This is a fine example of a late WWII Nazi VG1.5 or Volkssturmgewehr or "Peoples Assault Rifle" that was manufactured by Gustloff-Werke in Suhl. These rifles were a late war development that was designed along the same lines as the MP43 and MP44 series of rifles, that were produced primarily with all stamped sheet metal parts and components that were welded or pinned together to prevent disassembly, however they were intended to be an even cheaper and simpler method of producing a semi-automatic rifle. Designed at the end of the war they were intended to utilize what ever remained of the depleted German manufacturing resources. The only real machined parts on the entire rifle were the barrel, bolt head and various springs. These rifles were never officially sanctioned or adopted by the German Army, instead they were produced strictly on order from the Gauliter of Thuringen which is the district in which the Suhl factory is located. Consequently will not have any German acceptance proofs or markings, instead they will only have a "Th" stamp on the stock, indicating these were made in Thuringen. These rifles were a direct blow back operated system with the entire outside of the barrel jacket/receiver recoils. The barrel has a fluted chamber to aid in extraction and it fires the short 7.92 mm Kurz cartridge, which is the same as the MP44 assault rifles. They have a crude fixed blade rear sight with a simple post front sight and the forend and buttstock were roughed out of plain beech wood. As mentioned above the stock is stamped with "Th5858" which was intended as the manufacturing serial number of the rifle. It is estimated that only a few thousands were ever manufactured and issued late in the war. These rifles had a late war phosphate metal finish with the plain unfinished stock and forend.

Fine with 40% of the phosphate metal finish remaining with most of the metal showing a silver/gray patina finish. The stock and handguard are both in fine condition with a nice original dark color overall with only minor handling marks and scratches. The front sight ear is slightly bent to the side. Mechanically functions fine. missing the magazine and sling. A solid representative example of a scarce late war rifle.