MP 40 with papers

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alanint

An Erma, (the original designers and manufacturers) made MP, produced in 1943.

You will often find parts made by fxo, (Haenel), cos, (Merz-Werke) and jvd, (Erste Nordbohemishe Metall) on any given MP40.

What's a bnz???

[Patronen]

Originally Posted by postino

What's a bnz???

bnz- Steyr-Daimler-Puch,AG Steyr,Austria, according to the code book.

[alanint]

Originally Posted by Patronen

bnz- Steyr-Daimler-Puch,AG Steyr,Austria, according to the code book.

Correct. Mauser had nothing to do with MP40 production. Only 3 manufacturers were involved: Erma, Haenel and Steyr.

The phenolic grips on the P38 and the forend on the MP40 are essencially the same material. Really late war examples can even be seen with woodchip/sawdust filler in them to help stretch raw materials. The resting bar on your MP40 is a mid-late war pressed steel assembly, versus the early war fiber or aluminum units. Your MP40 also has a "type 2" two-slot barrel nut, versus the earlier six sided nut. I cannot see the top of the trunnion/chamber area, but I imagine there is a deep dimple, which is holding the trunnion into the receiver tube. There should be a corresponding dimple on the bottom of the tube as well.

The deep brown of your forend is from a different producer than the pistol grips. The difference in color does not seem to related to date, according to sources, but of who made the part. brown forends are common. Brown pistol grips are very rare. It is not unusual to see both colors on mid war guns, such as yours.