This is an excellent example of a very desirable MP 40 Submachine gun as used throughout World War II by all the German forces. These MP 40 submachine guns were highly prized as war trophies even during World War II and are even more desirable today. For the time, they were lightweight, accurate, and easy to point and shoot, making them an ideal weapon to carry out the "Blitzkrieg" campaign that was so effectively used by the German in the early stages of World War II. It fires the 9mm Parabellum (luger) round from an open bolt, with a cyclic rate of approximately 500 rpm. Reportedly, over 1 million MP 40s were manufactured between 1940 through late 1944, with the primary manufacturers being Steyr, Erma Werke, and Haenel, with the assistance of numerous subcontractors. This is a mid-war production example, made in 1943 by the Erma factory in Erfurt and is so marked with the "ayf" manufacturer's code and "43" date. This is a third model variant MP 40 and has the ribbed sheet metal magazine housing, sheet metal lower receiver, two flat surfaces on the barrel nut, and two-piece bolt handle. The barrel is matching serial numbered "5943W" and has the small "ayf" with "eagle/280" Waffenampt. The receiver carries two numbers, the first one directly on top of the receiver is "5943/W" and below that it has what appears to be an "eagle/280" Waffenampt with an over stamp of an "eagle/623" proof (from Steyr) and then farther down there is another serial or assembly number of "5660". The rear cap of the lower receiver is marked "MP 40" over "ayf 43" and directly below and to the left it is marked with the large serial number "5943W" and "cnd" with an "eagle/WaA254" Waffenampt stamp. Blue finish on the majority of the components with a phosphate bolt and buttstock. It has the traditional dark red Bakelite grips and lower receiver cover. The trigger group, folding buttstock, barrel nut, bolt, telescoping firing pin assembly, and rear sight are all correctly serial numbered and matching to the receiver. The barrel bar is non-matching numbered. Complete with one original ribbed MP 40 magazine marked "ayf 43" on the back.

Excellent, retains 95% original wartime blue and phosphate finishes with some high edge wear. Magazine retains 70% original blue finish. Grips and lower receiver cover are also excellent with attractive dark color, showing minor wear and a few light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An excellent example of a World War II MP 40 worthy of any advanced German military arms collection! NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.