This is a solid representative example of a really early WWII MP40 submachine gun as manufactured by the Steyr factory in 1940. These submachine guns were the most widely manufactured and issued German weapon during WWII with over one million produced. This model was commonly called a "Schmeisser" machine gun due to the Schmeisser factory's earlier machine gun work on the MP18 and MP41 submachine guns; while in actuality they were developed and initially manufactured by the Erma factory. This example is stamped on top of the rear of the receiver "MP40/660/40" over the serial number "3756a", with a WaA 816 code. The front underside of the sheet metal receiver tube is correctly stamped with the matching serial number (3756a) and a double WaA4/COS, for the Gebruder Merz, Merz-Werke in Frankfurt, Main, who made the stamped steel tube. The upper front area is stamped with a double Eagle WaA623 code for the Steyr factory who assembled the weapon. It has all matching serial numbers (3756a) on all the various parts to include the: barrel, barrel nut, upper receiver tube, rear sight, telescoping firing pin and bolt, and the correct red/brown bakelite lower receiver cover and grip panels. It has a later production unnumbered WWII stamped aluminum resting bar under the barrel. The submachine gun is complete with four original WWII magazines, with all four having a WWII Waffenampt proof on the back sides with two dated 1941 and two dated 1944. The magazines are all stored in an original WWII, unmarked leather magazine pouch with a shoulder strap. It also comes with one leather sling and a "bte/43" marked magazine loader.