This is another example of these rare WWII German assault rifles that we are offering at auction. This is really the standard “MP44” that was used throughout WWII by all German forces. The left side of the receiver is marked “2844q/44 with the upper receiver stamped "MP44" indicating production in 1944. The underside of the receiver in front of the magazine well is stamped "cos" indicating manufacture at the Merzwerke, Gebr werks, in Merz Frankfurt. The left side of the trigger housing is stamped with only a single “WaA21” acceptance proof for the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik A.G., who made the stamping for the trigger housing. The rear of the trigger housing has the matching serial number “2844q”. The front exposed section of the barrel has several “Eagle/37” Waffenamt and Eagle firing proof. It has an all blued 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, “kur/WaA815” marked MP44 magazine. As noted these rifles were the first true production assault rifle ever manufactured in the world. They fired an intermediate length cartridge; 7.92 X 33mm Kurz, as it provided the German soldier with a greater (200-600 meters) effective range than the standard 9mm Luger cartridge in the MP40s and he could carry more ammo than the standard 7.92 Mauser (8mm) cartridge. The MP-44s are a marvel of wartime expedient manufacturing techniques using a combination of stamped sheet metal parts, welded and pinned together with rough forged and minimal machined parts or components.