even belts and y straps or other leather items. Beyond this unit, you see whitewashing of weapons and gear often, but painting is almost unheard of.

 

[mrfarb]

Interestingly enough regulations dictated the use of oil based paints to camouflage weapons (inc white painted ones) but it’s very uncommon to see painted weapons in real life. Maybe vets chose to leave them in the piles if they did exist?

 

[Wolfsburg]

Here's a thread relevant to this one. Is it WWII-era camo? I'm not educated enough to guess but it seems plausible to me at least... Same with the green parts kit I linked in that thread as well.

Erma MP44

Fully matching Erma MP44. From a vet estate on the East Coast or so the story goes. Here's an image album on my Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/90968465@N03/albums/72177720319249876

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Colonelhogan]

You see alot of weapons painted for normandy by the FJ's iirc. The deadmans corner has Fjr6 painted weapons in their museum

 

[fireman]

An older thread. Sadly some of the pics are gone.

Painted rifles

Found these pics while doing some research. Pretty cool Painted gear. This too, although it is not a K98.

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Scharf]

Here's a thread relevant to this one. Is it WWII-era camo? I'm not educated enough to guess but it seems plausible to me at least... Same with the green parts kit I linked in that thread as well.

Erma MP44

Fully matching Erma MP44. From a vet estate on the East Coast or so the story goes. Here's an image album on my Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/90968465@N03/albums/72177720319249876

www.k98kforum.com

Yes, it is period. It is soluble issued Tarnpaste thinned with gasoline, the paste does not contain lead. The RAL colors and shades match with the issued Tarnpasten.

I know of a MP40 found in the Falaise-Chambois pocket from the 3rd FJD of Meindl's, and it is painted in green Olivgrün.

 

[Scharf]

Here, some of my gear field painted with this type of paste, all except the MG box came from the area of the Falaise pocket, July-August 44. Typical 2nd-3rd FJD camos.

Also, a ammo can from the 2nd FJD in Britanny.

The rest is winter white, a sling keeper tab, a 98k pouch with remnants and a bayonet. Both bayonet and keeper are painted, not whitewashed, which means they did not only use whitewash / lime on weapons.

 

[Scharf]

I have in a book as well somewhere, a 3 tone MG42, I'll try to show both MP40 and MG42

 

[Scharf]

Pics

 

[ChrisG43]

For what it’s worth there was an mp44 kit that sold at auction. Maybe 6 months or so ago that had what looked like a period applied camo paint job. I have a P38 holster that has a tan period paint applied to it…. Chris.

 

[Scharf]

For what it’s worth there was an mp44 kit that sold at auction. Maybe 6 months or so ago that had what looked like a period applied camo paint job. I have a P38 holster that has a tan period paint applied to it…. Chris.

Could you share that holster? Thanks

 

[Joseph Burke]

Yes, it is period. It is soluble issued Tarnpaste thinned with gasoline, the paste does not contain lead. The RAL colors and shades match with the issued Tarnpasten.

I know of a MP40 found in the Falaise-Chambois pocket from the 3rd FJD of Meindl's, and it is painted in green Olivgrün.

Yes, I acquired that camo MP44. In comparison to my period camo helmets the paint scheme, colors, and texture on the MP44 is near identical. I'm convinced it is period, but I'm biased by ownership so I appreciate your nod of approval. It's probably the coolest piece I own. I'll group them together for an image or two when I get a chance.

 

[Scharf]

Yes, I acquired that camo MP44. In comparison to my period camo helmets the paint scheme, colors, and texture on the MP44 is near identical. I'm convinced it is period, but I'm biased by ownership so I appreciate your nod of approval. It's probably the coolest piece I own. I'll group them together for an image or two when I get a chance.

Camouflaged items are said to be hard to judge, but I'll differ, once you've had the real ones with provenance and 1st or 2nd hand, that changes it all. You got to know how the pigments age, how the paint crazes, what the concentration of thinner and its type does to the paint and so on. I can tell you that many fakes are roaming dealer's sites just as much as many real ones are being dismissed everywhere and on here as well, especially on a thread about camo helmets, that I consider to be extremly biased from some individuals who never owned real honest camo pieces. Real camos aren't judged from pictures, they're found, held, smelled and all that and anyone telling otherwhise is just fooling themselves. Once you're aclimated with all the details you need to look for, from 100% known identified examples, you've got your sixth sence unlocked. Period. Difference is, in my area, we find camos out of the woodwork, with the story and provenance if we're lucky.

 

[mauser202]

Stolen for the STG thread..

 

[mdarnell19]

Camouflaged items are said to be hard to judge, but I'll differ, once you've had the real ones with provenance and 1st or 2nd hand, that changes it all. You got to know how the pigments age, how the paint crazes, what the concentration of thinner and its type does to the paint and so on. I can tell you that many fakes are roaming dealer's sites just as much as many real ones are being dismissed everywhere and on here as well, especially on a thread about camo helmets, that I consider to be extremly biased from some individuals who never owned real honest camo pieces. Real camos aren't judged from pictures, they're found, held, smelled and all that and anyone telling otherwhise is just fooling themselves. Once you're aclimated with all the details you need to look for, from 100% known identified examples, you've got your sixth sence unlocked. Period. Difference is, in my area, we find camos out of the woodwork, with the story and provenance if we're lucky.

This is the problem with collecting camo stuff in my opinion. Everything you just said is subjective. Just your experience and opinion, nothing factual. Please don't take this as an attack. I just don't like collecting something so open ended and subjective. People should collect what they like but with this in mind I don't understand why camo helmets bring as much as they do when no one can agree on them.

 

[fireman]

This is the problem with collecting camo stuff in my opinion. Everything you just said is subjective. Just your experience and opinion, nothing factual. Please don't take this as an attack. I just don't like collecting something so open ended and subjective. People should collect what they like but with this in mind I don't understand why camo helmets bring as much as they do when no one can agree on them.

I'm not trying to be argumentative and take this from a guy who does not collect helmets or uniforms but aren't there patterns to some camo items? IIRC FJ and regular helmets with consistent camo paints and patterns have come from US vets and are traced back to Normandy.

 

[WAZUP13579]

Stolen for the STG thread..

Went as far as painting his hat also.