Original German 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 a half hollow BATF approved display receiver. The trigger still pulls, though there are no internals at all, except for welded-in dummy bolt behind the chamber. Comes complete with an original magazine, where permitted, which due to the dummy bolt does not lock in fully.

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. It also has a secondary side sling swivel which was mounted through the wrist of the stock at some point. Definitely an interesting weapon. It comes complete with a sling, which looks to be Finnish issue.

Issued in 9mm parabellum these were used by countless German troops and other Nations friendly with the Germans. This example, like many, was found in Portugal in the early 1990’s.

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.