Original Item. Only One Available. The Rheinmetall MG 3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Manufactured by Rheinmetall for the Bundeswehr, designed and derived from the World War II era MG 42 that fired the 7.92×57mm Mauser round.

This is an extremely scarce West German-manufactured dual machine gun mount for use with two Rheinmetall MG 3s. This set does not come with any MG3 or any ammunition boxes. This set will make for a fantastic display opportunity with your MG3s! It will most likely also mount MG 42 and MG 53 display guns, but we cannot guarantee it. The mount looks to be functional, however some of the retaining mechanisms are currently frozen, and it appears to have not been used for some time.

The mount retains its original data plate:

Vers. Nr. 1005-12-159-7280
Bauart: WEIDELT
Herst:

Lfd. Nr.: 0587

The mount retains its cranking lever which adjusts the height of the mount. The mount retains the flip-up dual sight which is very unique in design. When not in use it sits in its housing which is marked on the top:

1005-12-136-6221
ZU
8/65

This dates the sight itself to 1965. The spring-loaded sight is in good condition with some oxidation. 

When the lever is at its lowest position, the mount measures roughly 63 ½” with the angle at its midpoint. When the lever is at its highest point, the mount measures roughly 73” with the angle at its midpoint. When the angle is at its highest point, the mount is 78 ½” tall. The base of the mount has a roughly 16” diameter, and there are three holes for affixation to the ground. The upper part of the mount measures roughly 37 long x 20” wide.

This is an outstanding example, the first MG3 dual-mount we have offered! Comes ready for further research and display with your MG3s!

NOTE: Truck freight with curbside delivery within 48 states is included in the price.

The MG 3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and a vehicle-mounted machine gun.

The MG 3 and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 40 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (MG 42/59), Greece, Iran (as MGA3) Pakistan (as the MG 1A3), Sudan, Spain, and Turkey.

At the end of World War II the original technical drawings and data for the 7.92×57mm Mauser–chambered MG 42 were captured by the Soviets. These would later be taken to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Rheinmetall had to reverse engineer the first postwar machine guns from an original MG 42 machine gun.

Production of the first postwar variant of the MG 42 chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition (designated the MG 1) was launched in 1958 at the Rheinmetall arms factory as requested by the Bundeswehr. Shortly thereafter, the machine gun was modified, receiving a chrome-lined barrel and sights properly calibrated for the new round; this model would be named the MG 1A1 (also known as the MG 42/58).

The MG 1A2 (also known as the MG 42/59) is a further development of the MG 1A1, which had a heavier bolt (950 g (33.51 oz) for a slower 700–900 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire, compared to 550 g (19.40 oz)), and a new friction ring buffer made suitable for using the heavier bolt. The MG 1A2 added new bolt-bounce preventing bolt catches to the action to resolve the ammunition ignition timing sensitivity of the preceding variants and was adapted to use both the standard German non-disintegrating Patronengurt DM1 ammunition belt and the American M13 disintegrating belt. The MG 1A3 features further improvements to the muzzle device, bipod and bolt.

Simultaneously, wartime 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered MG 42 machine guns that remained in service were converted to the standard 7.62×51mm NATO chambering and designated MG 2.

In 1968, the MG 3 was introduced and entered production. Compared to the MG 1A3, the MG 3 features an improved feeding mechanism with a belt retaining pawl to hold the belt up to the gun when the top cover plate is lifted, an added anti-aircraft sight and a new ammunition box. MG 3s were produced for Germany and for export customers by Rheinmetall until 1979. The preceding non–MG 3 variant machine guns in the Bundeswehr inventory were gradually converted to the MG 3 standard. Some additional production of the MG 3 in Germany was carried out by Heckler & Koch. The MG 3 and its variants all share a high level of parts interchangeability with the original MG 42.

MG 3s continue to be produced in Turkey and Pakistan. In 2019 there were plans in Germany to produce several thousand new MG 3 receivers to keep using vehicle mounted MG 3s in the low level anti-aircraft (designated MG 3A0A1) and turret mounted (designated MG 3A1A1) roles in the near future.