Bd-38 mp-38
- Thread starter robin614
- Start date
How about you run into the marstar website lol
http://www.marstar.ca/gf-SSD/SSD-BD-MP38.shtm
They're on sale
Only con i can think of would be that finding replacement parts would be a b*tch!
added: Also for that price, if you want more bang for your buck, you could always track down a 1919a4 w/o tripod, or a 1919a6 or something.
http://www.marstar.ca/gf-SSD/SSD-BD-MP38.shtm
Yes, it is after seeing Marstar site that is giving me "strange" thought. It is on "clearance" now for $2450 (I think it used to go for $2950). It is not cheap but if the resale value is good. It is ok, I guess. My biggest fear is the value taking a serious drop after the Euro went on a tail spin. The economy of the Euro zone is not that bright lately. It seems Wolverine is going to bring in some too. I never actually thought of replacement parts as it would probably take in excess of 5000 rds to wear things out. However, the mag is be $100 each. Anyway, I read about the review on the BD-38 here, any more negative?
A M1919 would be awesome but 30-06 are not cheap.
Thanks for all your advice. Keep them coming.
OK, here are the cons so far:
1. Expensive
2. Parts Replacement
Yes, it is after seeing Marstar site that is giving me "strange" thought. It is on "clearance" now for $2450 (I think it used to go for $2950). It is not cheap but if the resale value is good. It is ok, I guess. My biggest fear is the value taking a serious drop after the Euro went on a tail spin. The economy of the Euro zone is not that bright lately. It seems Wolverine is going to bring in some too. I never actually thought of replacement parts as it would probably take in excess of 5000 rds to wear things out. However, the mag is be $100 each. Anyway, I read about the review on the BD-38 here, any more negative?
A M1919 would be awesome but 30-06 are not cheap.
Thanks for all your advice. Keep them coming.
OK, here are the cons so far:
1. Expensive
2. Parts Replacement
My only experience is with an MP-40 that a friend of my Dad's brought back.
Shot very nicely down at the dump (we could still do that) and tossed the empties over my head and they landed just behind my right boot. Really easy to keep track of your brass!
Gun ended up in the hands of a very decent RCMP fellow who used to use it (and his Tommy) when they had roadblocks on the Trans-Canada after nasty people started travelling rapidly following break-outs and such. Pair of machine-guns really made people want to stop and talk to the nice officers......
But it was fun to shoot. Murdered tin cans something fierce.
Too bad free citizens of a free country are no longer PERMITTED by their masters to have harmless fun in this manner.
Shot very nicely down at the dump (we could still do that) and tossed the empties over my head and they landed just behind my right boot. Really easy to keep track of your brass!
Gun ended up in the hands of a very decent RCMP fellow who used to use it (and his Tommy) when they had roadblocks on the Trans-Canada after nasty people started travelling rapidly following break-outs and such. Pair of machine-guns really made people want to stop and talk to the nice officers......
But it was fun to shoot. Murdered tin cans something fierce.
Too bad free citizens of a free country are no longer PERMITTED by their masters to have harmless fun in this manner.
There's really not very much inside one of these critters. I would think that if small parts gave out (and not much reason for that to happen) your local machine-shop likely could make them up cheaper than getting them from the Fatherland.
The thing was designed for mass-production with minimal specialised equipment and the guys who did the design work really knew what they were doing.
It descends from the original Bergmann MP-18I which was designed by Louis Schmeisser, redesigned into the MP-28 (manufactured on licence in England as the Lanchester), redesigned into the MP-38. MP-40 was just a product-improved redesign of the MP-38 to permit faster manufacture, which included the use of a stamped sheet-metal action tube versus the machined tube of the MP-38.
Good design, absolutely iconic appearance, first firearm with a frame that was basically plastic, too!
Fun to shoot.
The thing was designed for mass-production with minimal specialised equipment and the guys who did the design work really knew what they were doing.
It descends from the original Bergmann MP-18I which was designed by Louis Schmeisser, redesigned into the MP-28 (manufactured on licence in England as the Lanchester), redesigned into the MP-38. MP-40 was just a product-improved redesign of the MP-38 to permit faster manufacture, which included the use of a stamped sheet-metal action tube versus the machined tube of the MP-38.
Good design, absolutely iconic appearance, first firearm with a frame that was basically plastic, too!
Fun to shoot.
Nothing negative they are really nice guns, but you can get a restricted Canadian built sten for $1500.
I have a BD 38, no problems with it, except is seems to like certain kinds of ammo. The ammo issues may be because I have not fired it enough to break it in?? They are kinda stiff when new.
It is very well machined and is of high quality and well worth the $2450 marstar is asking. Doubt weather a person would ever fire enough out of it to wear it out and need replacement parts.
I thought about buying an original mp 40 and had a couple of chances, but would not be able to shoot it as it is prohib. So I figured if I am gonna dump that kinda money for a gun like that it might as well be a restricted only BD-38 that I can take to the range and use. It turns a lot of heads at the range let me tell you.
I suspect Marstar has them on sale because not many people are willing to pay $3000 for a gun like this and they are not moving?? It would not have anything to do with their quality I am sure.
I once even took it to Whitehorse through the various airports on my long term authorization to transport and when the security guard x-rayed it he said "and you made it this far with this thing?" He had to let me through as I had all the proper paper work and we had some fun with it at the Whitehorse gun club
I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to buy one if you can afford it.
It is very well machined and is of high quality and well worth the $2450 marstar is asking. Doubt weather a person would ever fire enough out of it to wear it out and need replacement parts.
I thought about buying an original mp 40 and had a couple of chances, but would not be able to shoot it as it is prohib. So I figured if I am gonna dump that kinda money for a gun like that it might as well be a restricted only BD-38 that I can take to the range and use. It turns a lot of heads at the range let me tell you.
I suspect Marstar has them on sale because not many people are willing to pay $3000 for a gun like this and they are not moving?? It would not have anything to do with their quality I am sure.
I once even took it to Whitehorse through the various airports on my long term authorization to transport and when the security guard x-rayed it he said "and you made it this far with this thing?" He had to let me through as I had all the proper paper work and we had some fun with it at the Whitehorse gun club
I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to buy one if you can afford it.
Looks like the price of stens has risen.
Yup, price of a Sten has gone up a bit: about 30,000%.
But then, the dollar has dropped 1:20 at LEAST in the other direction.
During War Two, they were supposed to be building these for $4.98 a pop, but they were building an awful heap of them. One at a time just isn't the same.
Ones I saw at Brandon were nice.
But then, the dollar has dropped 1:20 at LEAST in the other direction.
During War Two, they were supposed to be building these for $4.98 a pop, but they were building an awful heap of them. One at a time just isn't the same.
Ones I saw at Brandon were nice.
It's a job to compare prices back then with prices now, 70 years ago is a long time.
There are some guys on here who can REMEMBER that far back; don't let them hear you say that!
Me, I'm just a pup: just got my Old Farts' Card so I'll know my name when I forget it.
Price I quoted was supposed to be for the Mark III, which was a fair bit cheaper to build than the II. Mark II was a better gun, of course; just look at the number still in service around the world.
Wrtime production can do marvellous things when you have top-grade engineers. Garand was costed at $65 per unit and War Bonds and appeals were made on that figure. Once they really had things rolling, they got the price down to $26 a pop, according to Hatcher. Britain was paying $60 apiece for Savage Number 4s, as compared to the Great War price of about $26 for the SMLE. I have no idea what the War Two price of the SMLE would have been, but likely it was higher than the Number 4 price.
Anybody know?
Me, I'm just a pup: just got my Old Farts' Card so I'll know my name when I forget it.
Price I quoted was supposed to be for the Mark III, which was a fair bit cheaper to build than the II. Mark II was a better gun, of course; just look at the number still in service around the world.
Wrtime production can do marvellous things when you have top-grade engineers. Garand was costed at $65 per unit and War Bonds and appeals were made on that figure. Once they really had things rolling, they got the price down to $26 a pop, according to Hatcher. Britain was paying $60 apiece for Savage Number 4s, as compared to the Great War price of about $26 for the SMLE. I have no idea what the War Two price of the SMLE would have been, but likely it was higher than the Number 4 price.
Anybody know?
The results of the comparison trials held by the British in September, 1943 are reprinted on pages 68 through 71 in Peter Laidler's excellent book. As a result of these trials, LB was instructed to discontinue production of the Mk. III that same month. Even in 1943, the Mk. III was thought to have too many problems. The Mk. II contnued in production, and, of course, the Mk. V was later introduced.
As far as the BD38 is concerned, these are very well made of modern materials. I would suggest that about the only concern might be magazines - availability and cost. The BD3008 and BD42/44 series share this problem of using original, rather expensive magazines.
