Original Cold War Polish PPS-43 PM wz. 43 Submachine Display Gun Serial BM-20953 by Zakłady Hipolita Cegielskiego of Poznan – Dated 1952 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Following World War 2 (1939-1945), the Polish military arsenal was rebuilt with largely Soviet-originated weapons, including the PPS-43 Submachine Gun (SMG) series. This started with the PM wz. 43, a license-made Polish version of the famous Soviet PPS-43 Submachine Gun line, which began production in 1946. The PM in the designation stood for “Pistolet Maszynowy”.

Later in 1952 a modified form, the PM wz. 43/52, was revealed to supersede it. This model retained all of the form and function of the original Soviet offering but was given specific alterations to suit Polish Army requirements as well as local industry. These included the addition of a wooden butt stock with the provision for a cleaning kit, and a sling swivel further back, which would better control and aim. However, the gains in accuracy were offset by gains in weight, so the PM wz. 43 and PM wz. 43/52 were produced concurrently for years.

This excellent example of a PM wz. 43 was made from original issue parts, and constructed per BATF-specifications as a non-functional display gun. It has no moving internal parts, and 30% of the upper & lower receivers have been completely replaced with solid steel bar stock, with the bolt welded in place inside the upper receiver. The barrel has been completely deactivated, cut open along the bottom with flame torch over 4 inches. The trigger does not pull back very far, though the trigger group can also still swivel downward by unlatching it at the back. The folding stock is still fully functional.

This example is marked on the top of the receiver, the underside of the bolt handle, and on the left side of the butt stock with serial number BM – 20953. It also is dated 1952 on the top of the receiver under 6 in a circle., the marking for H. Cegielski in Poznań, who previously used the “HCP” monogram. It comes complete with an original intact magazine where permitted. Otherwise a deactivated magazine will be sent.

A very attractive Cold War Era Eastern European Machine gun, ready to display!

One of the key differences in the new post-war design was its fit of a Tommy Gun-style wooden stock (unlike the folding metal stock seen in the original). This assembly contained a hollowed-out compartment used to house the cleaning kit but the general benefit of its addition was in added weight at the rear of the gun – making for a better-balanced short-to-medium-range weapon. Full-automatic-fire-only was still the call-of-the-day for the Polish design though, through special pressure management of the trigger, an operator could fire single shots if needed. Other changes included modifications better suited to Polish assembly lines but, beyond that, the wz. 43.52 remained a submachine gun through and through, typically issued to special units, special forces and those operators requiring additional firepower but without access to a standard issue assault rifle.

From the period of 1952 until 1955, the Lucznik Arms Factory of Radom, Poland pushed out over 111,000 PPS and PPS-related submachine guns.