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New aquisition to my collection 5cm Pak38 - circa 1943

K

Kilroy

Well-Known Member
Hello all, and Happy New Year from the States.

I am an avid but limited collector, and have just come across something that is rare in the U.S. and it took some negotiating ( I almost gave up a box of 20 live 7.9x33 MP44 cartridges from Magdeburg, 1944 in the deal ) and actually befriending the owner in the bargain, but I now have it here, a 5cm Pak38 case in mint condition from 1943.

Being a draftsman and a machinist, I am already setting to work on fabricating a projo for this out of cold rolled steel only, just an accurate profile reconstruction of what this case fired.

I know there were several different projectiles used, and I don't have any drawings, I am reconstructing a drawing of the 50x419 from a picture which is better than nothing and will get me at least one kind of authentic looking projo.

If anyone has drawings or photos pertaining to this projectile either for making or the correct stenciling and could share them, I would be very appreciative.

Here's a picture of the base of the case with a standard 75mm case next to it for scale. I left the photo of the bottoms of the cases large so you could see the detail of the stamps on the 5cm case. It's a magnetic case, but has a copper or some other electroplating on it for corrosion resistance.

Please! I am not good at finding my way around on BOCN, if you could, also send any info to "brinkman@ptd.net" as I may not find my way to your replies quickly.....I am not an adept at working software programs....regrettably!

Cheers!
Walt
 

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Kilroy said:
I now have it here, a 5cm Pak38 case in mint condition from 1943.

Being a draftsman and a machinist, I am already setting to work on fabricating a projo for this out of cold rolled steel only, just an accurate profile reconstruction of what this case fired.
Click to expand...

Excellent case Walt.
It is hard to find a 5cm in such good condition even in Europe. As you have mentioned it is made from steel so the vast majority have some type of corrosion or missing the original coating.

Would it not be easier to look for an original projectile?
The AP Pzgr39 projectiles are much easier to find than a mint case.

PC
 
There are several close to manufacturing drawings of 5 cm projectiles in German WW2 "Geschossringbuch". If nobody else is faster than me I can later on scan some for you. Do you prefer a drawing of HE- or AP-shell?
 
A selection of AP projectiles from different sources:
 

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StielGr said:
Excellent case Walt.
It is hard to find a 5cm in such good condition even in Europe. As you have mentioned it is made from steel so the vast majority have some type of corrosion or missing the original coating.

Would it not be easier to look for an original projectile?
The AP Pzgr39 projectiles are much easier to find than a mint case.

PC
Click to expand...

I agree. The Pzgr are relatively easy to find, unfortunately you live in the USA, I have 2 of them for trade.
 
Some pictures of the projectiles.
This is the shorter KwK case which used the same projectiles as the Pak38.
 

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aquisition to my collection 5cm Pak38 - circa 1943

Hello! Thanks for replying and thanks for the opinion on the case. If you are an older fellow as myself, I had been in the UK back in the old days when a pocket full of English change was a sack of cash indeed, and you might recall the color of an "old penny" as opposed to the patina of brass. This is clearly a copper electroplate of some type as opposed to the color of aged brass.

Walt


StielGr said:
Excellent case Walt.
It is hard to find a 5cm in such good condition even in Europe. As you have mentioned it is made from steel so the vast majority have some type of corrosion or missing the original coating.

Would it not be easier to look for an original projectile?
The AP Pzgr39 projectiles are much easier to find than a mint case.

PC
Click to expand...
 
StielGr said:
Excellent case Walt.
Would it not be easier to look for an original projectile?
The AP Pzgr39 projectiles are much easier to find than a mint case.

PC
Click to expand...

Should have replied all in one but I forgot to reply to your second point. I would greatly prefer an original period artifact, believe me, but in the U.S. these types of things are exceedingly rare, and although they may be more available in Europe where they originated, they are far from the source of supply across the pond. Over time I have noted with interest on how relatively available these old articles are.

But then again, much of the enjoyment in collecting rare old ordnance is in the quest, is it not? In finding this I made a friend who I now talk to and actully lived close by, we both had fathers who fought in WWII and we revere their memories and this period of time in general, so there we are !

Walt
 
aquisition to my collection 5cm Pak38 - circa 1943

Hello again, I just copied three of the files I believe you put up, they are great! Thanks much, in answer, it looks like you posted an AP type, correct? It looks like a type we also made, with a windscreen of softer outside metal enveloping a ultra-hard core of tungsten alloy or possibly a hi-speed steel or other penetrator material.

If you have an HE I would greatly enjoy having them on file, as well as sharing them with the collector who I bought it from. He's a lifelong collector and would no doubt also be interested in knowing as he was a welder and fabricator himself.

Walt


Tmine35 said:
There are several close to manufacturing drawings of 5 cm projectiles in German WW2 "Geschossringbuch". If nobody else is faster than me I can later on scan some for you. Do you prefer a drawing of HE- or AP-shell?
Click to expand...
 
aquisition to my collection 5cm Pak38 - circa 1943

Is it difficult to trade between US and UK? Given the political climate over here, particularly today, I can understand if it's hard, but I was told that if UPS in England accepted a parcel for shipment to the US, they would act as the agent of import or whatever they are called and do the paperwork and guarantee acceptance. I got that from a UPS agent at the shipping desk.
Is this info true?

I am suprised to find that the projos are actually available! It's usually the cases over here that are common.

Walt

Hoeksel said:
I agree. The Pzgr are relatively easy to find, unfortunately you live in the USA, I have 2 of them for trade.
Click to expand...
 
Could be, but I am from The Netherlands. But I found out it is not to hard to ship, there are ways. I have to say cases are not easy to find over here, that one I could use (5 cm KWK).

Kilroy said:
Is it difficult to trade between US and UK? Given the political climate over here, particularly today, I can understand if it's hard, but I was told that if UPS in England accepted a parcel for shipment to the US, they would act as the agent of import or whatever they are called and do the paperwork and guarantee acceptance. I got that from a UPS agent at the shipping desk.
Is this info true?

I am suprised to find that the projos are actually available! It's usually the cases over here that are common.

Walt
Click to expand...
 
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