(edited title) Museum's inventory: for your viewing pleasure... Schmeisser MP44

For they that are interested.

The PRIME CONTRACTORS of the MP40 were;
- Erma Erfurter Machinenfabrik B.Geipel Gmbh, Erfurt; Early MP38/MP40 code:"27", late code: "ayf".
- Steyr Daimler Puch, A.G.Werk, Steyr, Austria; early code:"660", late code:"bnz".
- C.G.Haenel, Waffen-u Fahrradfabrik, Suhl; Early code:"122", late code:"fxo".

The SUBCONTRACTORS that furnished the MP40's PRIME CONTRACTORS with parts and subassemblies stamped their (subcontractor's) letter codes and inspector's Waffenamt-marks on the parts that they supplied. The parts were then shipped to the PRIME CONTRACTOR'S factory for assembly.

SUBCONTRACTORS OF PARTS AND SUBASSEMBLIES:
- Gebrueder Merz, Werz Werk, Frankfurt, Main; "cos".
- National Krupp Registerierkassen, GmbH, Berlin; "cnd".
-Steyr-Daimler Puch AG Werk Graz; "kur".

In 1943, the total production of MP40s was 234,311 guns, which included total allocation to the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kreigmarine.

The gun had a cyclic rate of fire of approximately 500 RPM utilizing an open bolt action, and was reputed to be one of the most reliable, accurate, and effective submachine guns of the Second World War. The slower rate of fire resulted in better shooter control when compared to many of the other sub-guns of this period.

The MP40 magazines were made of formed sheet metal, as was the follower, and had a normal maximum 32 round capacity of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. The magazine was a double-stack, single-feed design. Shown below is one of the later more common examples of this magazine, marked MP38u.40.

Manufacturers of MP40 magazines, their codes, and common Waffenamt-Marks are indicated below:
-"kur 98e”, Steyr,Warsaw. WaA815
-"ayf", Erma Werk, WaA280
-"kur",Steyr, WaA815
-"bte", Frankisch Eisenwerk, WaA839,WaA088
-"gqm", Loch & Hartenberger ,WaA164,WaA54,WaA98
-"fxo", Heanel, WaA387,eagle 37
-"122", Haenel (early), WaA280, WaA387, eagle/#37
-"MP41", Haenel, H enclosed in a circle.
-Steyr-Daimler Puch AG Werk Graz; "kur".

This MP40 was assembled by Erma-Werke--- code 'ayf' in 1943.





Some examples of MP40 magazine markings.

 
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That's what I call a neat picture!! Love it...

Because I do not have that kind of white surface, I can't provide neat picture like this one... (and also because I have to work!!) However, you will have the MP44 in high resolution pictures. If this is not enough, send me a PM and I will provide the RAW pictures to anyone interested.

I went a little bit more in detail than BAS, who did a great job with also neat pictures. Hope mines will be good enough...

Martin
 
This assault rifle was eventually fielded by Germany in 1944 and 1945 and was designated Model MP43/1, MP43, MP44,and StG44.
These different models were fundamentally similar guns with some production differences.
The MP43 was officially renamed on April 25 1944 to MP44, on October 22 1944, the MP44 was renamed StG44.
This gun functions in both semi- auto and full automatic mode from the closed bolt position, with a cyclic rate of fire in automatic mode of approx. 500 RPM, it utilized a 30 round curved stick magazine and fired the 7.92x33mm 'Kurz' (short) cartridge.
The earlier guns were 'blued', the later guns were partially or totally phosphated or finished with a clear lacquer-like finish.

MAIN ASSEMBLERS AND TOTAL PRODUCTION OF; MP43/1, MP43, MP44, StG44.
Haenel 185,000 (including the Mkb42)
Erma 104,000
Steyr 80,000
Sauer 55,000
TOTAL PRODUCTION 424,000 (depending on who's book you read)



The 7.92x33mm Kurz Cartridge. (KurzPatr43mE)
One of the principal reasons for the delay of adoption of this gun was tied to the negative feelings Hitler had about adding a new cartridge to the manufacturing challenge, as the K98k rifle (which he had a great deal of confidence in), the MG34 and MG42 all used the longer 7.9x57mm S-Patrone cartridge.



Both the MG34 and MG42 are Gustloff assembled guns--code 936 for the Mg34 (1939)---'dfb' for the MG42 in1943.



Hitler's concerns of the higher rate of fire of this gun and the resulting impact on the required production capacity of the new cartridge possibly delayed the adoption of these guns.


MP44 Magazines.

Codes:
27 Erma, B.Geibel GmbH Waffenfabrik, Mainzerhofplatz, Erfurt
122 C.G.Haenel, Waffen- und Fahrradfabrik, Suhl
98E = kur ?
aqr R. u. O. Lux Metallwaren und Maschinenfabrik AG, Marienthal-Bad Liebenstein /
Thüringen
ayf Erma, B.Geibel GmbH Waffenfabrik, Mainzerhofplatz, Erfurt
bte Frankische Eisenwerke AG, Adolfshütte, Niederscheid / Dilkreis
CHN Gebr. Reinhold, Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei, Gera (?)
ctd Anton Reiche, Blechemballagen, Dresden.
cxt Waasia-Ofenwerk, Recke & Co., Haynay / Schlesien
fxo C.G.Haenel, Waffen- und Fahrradfabrik, Suhl
gqm Loch & Hartenberger, Metallwarenfabrik, Jdar-Oberstein
ghn Carl Ulrich, Oberschönau, Thüringen
jvd Erste Nordböhmische Metallwarenfabrik, Adolf Rössler, Niedereinsiedel / Sudentenland
jvm Brankaer Eisenwerke AG, Branka bei Troppau / Sudetenland
kur Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Werk Graz, Fuhrhofgasse, Graz
tbv = kur ?
qlt unknown
qlv = ayf
qlw an unknown but presumably Czech factory. Parts with code jvm and qlw are seen, so
qlw = jvm ?
qnw unknown but in the area of Berliner-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik
qlx = fxo ?
1001 Ernst-Thälmann-Werke, Suhl, Thüringen (in DDR after the war)

A phosphate finish magazine code 'qnw' E214.






Erma's late war code 'qlv'.



The serial number on this MP44.







Some examples of the MP44 headstamps.



The K98 cartridge on the left---the MP44 cartridge on the right.



This is not my photo--it was taken by the fellow that I got this MP44 from.

 
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Ok, as I promise, here are some pictures of the MP44. It is really funny how some pictures are almost identical to those belonging to GAS to drm3m.

Be prepare to scroll down for a while.

Travis Bickle, enjoy it! ;-)







































































































































 
It has a battlefield modification!

The edge of the dust cover hits the sight base, sometimes lifting the rear sight up on top of the dust port effecting point of aim. So someone shaved their dust port so it wouldn't hit the sight!
 
NavyCuda said:
It has a battlefield modification!

The edge of the dust cover hits the sight base, sometimes lifting the rear sight up on top of the dust port effecting point of aim. So someone shaved their dust port so it wouldn't hit the sight!
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure both of mine have the same shape dust cover, plus the edges are blued.
 
Well done Martin.
Very complete photos of this rather early Erma assembled MP44.

I found it interesting in your photos that the bolt had Erma's earlier code 'ayf' and under the receiver it shows Erma's later code 'qlv'.

The bolt shows the same serial number as the gun 897.
 
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bas said:
I'm pretty sure both of mine have the same shape dust cover, plus the edges are blued.
Click to expand...

It must be a production modification that didn't make it to the drawings or SSD ignored on the BD44, because the BD44 does not have the notch cut from the dust cover and it interferes with the sight. I was getting some decent hits at 100m, but then I couldn't get it on target and I was wondering why. Looked closer, the button was on top the dust cover.
 
There were two variants of the Krummlauf. One with a 30 degree bend for tank crews to defend the vehicle against infantry. There was another with a 90 degree (!) bend that was for infantry in defensive positions to fire around corners or in special ball mounts while remaining entirely under cover. In either case the modification was unsatisfactory as the barrel life was poor and accuracy was horrible.

As an aside, if you want to talk about how advanced the Germans were, there were also some Sturmgewehrs that were mounted with the experiment 'Vampir' IR night sight. It was a rather cumbersome device, but did allow for short range night vision.
 
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