The pride and joy of my deact collection. Also the most I’d ever spent on a piece, until I purchased my old spec Sten.

A Yugoslavian MG53, or simply M53, also known colloquially as the ‘Sarac.’ A near spot-on copy of the German MG42, being produced in the same factories with the same machines after the Germans were pushed out of the country. None of these saw use in the Second World War, but they are a much more affordable alternative to the ‘real deal’ and so that drove me to buy one.
The differences between this and a wartime 42 are minor, with the grips and buttstock being slightly different, and lacking the cutout on top of the barrel jacket for an AA spider sight. There are factory markings on this one, although I’m unable to translate the Cyrillic. My understanding is that ‘44′ is the factory number, and not the date of manufacture.

Apart from a few minor rust stains, this one is in great shape. Virtually all of its finish still in place, with only a few superficial dings and scratches. It is a deactivated example, of course, done to old UK specifications. It cocks and dry fires, and a decent amount of field stripping can be done. The buttstock, buffer, spring and bolt can all be slid out of the receiver, and the top cover can be opened and detached. The barrel is welded and pinned to the receiver, as per normal, although the door for quick-changing the barrel does open and close. The booster cone is also pinned in place by a tack weld.

It is WaffenAmt marked on the right side of the feed tray (WaA147 or 747) leading me to believe that a replacement must have been salvaged from original German factory stocks. All other parts are Yugoslavian, appropriately stamped and all matching. Even the front sight matches!

I also have a few accessories for it.
A fifty round belt, of which the links and starter tab are German.
An ammunition box, Yugo marked beneath the paint.
And what I at first believed to be a Yugo basket drum. However, upon picking away some of the paint, I’ve found an original German three-letter code underneath. No date, though. All the bluing appears to be perfectly intact, as well. May need to figure out how to clean the rest of it.

Ramble over. Enjoy the photos!

Regards, B.B.