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MP40 Mag Well Question


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Hello, I have a really weird question about MP40 mag wells. I have an ayf 43 coded gun which has a slab sided mag well which is the incorrect type of mag well for the year. I do however believe this was a period replacement because eventhough the gun is re-blued it has the same type of light pitting as the receiver. My question is I prefer the ribbed mag well on this my shooter gun so can I buy any original WW2 MP40 mag well and have it put on or do I have to buy an Erma coded one? Thanks for any and all help. Haenelistklasse

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Keep in mind that ongoing production included using up stores of parts left over after production upgrades until they were depleted and then moving to the most recent upgrade. Lots of examples of MP40s with earlier parts that were not upgraded. And as you note both arsenal and field repairs are responsible for other anomalies.

Code markings on various parts was different between manufacturers. Magwells usually were not code marked but the mag release button and the catch were depnding on maker and sometimes on date of mfg. Steyr did not mark the buttons or catches but Haenel did. Erma does not appear to have coded these parts either. MP38s had serial number didgits on all parts rather than coding which was dropped with the MP40s which have less serialled small parts and more coding.

So, lots of variations and anomalies which is to be expected. Your Erma gun might have left the factory with the slab magwell and if the button and carch are uncoded it can still be correct. FWIW

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Hi Bob, thank you very much for the expert response. I think this mag well is coded 37 on the front portion of it. I would have to double check. My other early coded MP40 (122 40) has a serial numbered mag well. It has a four digit serial number and an a suffix. I will check the mag well on the Erma gun later and let you know how it is coded exactly. Thank you again, Haenelistklasse

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I've heard the theory that earlier spec parts got used in production until they were used up. In the case of the MP-40, this is doubtful. I don't remember the exact dates involved, but there were hard cut-off production dates for hook-type bolt handles, slab-sided magazines and magazine housings, and "clip" type front sight bases, among other less visible improvements. The later designs of these items were considered to be improvements to the design, so why produce weapons that were out of current specs? These dates might have varied slightly by manufacturer.

 

I think a slab-sided mag well might have been fitted as a period repair, but there's no way to confirm that. It's fairly certain that no ayf 43 MP-40s left the factory with such a part. Also, look at the original design philosophy behind the MP-40: the gun was meant to be so cheap to produce that a worn-out or damaged one could simply be disposed of and replaced rather than repaired. There were no programs in place for MP-40 depot rebuild like there were for other arms, including the 98K, although some spare parts were issued down to the battalion level.

 

As for replacing the current slab sided mag well, this could certainly be done. You'd want one with the correct markings. If the current part is working fine, I'd leave it as it is. JMHO

Edited by TSMGguy
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I would ad that MP41 magwells, which are interchangeable with the other MPS, often were serial numbered so there is another possibility.

Unfortunately the number of MPs that we get to see is an extremely minuscule fraction of the total output so drawing conclusions about small details of what happened, when and by whom is just not possible. Initially deigned and issued only to armor and a few to other groups, the guns became extremely popular with all soldiers, were always in short supply, later upgrades postponed to get them into the field, such as sliding safeties, etc, etc. and aside form being popular with the various German soldiers of different disciplines to whom it was issued it was also very popular as well as every other military involved in the war. Most of the MPs we encounter in the US, registered and not, came from all over the world close on the to the end of the war and for years afterwards. Most had been subjected to innumerable kinds of situations throughout the chaos of the war. Having seen many, many MP40s in the course of reactivations and repairs, and continue to, there are still many unanswered questions about why such and such a gun has certain parts, why and from when. Many imported SMGs were repaired in the US during the DEWAT retail endeavor in the early to late 1950s. Repair and restoration of MPs has continued unabated to the present.

The observation that the sheet metal stamped MGs were "throw away" is credible to a point, but at the time during the war, they were not disposable. They had to be accounted for and repaired if damaged and put back into action and the factory to front line issue was often interrupted or slow. Soldiers valued their small arms very highly and had to take care of them. With MP40s and other types, the enemy or an ally would quickly take possession of a fallen soldiers weapon and recent battlezones were scoured for weapons.

Anyway, just thinking out loud….

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Hey Petroleum 1, Yes, I have some provenance with this ayf 43 gun. I have a copy of the original amnesty paperwork signed by Hank Williams, Jr. listing his SS# and his place of employment as the Grand Ole Opry. Kinda cool I think. If you want to post a pic, just let me know but please redact Mr. Williams SS#. I think the mag well was damaged in battle and was taken to the armorer and this is what he had laying around so this is what he used.

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For those of you who want to learn a lot about the MP38/40s and other evolutionary designs during the period of development and the history of the chaotic prototyping, design, production and upgrading of the MP38/40s, the new volume called "The Schmeisser Myth" is exceptional with many fascinating pictures, B&W and color. I have communicated with many of the contributors and the authors of this book over the years and the book is far and away the best ever on the topic.

There is no substitute for research through the work of competent authors and there is a great deal to be learned form this book.

Don't be caught not knowing the answers provided by this book.

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Yes, "The Schmeisser Myth" is THE book to get. In depth analysis on the MP 38/40 with great data and photos not available anywhere else.

 

Mike Hammer

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