This is a very fine example of a very scarce WWII era Russian PPD-40 submachine gun. This model is actually one of the forerunners of the later PPSH-41 and to a certain extent to the PPS-43. This is an early production model as it has the early tangent rear sight graduated form 5-50 meters. It has an all blued metal finish with a hardwood stock and forend piece. The major difference is that this model used a machined round steel receiver tube combined with heavy steel stampings with some machined internal parts such as the barrel and bolt; while the two previously noted models used many wartime expedient steel stampings throughout. This receiver is fairly heavy with a perforated front barrel jacket with a heavy end cap that screws on to the end of the receiver. It is fitted with a heavy all steel bolt similar to a STEN gun bolt. The barrel is inserted from the rear of the gun and held in place with a small set screw on the underside of the perforate barrel jacket/receiver tube and the larger cross pin that runs cross-wise through the magazine support. The top of the receiver is stamped with a small early Arrow inside a triangle proof mark from the Ishevsk factory/1941 over serial number "153" and below that it is stamped with a small boxed "SA" Finnish capture proof mark. Both the receiver end cap and bolt are stamped with serial number 866. It is fitted with a short hardwood stock and forend piece that are both stamped with the matching serial number "153" on the side. This very scarce model comes with two 71 round drum magazines and two canvas drum pouch carries.

Very fine with 90% plus of the blued finish that has aged very nicely with clear distinct markings overall. The stock and forend piece have both been light sanded and revarnished. This is a very rare example of a early Russian submachine gun, that most people have not even seen! NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.