Description
German machine-gun recoil-booster assemblies accumulated substantial carbon and powder residue during firing and required regular cleaning to maintain reliable operation. The Petroleumsbüchse was filled with Petroleum, the period German term for kerosene, and allowed the Rückstoßverstärker components to soak after use so that hardened fouling could be loosened and removed more easily. The recoil-booster assembly included the muzzle components such as the flash suppressor, booster housing, and booster cone. Similar purpose-built soaking cans were also issued for later German machine guns including the MG42, although the MG34 and MG42 versions could differ in dimensions and markings.
Made of steel, this original MG34 Petroleumsbüchse is in VERY GOOD used condition! The cylindrical body and original removable lid remain complete and structurally sound, with normal scratches, marks, finish wear, and age-related surface wear throughout from wartime use and storage. Most importantly, the can retains a prominent original WaA Waffenamt inspection stamp, clearly confirming it as an original wartime German military-accepted example rather than a postwar reproduction. The interior is complete apart from the small internal washer, which is missing but can easily be replaced. There are NO major dents, cracks, holes, repairs, or damage! Everything present is 100% ORIGINAL wartime German manufacture. A VERY NICE and increasingly difficult-to-find MG34 maintenance accessory and an excellent addition to any advanced MG34, German machine-gun, gunner’s kit, or Wehrmacht field-equipment collection!
