Original German Pre-WWII 1934 dated MP34(o) Steyr Solothurn Display SMG with Magazine & Sling Original Items

Original Item: Only One available. Just purchased from a private collection, this is a very nice Inert Display Sub Machine Gun, built from all original parts on an original BATF approved display receiver. It has properly had a portion replaced entirely with solid steel bar stock, and the original barrel deactivated by welding up the chamber. The trigger still pulls, and the safety still works. It also comes with the original deactivated bolt, which has had the bolt face ground off. Inside the receiver is a hollow dummy bolt to give it the correct look.

This example looks to have been produced prior to the 1938 “Anschluss” annexation of Austria, as it has an Austrian “Double Headed Eagle” proof on the left just below the top cover hinge, under the year of production [19]34. This was made during the first year of production, so it is a very early example. The left side of the butt stock is marked with serial number 4973 below a small German WWII Waffenamt inspection stamp. 4973 is also stamped on the original bolt that came with it, and shortened number 973 is stamped on the spring housing for the top cover latch.

It comes complete with an original magazine (where permitted) and sling, which looks to be original issue. It is in good condition, with some of the stitching pulled out.

Wonderfully constructed with prewar quality at Steyr in Austria, ventilated barrel jacket with built in magazine loader in the magazine housing complete with wood butt stock assembly. 

These were long gone from IMA more than 20 years ago after the original release from Portugal in the early 1990’s. This won’t last long because you can’t find them anywhere else!

History of the MP34

The MP34 was based on a design for the MP18 by the Rheinmetall company based in Düsseldorf. The weapon is similar in design to the MP18 Bergmann, which itself saw service towards the end of World War I.

Restrictions on the manufacture of certain armaments within the 1919 Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from manufacturing certain types of weapons, such as light automatic firearms (designated as SMGs with barrels in excess of four inches (102 mm) and magazines holding more than eight rounds). To circumvent the treaty, Rheinmetall acquired the Swiss company Waffenfabrik Solothurn in 1929 and began secret production of a prototype. What was to become the MP34 was originally designated “S1-100” using the company’s standard naming convention.

Due to the Solothurn Company being unsuited for mass production, Rheinmetall took a controlling interest in Waffenfabrik Steyr, an established arms manufacturer in Austria. Weapons manufactured by Steyr were sold via the Zurich-based trade company Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG to both the commercial and military markets.

The MP34 was manufactured from the very best materials available and finished to the highest possible standard. It was so well manufactured that it has often been nicknamed the “Rolls Royce of submachine guns”. However, its production costs were extremely high as a consequence.