This is another example of “one of the three” rare and desirable WWII German Sturmgewehr assault rifles we have to offer for sale in this auction. This example is a relatively rare model in that it has the standard "MP 43” markings. As previously noted these were the first true production assault rifle ever manufactured in the world, which used the new intermediate length, “7.92 X 33mm Kurz”, rifle cartridge that spawned the development of several new assault rifles in the postwar years. This series of assault rifles were eventually intended to replace both the MP40 SMGs and the K98 rifles based on the theory that the German soldiers could utilize a fully automatic rifle, which fired a more effective cartridge than the 9mm (as used in the MP40s) with a greater range capability (200-600) but with less weight than the standard 7.92 (8mm) cartridge as used in and with the 98K. These rifles are marvel of wartime expedient manufacturing as they used “state of the art” manufacture techniques in 1942/43 that are considered common place today. They used a combination of sheet-metal stampings, pinned or welded together, with rough forged castings with minimal machining of the parts or components, with the traditional, fully machined and rifled barrels. The only non-metal parts were the simple slab-sided wooden buttstock and the bakelite pistol grip panels. The left side of the receiver is marked “4627d/44 with the upper receiver stamped "MP43", which indicates production in early 1944. The front underside of the receiver is stamped: "cos" indicating manufacture at the Merzwerke, Gebr, werks in Merz Frankfurt; who also supplied various other stamped parts from 1942 to 1945. That is followed by a small "fxo/Eagle/ WaA44” Waffenamt, the wartime manufacturers code for the C.G. Haenel factory in Suhl and the inspector stamp for the receiver, followed by a single "Eagle/WaA37" Waffenamt, acceptance proof by the Haenel factory. The left side of the trigger housing is stamped “awt" with a single "FwaA21” acceptance proof for the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik A.G., who made the stamping for the trigger housing, along with the matching serial number “4627d” on the tail of the housing. Additionally the exposed section of the barrel has several “Eagle/37” Waffenamt and Eagle firing proofs. It has an all blue finish with the bolt and bolt carrier assembly still in the white with the European walnut butt stock and bakelite grips. It is complete with one original, “fxo/Eagle 37” marked MP43 magazine.