okay there seems to be a LOT of confusion about what the WW2 weapons were actually made of. A lot of you have seen me post replies that something was actually not wood but bakelite and more than once I have received responses "what the heck is bakelite" or "well I have pictures of wooden so and so's".

So here is a brief explanation.

Bakelite was an early form of plastic, actually THE first type of plastic ever made (read more here if you are bored (http://www.modelatrader.com/maffi/maffibakelite.html)). It had some very significant advantages to it, the principle one being it cost. It cost an average of 8 times more to mass-produce the same item made of wood. Other advantages: shorter production time than wood, water-resistant, heat-resistant, was an electrical insulator and it replaced a whole heck of a lot more than just wood.

Pre-war weapons of WW2 Germany were very good, but also very expensive. By the time 1939 rolled around and the Germans were in full wartime swing, it became apparent that they needed to cut back on expenses. Stamped-steel production began to replace machined-steel. The MP34 and MPE were replaced by the MP38 (which became the MP40). The MG34 was replaced by the MG42. The K98 was incresingly made more simple.

And whenever and wherever possible, bakelite was used instead of wood. This included:
-all the grips on the MP38 / MP40
-pistol grips on P38
-pistol grips on the MG34
-pistol grips and stock on MG42 (a few were wood)
-pistol grips on FG42
-pistol grips on most (not all) MP/STG44
-side grips on SOME K98 bayonets
-even a short production run where they tried to replace the entire K98 stock (http://www.interordnance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=INTERORDNANCE.com&Product_Code=K98PS100).

"So Wile, if you're so smart, how come I see so many pictures with wooden or aluminum stocks and grips"

Well I'm glad you asked! Bakelite, while easy and inexpensive to make, is not meant to last. Due to the chemical makeup of it, it gets brittle over time and breaks easy. Now, follow me closely here, bakelite production requires molds to be made and lots of other expensive start-up production line costs. You darn near have to start your own small factory. However ANY common joe-blo can have a metal or wood working shop. Trying to find a replcement bakelite part for an item that ceased production 20, 30, 40, (etc.) years ago is going to be A) next to impossible and B) outrageously expensive. Finding someone to cut a hundred or so wooden or aluminum replacement replicas is going to be a LOT less money, and actually practical. Also, MUCH of the weapons confiscated at the end of WW2 were distributed or sold throughout the world to all kinds of armies and used and repaired with replacement parts for YEARS before they finally ended up in the hands of collectors, museums or prop studios.

"But I saw xxxxx in Saving Private Ryan (and/or) Band of Brothers and they are historically accurate GODS!"

No they aren't.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/goofs

here are some pics of the real deals to give you an idea
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_FG42_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_FG42_2.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MG34_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MG42_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MG42_2.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MP40_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MP40_2.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_MP40_3.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_P38_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_stg44_1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_stg44_2.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/WileECoyote/bakelite_stg44_3.jpg

are there any shots that compare wood to bakelite?

WOW... this thread is because of me right lol any way your right about the mp40.

*BOWS DOWN AT AMAZING GODLY KNOWLAGE*

A lot of those SPR mess-ups don't really regard to 'accuracy'...they just point ouy goofs in the movie.

A little update. I know that some MG42 manufacturer's made wooden buttstocks, I am currently trying to find out how many actually did. In the mean time, Those stocks that were made out of wood were made from European Beech and were heavily varnished.

Here is a nice big texture of European Beech (http://www.accustudio.com/exchange/textures/wood/EuropeanBeech_Modified_By_FLS.jpg)

And guess which hardwood MP/STG44 stocks were made out of :)

Heh that kinda looks like skin.

Those pics are some good finds

Thanks for the info it will be very useful!

*runs off to darken STG44 stock*

The final words I got, from guys whose hobby is collecting $42,000 USD machine guns is:

it was probably about 50/50 for the use of bakelite / beechwood stocks on the MG42.

However as far as the rest of it goes, if it was made in Germany, and it had a pistol grip, that pistol grip was most likely going to be bakelite.

yeah, my Mg42 has a redish tone bakelite stock that is polished to shine.

Originally posted by [SLHR]Gen
Thanks for the info it will be very useful!

*runs off to darken STG44 stock* The MP/StG44 stock were unanimously - hardwood, probably Beech. No evidence of anything else really. Some were even unvarnished due to wartime shortages. And Beech is extremely light colored (see pic above)

Gotcha.