The gurtsack would consist of two thicknesses of photoetched brass parts, a length of brass rod, a hand sewn cloth bag, hand cut leather parts, rivets and nuts and bolts. To assemble these would require shaping of brass parts, soldering and hand riveting.
Cost to make 100 Gurtsacks including the bracket to mount them to the MG AA gun mount:
Production time of artwork for photoetching $150.00 (One time cost)
Converting artwork for photoetch screening (two sets of artwork) $250.00 (One time cost)
Making photoetched parts (two sheets 12" x 18") $250.00
Production of cloth bag (100) $1500.00
Production of leather parts (100 sets) $500.00
Brass, rivets, nuts and bolts (100 sets) $25.00
Total cost of parts $2675.00
Part cost per unit $26.75
Assembling time cost per unit $25.00 (approximately one hour)
50% mark up on finished items $25.00
Estimated retail price of finish Gurtsack $75.00
Estimated retail price of Gurtsack in kit form $40.00
I believe this price to be to high for the market, but I would not consider making them for less. There are excellent resin cast Gurtsacks offered by Armorpax at a very reasonable price and Dragon have released one with one of their figures, this is not a 100% accurate, however it still looks the part and will work for most people. With this in mind I feel I could not sell the quantity required to put them into production.
As an example of production cost and actual retail of a product. I was asked to make the Kar98 rifle racks for the rear of the Kettenkrad. These I made and offered them a $25.00 assembled and $15.00 in kit form. These were made several months ago and with all the Kettenkrad's out there I have not sold enough of them at these prices to cover my initial costs. I feel the Gurtsack would have a similar outcome.
To produce a fully functional Gurtsack I would have to have at least 75 guaranteed sales. If there are enough out there willing to pay the price I will make them. However these would be low on my list for production and it could be several months before I could make them.
The MG34 ammo belts are available at $19.95 each.
Here are pictures of the prototype Gurtsack. The cloth bag will be the correct blue/gray color. Error on the prototype to be corrected. Carrying strap to be attached at top to a slit in a protruding part of the metal band and not sewn to the cloth bag. At this time I am unsure of how to duplicate the cross embossed on the top of the metal lid. This may require cutting a special tool to stamp the cross in the lid. Something I will work on if there is enough interest.
