MG42 Spare Barrel Carrier

MG42 Barrel Protector

This is the German Army's spare barrel carrier for the MG42 machine gun, known in German service as the Laufschützer 42, or barrel protector. The MG42 fires so fast that crews swapped barrels regularly to stop overheating, and this stamped steel tube let a crew member carry a spare on a shoulder sling and have it ready for a quick change. Collectors, reenactors and owners of MG42 display pieces buy it to complete a correct gun crew kit with genuine issued equipment.

Features

• Stamped Steel Tube — The body is pressed from sheet steel, giving a rigid case that protects the barrel's bore and crown from knocks in the field.
• Full-Length Hinge — A staggered hinge runs the length of the tube, so the carrier opens flat into two halves and the barrel can be lifted straight out.
• Wire Latch Closure — A sprung wire bail at the center clips over a tab on the opposite half to hold the case shut during transport.
• Adjustable Web Sling — A brown canvas webbing strap with metal adjusters attaches at both ends for carrying over the shoulder.
• Approximately 25 Inches Long — The tube measures about 25 in (63.5 cm) with a roughly 2 in (5 cm) diameter, sized for a single MG42 barrel.
• Olive Green Paint — The case is finished in olive green inside and out, with a stenciled number on the outer shell.
• Laufschützer 42 Designation — This is the official German pattern, the same item issued to MG42 gun crews.
• Genuine German Army Issue — Each carrier is authentic government-issued equipment, which matters to collectors who want real provenance on a display gun.

Original Issue Pattern

The carrier follows the German Army's own specification: a hinged sheet steel tube with riveted and brazed fittings at the ends and latch, plus a canvas sling. It was built to hold a spare MG42 barrel, so it suits anyone assembling a period-correct crew loadout or displaying an MG42 with its proper accessories. It is not a reproduction; it is the case German machine gunners carried.