Here we have the 7.92x57 (8mm Mauser) semi automatic only FG42 as built by SMG:
According to the manufacturer:
Barrel length: 19.69"
Overall length: 38.4"
Weight with loaded magazine: 12.9 lbs.
While it looks and operates very much like an original FG42, there are many differences. Some of those differences are out of necessity. For example, the original rifle made extensive use of stampings wherever possible including the receiver. SMG does not have the manufacturing capability to produce stamped parts. Therefore, other than the springs, a few rivets, the handgrips and bipod legs, EVERY SINGLE PART of this rifle is machined from solid stock. The receiver alone started as a roughly 13 pound block of steel and was machined down to around 2 pounds in its completed state. Nothing was an "off the shelf" part. All of it was specially built for this rifle. Because original FG42's are so rare SMG did not have a working rifle to take measurements from, relying instead on Shoei non firing replicas as well as lots and lots of research. It is also important to note that SMG did not have access to original spec sheets so metallurgical requirements had to be worked out through experience as well as trial and error. While they had a working prototype within three months of deciding to go ahead with the project, it took almost another year to get everything running to their satisfaction before finally shipping out the first rifles to customers in January of 2012. That leads us into differences from the original rifle intended to improve the design. Some of these changes include a stainless steel gas piston and gas regulator to combat the use of corrosive ammunition and a chrome lined barrel for the same reason.
The above changes are only a few of the MANY changes implemented. Some of them I am completely unaware of. Others I know about and they will be discussed as we go along. I say all of this in an effort to make it crystal clear that, although close, this rifle is by no stretch of the imagination an exact copy of the WWII FG42. But, although I have never held or shot an original, I have researched them quite a bit and I am confident in saying that, from a material and build quality standpoint, this rifle is almost definitely superior to one. Time for some close-ups. We'll start at the front and work our way back.