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MG 42 Country Of Origin: Germany Designation: Machine Gun Cartridge: 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser Production Date: 1938-1945 Length: 1219 mm Barrel: 533 mm Weight: 11.50 kg Rifling: 4 grooves, rh Feed System: 50-round belt Rate Of Fire: 1200 rds/min The MG42 was produced based on lessons learned with the MG34.  The MG42 was designed by Doktor Crunow of Johannus Grossfuss, with ideas borrowed from Polish and Italian machinegun designs.  One of the specifications called for in the new design was a more widespread use of stampings and pressings in order to make production faster and cheaper.  This machinegun served throughout the remainder of the Second World War without modification and was adopted by several armies following that war.  That it is still in service today as the MG3 (with minor modifications, the rate of fire reduced, and the caliber changed to 7.62x51mm NATO) with several countries, including Norway, Spain, Germany, Denmark, and the former Yugoslavian republics (where it remains in it's original 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber) attests to its reliability and efficiency.