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Is that a on/off safety notch in the charging slot?

 

Why would that be?

Because with any slam-fire gun, there is a possibility of an AD when it experiences an impact severe enough to move the bolt unless there is some means of restricting bolt movement. This can can easily happen if you're a Fallschirmjaeger but it cal also happen just jumping down off the back of a truck. That's why the top cover/cocking handle on an Uzi ratchets and why a lot of SMGs have the safety notch. Look at a Sten or a Swedish K for example

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I posted the seller and asked who is listed in the mfg/imp box. Also asked for him to look on the inside of the tube to see if there is a buttweld seam under either of the overstrap loops that are part of the magwell. The tube looks original to me and either was cut and welded, or not cut and registered or a reactivation in my opinion. Will see what the registration says.

The numbers on this gun look correct and original to me and the vintage style stamps that Erb made to stamp his own work are quite different than these. His "Erb" logo is used on a number of MP40s but shows up stamped in different places on the receivers, sometimes on the forward end of the receiver under the serial.
FWIW

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Bob...does the original MP38 receiver have grooves on the inside of the tube like the MP40?? Also its strange that this tube has the safety notch cut but yet it has an original numbers matching hook style bolt and firing pin. I guess the hook could have been reinstalled on the bolt after the safety style charging handle broke.
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Mp40 grooves are from the tube being made of folded sheet metal . The grooves are the folds. If a mp38 has them they are machined in

 

As for the matching bolt. If it was changed to the 1941 style mp40 why would a soldier keep the original bolt?

 

Its a mystery as to why the bolt matches and the notch is cut. Maybe they modified the bolt and then erb modified it back ?

 

A few pics down the tube is whats needed.

 

Wonder how many erb did. Someone interested could contact erb. Maybe he would remember the gun if he only did a few

Edited by huggytree
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From the seller: the registration notes Erb as the Mfg/Imp. If Erb imported the gun prior ot the end of the 68 Amnesty, he did not need to mark it, but it is marked, his name is listed as mfg/imp so it is a reman gun. Now, was it properly cut and welded per regulations for legal registration? That question is pending.
An original cocking handle could well have been reassembled to the bolt by Erb to restore the gun to correct original specs. I have replaced original cocking handles on the converted bolts of one MP38 and one early MP40 at the customers request. No big deal.
Next time I see Erb, Ill ask him if he recalls how many 38s and 40s he remand. Others made new MP 38 tubes and registered them, but I beieve Erb made quite a few MP 40 tubes and a few MP38 tubes but there were no waffen stamps. I amended this comment since I had intended to mention the lack of waffens on Erb's tubes, which was the point.FWIW

Edited by Black River Militaria CII
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From the seller: the registration notes Erb as the Mfg/Imp. If Erb imported the gun prior ot the end of the 68 Amnesty, he did not need to mark it, but it is marked, his name is listed as mfg/imp so it is a reman gun. Now, was it properly cut and welded per regulations for legal registration? That question is pending.

An original cocking handle could well have been reassembled to the bolt by Erb to restore the gun to correct original specs. I have replaced original cocking handles on the converted bolts of one MP38 and one early MP40 at the customers request. No big deal.

Next time I see Erb, Ill ask him if he recalls how many 38s and 40s he remand. Others made new MP 38 tubes and registered them, but I beieve Erb only made MP 40 tubes. FWIW

It looks to me like a gun that was never actually cut and it was just stamped with the info and "manufactured" then.

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Update from seller that he has put on GB pics of the interior of the tube and a note that there is no apparent evidence of a butt weld. However, the interior of the tube has clearly been honed, so there is still a possibility that it was welded and the seam is under the overstrap of the magwell. Of course, if uncut, it is contraband, but ATF has a history of ignoring such guns, barring discovery due to unlawful behavior by the registrant during an investigation, and allows them an acquired legitimacy since ATF has legally transferred such MGS under their authority. So, buyer has to decide if he wants the risk of legal liability, even though very small. The arguement can certainly be made that it is welded with the seam under the magwell overstrap. If I owned the gun, I would not be able to resist the temptation of removing the magwell and having a look.......FWIW
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I'm the seller and this is a Registered Erb Tube. I spoke with Mr. Erb several years ago and he confirmed producing MP38 Tubes. He told me that he had several people working in his shop around the clock to make as many Receiver Tubes as possible, to register before the cutoff.

 

Charles Erb has his name and the registered Serial Number on this tube. That serial number is the number that is on my FORM 4. As I explained to Black River Militaria, this tube can be switched over to another MP38 Parts Kit if someone wishes to do so. The only thing registered with the ATF is the Receiver Tube. It just so happens that this Receiver Tube was attached to a very nice, all matching, parts kit by someone before me. The ATF has a record of this tube, not the gun, and can show its history of transfer since Erb registered it. I don't appreciate someone spreading their "opinion" that my gun is illegal.

 

I don't need to be an expert as to what qualifies as a "tube gun" to know that it's only the tube that is registered, just like a drop-in sear pack for an MP5 or similar gun type. Only the trigger pack / sear is registered. The sear pack can be placed in any gun that can accommodate it and is legal. The registered tube for this MP38, or any MP40 would work the same way.

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First, apologies if I have stepped on your toes, vice guy, with my "opinions", but I am not out to create problems, only to try to solve them. There is an old expression that is germane here: buy the gun, not the story. The pics you posted of the gun advertised on a public auction forum show a number of characteristics that raise legitimate questions from prospective bidders about what receiver tube was registered and how it was processed for registration. The posters on this forum are prospective bidders and also raised some questions along with others who sent me e-mails asking for my opinion about the provenance of the receiver tube. Of course my response is just my opinion, but I am asked for my opinion because I have many, many years of experience with these SMGs and many others as well, and also many years of experience with the MG registry, and the methods and complications of the registrations of remanufactured MGs.

These questions are commonly asked about many, many different types of MGs offered for sale and the purpose is to understand exactly what are the facts about the MG being offered. There are specific, established facts about registration procedures and protocols and if an MG has characteristics that appear to conflict with the registration protocols then questions are raised about what actually occurred. I am trying to find out the facts about the history of the registration of the receiver tube of your MP.

In response to your post to me, I returned a reply to you with an analysis of what appear to me to be legitimate issues that need answers if a buyer is to have confidence in the provenance of the gun he is buying. This kind of inquiry is necessary and most buyers seek such answers.

What I posted above is one of a number of plausible explanations, and there are several, for the conflict between the characteristics of the receiver, its source and the protocols for registration of the receiver.

Please read my post to you and reply to me at my e-mail address.

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I love the MP38, and I wouldnt mind getting a second MP38, but the markings on that tube look totally factory. Im no expert, but just my opinion. Never seen an Erb tube in person though, but if those are his markings, damn he was good. Edited by michaelkih
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First, thank-you Bob for your expert analysis and opinion, which I have found to be invaluable. Please keep doing what you do.

 

From the above posts in this thread, I take it the issues are (1) did Erb make MP38 tubes, and (2) because any MG could have been registered during the 1968 Amnesty there were no tube guns prior to 1968 (am I correct on this point?) and after 1968 to be a re-manufactured MG an original receiver would have had to have been cut ("destroyed") but could have then been re-welded by a manufacturer like Erb (or he could have made MP38 tubes). So there is a possibility that there was an original uncut receiver that was not registered but then "re-manufactured" by Erb? In other words, he or anyone else who manufactured MGs before 1986 could have taken an original uncut receiver, that was contraband, and "re-manufactured" it? The only way to know would be evidence that the receiver had been previously cut and then re-welded when "re-manufactured." Or he could have used a registered tube that he made.

 

Have I got that correct? I hadn't thought about that possibility, so if I got it correct I learned something today. Just trying to understand the possible issue(s).

 

It seems clear to me from the above posts that this may well be a re-welded or tube gun but it would require further inspection to definitively determine.

 

FWIW, I do think it is a very nice looking gun, and in my mind a Erb tube gun, especially an MP38 (assuming he made MP38 tubes), would be nice to own.

 

One thing that does appear to be in question is whether or not Mr. Erb made MP38 tubes. Seems like that could be readily verified somehow or another. The seller seems certain it is a Erb manufactured tube gun. It seems like if Erb was making MP40 tubes he would have made some MP38 tubes too, although I guess the MP38 parts kits have always been in short supply versus MP40 parts kits. I don't recall ever seeing an Erb MP38 tube gun before. Maybe others have?

 

Robert

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My mp40 reweld is now impossible to see from inside the tube while looking down it. It Is still visible through the ejection port. A few pics at different angles of the area would tell the story

The owner could also dissemble the gun and remove the mag well to show no weld.

Im not sure if a reweld would be worth more or less than a tube gun. They may have a similar value. If the owner is saying its a 38 tube and turns out to be wrong the gun may hold the same value. I believe my mp40 reweld to be worth as much as a erb mp40 tube gun

ive never heard of an erb tube gun...cant someone call erb to see if he made any..isnt he alive still?

 

my mp40 was rewelded 1-2 degrees off!!...if you look close you can actually see it. because of the crooked weld the mag well strap was loose and the whole upper/lower fit was very loose. My smith fixed the issue by cutting a bit off the mag well strap and also adding a dot of silver solder inside there to tighten it up. The gun has shot 100% even before i had the welds ground down inside...so i have no doubts this mp38 will run just fine no matter what it is

 

id recommend a couple of pics from the angles below to prove there is no cut line.

 

pics of my weld seam inside my tube...looking from the back and holding it up to the light i cant see this weld, but through the ejection port its very clear.

 

JcukU4y.jpg

OrSPXxy.jpg

Edited by huggytree
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As the owner of the Erb MP38 in question, I would like to apologize to the forum for the response I posted above. I didn't thoroughly read all of the listed postings and the personal message that was sent to me from Bob at Black River. I sent him an e-mail response this morning and the actions that I am going to take to resolve this issue. If possible, I'll try to post a copy of that response I sent to Bob. I value and respect his opinion, and those of this forum, regarding the stampings at the front of the receiver. I will be removing and/or ending my GB listing for the MP38 until I get this issue resolved one way or the other.

 

Bill

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Huggy...this MP38 is registered as an ERB so it will be forever just that no matter if its a REAL German receiver. The value has to be somewhere around tube guns with a little being its a MP38 but thats why they have auctions.

 

Bill...good idea to investigate this a little further. You want to advertise it as exactly what the gun actually is so it cant come back to bite you. Its legally registered there is no question about that.

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The fact that Erb made MP38 tubes should not be in doubt.

If ERB made that tube which is possible could he or would he duplicate the German markings EXACTLY like the original? I know Erb is known for re stamping his tubes to make them look more authentic but Bob has seen original markings on these guns for many years and they look original to him. Me i dont know but would love to own this gun ha

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The fact that Erb made MP38 tubes should not be in doubt.

If ERB made that tube which is possible could he or would he duplicate the German markings EXACTLY like the original? I know Erb is known for re stamping his tubes to make them look more authentic but Bob has seen original markings on these guns for many years and they look original to him. Me i dont know but would love to own this gun ha

 

 

These tubes were made no later than 1986, can you say that in the decades since the tube left Erb's shop someone did not add those markings? Dies with very exact reproduction markings are sold everyday.

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Thank you! I was aware when I originally purchased this Tube Gun that it was pretty rare to find an Erb Tube. That was my reason for contacting Charlie Erb in the first place, to find out how many MP38 tubes he manufactured, and that he was able to register prior to the cutoff in 1986. He was unable to provide me with a number, but did tell me they were working around the clock to produce as many receiver tubes as possible prior to the cutoff. Not too sure what his database contains, but I didn't want to press him too much on questions that he didn't have a precise answer for. From my conversation back then with him, I'm pretty certain that they were mostly MP40 and other tubes that he was making at the time. As mentioned on the forum, it's most likely that he only produced a limited # of MP38 Tubes.

 

I'm going to try and contact Charlie again and see if I can get any additional info from him, as well as contacting the ATF, and try to backtrack ownership / registration info up to the point of my purchase. I now realize what Bob was trying to point out to me regarding the font type and numerals on the front of the receiver not being in the Erb style. If a perfectionist type prior owner received the tube when the front of the tube was blank, I guess it could have been possible to find a restoration person, with the correct WaA280 stamps and numeral & alpha stamps, to have the gun serial # & WaA280 stamped into the blank portion of the tube. If this is the case, it was most likely for the purpose of giving the gun a more "authentic look" without realizing the potential problem he would be creating for another owner down the road. I never thought about the front of the receiver when I purchased the gun, all I cared about was verifying that the Erb name and the assigned serial number on the Form 4 was on the underside of the tube.

 

I know with high priced Lugers (Krieghoff & Navy ones), that there are plenty of people out there with the correct stamping devices to turn something into something that it isn't, just to make an extra buck by screwing over an unsuspecting buyer. That issue is a constant topic on Jan's Luger Forum. If a prior owner did that for this MP38, it would not do anything value (being a tube gun) wise, just a cosmetic enhancement for personal gratification I guess.

 

I'll see what I can find out from Charlie, the ATF, and what it looks like under the strap area on the receiver. If I see any signs of this receiver being cut / re-welded, I'll just end up owning a very desirable MP38 parts set. If there are no signs of being cut / welded, I'll see what my research will produce and go from there as far as my options with this gun.

 

Now to try and figure out if I can stop an ongoing GB auction with no reserve and current bids. I'll update this forum with any new information I obtain regarding this receiver. Thanks again to everyone that offered info regarding this gun.

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