Original German WWII 1940 Dated MP 40 Display Gun by Steyr with Internals & Magazine – Matching Serial 9412 l Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Just purchased from a private collection, this is an incredible Inert MP 40 Display Sub Machine Gun, built from all original parts on an original BATF approved display receiver. It has properly had a 2 inch portion replaced entirely with solid steel bar stock, making this totally legal to own without a license of any kind. The barrel was deactivated by welding up the chamber, and the barrel, securing nut, and barrel bushing were welded together. The trigger still moves, though the return spring was removed. It also comes with the original bolt and recoil assembly, which was removed prior to deactivation, and is still fully intact.

This is an excellent condition “matching number” MP40 Maschinenpistole 40 display gun, built from original parts and constructed on a legal non-firing BATF approved rewelded receiver, making this a 100% legal display Sub-Machine gun.

Offered with exceptional original dark brown bakelite stock and grips, this is the real thing that will only appreciate in value over time. The extending butt stock is present and fully functional. This early example also has the “flat-sided” magazine well, later replaced by a version with reinforcement ribs stamped into the sides. Original markings have been maintained and make a keystone item for any serious WWII collection.

The rear receiver cup of this display gun is marked with the date and manufacture codes, which are clear:

MP40
660
40
9412
l

“660” is an older designation from the German Pre-WWII Zahlencode (Number Code) listing. This indicates 1940 manufacture by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Werk Steyr, the legendary Austrian arms company. They later used the three-letter code “bnz” after 1940. The trigger guard, barrel, and receiver all bear matching serial number 9412 / l, and the front sight, resting bar, all parts of the folding stock, and rear sight bear shortened number 412. Even the BOLT is marked 9412 l, with 412 on the firing pin holder / recoil assembly. Before being imported and deactivated, this was a very desirable “ALL MATCHING” example, and its a great one! There are also multiple Waffenamt proofs on various parts of the display gun.

Included is an original MP 41 magazine, in very good condition, which is correctly marked M.P. 41 on the side, over PATENT SCHMEISSER / HAENEL. These magazines were interchangeable with the MP 40, and were used as needed.  C.G. Haenel of Suhl, Germany, made many more than could be used with the limited number of MP 41’s produced. Magazine will have the spring and follower removed if shipped to a state that prohibits high capacity magazines. There is also a post war sling fitted to the display gun

A great chance to pick up a great matching number MP40 display gun by Steyr, complete with a magazine! We rarely seem them this nice! Ready to display!

History of the MP40

The Maschinenpistole 40 (“Machine pistol 40”) descended from its predecessor the MP 38, which was in turn based on the MP 36, a prototype made of machined steel. The MP 36 was developed independently by Erma Werke’s Berthold Geipel with funding from the German Army. It took design elements from Heinrich Vollmer’s VPM 1930 and EMP. Vollmer then worked on Berthold Geipel’s MP 36 and in 1938 submitted a prototype to answer a request from the Heereswaffenamt (Army Weapons Office) for a new submachine gun, which was adopted as MP 38. The MP 38 was a simplification of the MP 36, and the MP 40 was a further simplification of the MP 38, with certain cost-saving alterations, most notably in the more extensive use of stamped steel rather than machined parts.

It was heavily used by infantrymen (particularly platoon and squad leaders), and by paratroopers, on the Eastern and Western Fronts. Its advanced and modern features made it a favorite among soldiers and popular in countries from various parts of the world after the war. It was often erroneously called “Schmeisser” by the Allies, despite Hugo Schmeisser’s non-involvement in the weapon’s design and production. From 1940 to 1945, an estimated 1.1 million were produced by Erma Werke.