This is a very good example of a RARE and desirable late 1944 German MP44 assault rifle, that shows actual wartime use, which is accompanied by a handwritten statement from Private Walter Schlaeffin stating that he captured this specific weapon in a small village after the pivotal "Battle Of the Bulge" action in Belgium. Walter Schlaefflin entered service in August 1943 after high school, completed basic training at Ft. Benning, and Advance Infantry Training at Camp Atterbury Ky. In late 1943 he was sent to Europe and on to Belgium, where he courageously served with the H Company of the 291th Infantry. It was with this unit that he received a Bronze Star for Heroic Achievement, for ferrying much needed supplies to the front, under intense enemy fire. This is very nice authentic (albeit dewated) example of the famous MP 44 Sturmgewehr assault rifle. The lower side of the receiver/magazine well is stamped with the serial number and markings; 7042t/44 (indicating production in 1944) with the model "MP44" designation stamped farther back on the upper section of the receiver. The underside of the receiver is stamped with "cos" which stands for Merzwerke, Gebr. Merz Frankfurt, (who was a supplier of stamped parts from 1942 to 1945) and an "Eagle WaA Waffenamt" proof next to "fxo" and a "Eagle 37" Waffenamt. It has an all blue finish with the bolt and bolt carrier assembly still in the white. It is complete with one 40 round magazine correctly marked MP44, on the right side with "bte/WaA686" on the left side. This weapon is considered the grandfather of all assault rifles and was the first true production assault rifle with approximately 300,000 manufactured before the war ended. These rifles used an intermediate length cartridge, the 7.92 X 33mm Kurz round, which was basically a shortened 8mm Mauser cartridge. The theory being that a Wehrmacht soldier could carry more ammo with a longer effective range capability than the 9mm used in the MP40s with a higher sustained volume of firepower than the 98K rifle because it could fired in both full automatic or as a single shot. This short cartridge actually pioneered in a completely new generation of rifle cartridges after WWII. The MP-44s are a marvel of wartime expedient manufacturing techniques using stamped sheet metal parts with minimal with minimal machined parts or components. The only non-metal parts were the simple slab-sided buttstock and the bakelite pistol grip panels. It should be noted that this weapon has been dewated by welding a steel rod in the chamber. NOTE: This is a fully transferable NFA Class III Firearm. Although this firearm has a steel rod welded in the chamber and the description states DEWAT the transfer paperwork reads that the firearm is a machine gun and Class III, therefore it cannot transfer on a Form 5. You are required to check your state and/or local laws as to whether or not you may own this. This weapon can be transferred to a Class III dealer at no charge. Buyer pays all other transfer fees and stamps.

Fine as deactivated overall with 50% of the original blue finish remaining with 40% of the balance of the remaining finish having browned out with the remaining 10% showing a light gray patina on the all the edges and high spots overall from actual wartime field use, e.g. this wasn't a factory pick-up! The walnut stock shows light wear and pressure dents and dings overall, consistent with the rest of the finish on the gun, and also consistent with what you would expect with an actual field use weapon. A fine example of an MP44 with actual wartime capture history.