This is a very good example of a desirable German MP43/44 Sturmgewehr assault rifle manufactured by the ERMA factory in Erfurt during WWII. This series of weapons was one of the first true production assault rifles ever manufactured in the world. It used the new intermediate length 7.92x33mm Kurz in lieu of the standard 7.92 (8mm) cartridge and was intended to replace both the MP40 SMGs and the standard K98 rifle as the basic infantry weapon in the later months of WWII. The theory was that the German soldiers could carry more ammunition since this round weighed considerably less than the 7.92x57 mm cartridge, and it still had an effective range of approximately 200-600 and was more effective than the standard 9mm parabellum used in the MP40s. They used a combination of sheet-metal stampings, pinned or welded together, with rough forged castings with minimal machining of the parts or components combined with a fully machined rifle barrel. The only non-metal parts were the simple slab-sided wooden buttstock and the bakelite pistol grip panels. The left side of the receiver is marked "8344i/44", with the upper left side of the receiver stamped "MP43", which indicates production in early 1944. The front underside of the receiver is stamped: "cos", which was the wartime code for the Merzwerke, Gebr. Merz Frankfurt, and "ayf" indicating it was manufactured by the ERMA, B. Geipel GmbH, Erfurt factory. It has the "Eagle/280" factory proof also indicating it was inspected by the ERMA factory. It has all matching numbered parts including the bolt. It has a blue finish with the bolt and bolt carrier assembly still in the white. It has a walnut buttstock and pistol grip panels. The right side of the stock has the name "BLUM" caved into the wood. It is complete with three original magazines; two marked "fxo/Eagle 37" and one with a small "Eagle/214" proof, an original leather sling and sheet metal front sight cover. The consignor indicated that this weapon was originally brought back from WWII by Army Veteran Joyce Wohlgemuth of Vaughn, Montana, and remained with that family until his death in 2002.