This is a fine refurbished example of a late WWII German MP44 assault rifle, that was manufactured by the C.G. Haenel factory. The underside of the receiver is stamped with "cos" which stands for Merzwerke, Gebr. Merz Frankfurt (who was a supplier of stamped parts from 1942 to 1945) with an "Eagle WaA280 Waffenamt proof. These rifles are considered as the first true production assault rifle as it could fire in both a fully automatic and semi-automatic mode. There were approximately 300,000 manufactured before the end of WWII. They were chambered for the new "7.92 X 33mm Kurz" round, (basically a shortened 7.92X57mm cartridge), that was intended to replace the MP40 SMG and 98k rifles. The goal was to provide the German soldier a shorter/lighter cartridges, that still had a greater effective range than the MP40s but with a higher rate of fire than the standard K98 rifle. By using the shortened intermediate length cartridge, this design ushered in a whole new generation of assault rifles after WWII. During manufacture they utilized wartime expedient manufacturing techniques, such as a sheet-metal stamped receiver and trigger housing with minimal machined parts, such as the bolt assembly and barrel. They also used a simple slab-sided wooden buttstock and the bakelite pistol grip panels. The original serial number "9569o" is stamped on the left side of the magazine housing with "MP44" stamped on the upper side. It is complete with one original magazine stamped on the right side "qlv/Eagle 280" and MMP44 on the left side. It also comes with a canvas magazine pouch and three extra magazines. They are all correctly Waffenamt-proofed and are respectively stamped, MP43, MP44 and MP45. This lot also includes approximately 165 rounds of original 7.62 Kurz ammunition as manufactured in the early 1960s.

Fine condition with 90% of a dark gray reparkerized type finish overall with minor edge and high spot wear with clear sharp markings. The buttstock and pistol grip are in very good condition with a stock having been lightly cleaned (but not sanded) showing minor handling marks on the sides. The accessories and ammunition is all in very fine condition. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class III, 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.