My STG44

[Buzzbomb]

Here are some nice pictures of my STG-44 (it’s actually MP44 overstamped with STG44, a funny querk to these late/later war examples). 
 

manufctured in ~ February 1945. 
by “ce”  J.P. Sauer & Sohn

looks grand sitting next to its combat brothers! 
 

Here is a really great website dedicated to this classic firearm with tons of useful information. 
 

https://espeholt.dk/mp44.htm

 

Edited February 16, 2025 by Buzzbomb
Pics

[1gewehr]

Very nice!

[DARIVS]

Beautiful!  

[Rekraps]

One of my "wish" guns! Wonderful. 

[NFA amnesty]

3 hours ago, Rekraps said:

One of my "wish" guns! Wonderful. 

Will a MP44 be next for your collection?  You won't regret it.

[NFA amnesty]

19 hours ago, Buzzbomb said:

Here are some nice pictures of my STG-44 (it’s actually MP44 overstamped with STG44, a funny querk to these late/later war examples). 
 

manufctured in ~ February 1945. 
by “ce”  J.P. Sauer & Sohn

looks grand sitting next to its combat brothers! 
 

Here is a really great website dedicated to this classic firearm with tons of useful information. 
 

https://espeholt.dk/mp44.htm

 

Good looking weapon for being late production.   Enjoy your new rifle and thanks for posting.

[NFA amnesty]

Here is a couple of pictures of mine.

 

[DARIVS]

Mine was reblued by previous owner, but looks like new.  Some thought it was new production.  It's the favorite gun in my small collection.

The transit crate is my own creation, and not historical.

An original transit crate for two rifles.  Not much to it.

[68coupe]

The STG-44 has long been on my bucket list. I'm not one of those guys that has that amount of cash laying around, so I was sorely disappointed when the Palmetto venture went belly-up. A reproduction, semi version would have been enough for me, even if it eats AK ammo, instead of 8mm kurz. I love the way it looks. A great addition to meet my penchant for vintage and vintage reproduction guns.

I have a GSG/ATI MP40. When I bought it, they were relatively inexpensive. I've spent nearly as much upgrading it to look more like an original as the original price tag.

My humble $0.02, Karl, 68coupe

EDIT: The GSG MP40 has a few issues that only show up after several hundred rounds. One being light primer strikes. Replacing the hammer spring is a short-term fix, and they, too, are inexpensive. I've yet to figure out a permanent fix. I'm leaning towards firing pin modification.

Edited February 17, 2025 by 68coupe
Added info

[Rekraps]

21 hours ago, DARIVS said:

Mine was reblued by previous owner, but looks like new.  Some thought it was new production.  It's the favorite gun in my small collection.

The transit crate is my own creation, and not historical.

An original transit crate for two rifles.  Not much to it.

People get on me all the time when I discuss re-conditioning C&R stuff that has seen better days, but your gun is a perfect example of why this is a good thing. I have to say your gun is just wonderful! Some of the guns out there are just rusting away, and models like the STG44 and MP40, both of which are highly likely to suffer from severe rusting etc. are much better off being restored. Your gun really looks good.

[DARIVS]

4 hours ago, Rekraps said:

People get on me all the time when I discuss re-conditioning C&R stuff that has seen better days, but your gun is a perfect example of why this is a good thing. I have to say your gun is just wonderful! Some of the guns out there are just rusting away, and models like the STG44 and MP40, both of which are highly likely to suffer from severe rusting etc. are much better off being restored. Your gun really looks good.

Thanks, Rekraps!  Despite the fact that a total refinish job significantly reduces the collector value, the one thing it does do is preserve the steel.  There are ways of conserving the condition of a firearm without a total refinishing, and that's really the best way to go.  In this case, it was a rare opportunity to buy an MP-44 and I could not pass it up.  I'm not afraid of shooting it as long as it's cleaned properly right afterwards, and it does look good all cleaned up.  I have shot at least 5 MP-43/MP-44/StG-44's which friends own, and they are not the most reliable, being highly tested prototype rifles.  But, the MP-44 fires so much smoother and controllable than AK's that I wish I had a lot more ammo for it.  It's a true joy to shoot.  Mine was a REWAT that was badly botched by Bubba, requiring welded repairs to the bolt guiding surfaces of the trunnion, reaming/polishing of the chamber, and bolt body replacement.  As such, it went from jamming every fifth round to working 99.8% of the time, more reliable than a friend's untouched MP-43.  It was thus saved from just being a wallhanger.

Edited February 18, 2025 by DARIVS

[Rekraps]

21 hours ago, DARIVS said:

Thanks, Rekraps!  Despite the fact that a total refinish job significantly reduces the collector value, the one thing it does do is preserve the steel.  There are ways of conserving the condition of a firearm without a total refinishing, and that's really the best way to go.  In this case, it was a rare opportunity to buy an MP-44 and I could not pass it up.  I'm not afraid of shooting it as long as it's cleaned properly right afterwards, and it does look good all cleaned up.  I have shot at least 5 MP-43/MP-44/StG-44's which friends own, and they are not the most reliable, being highly tested prototype rifles.  But, the MP-44 fires so much smoother and controllable than AK's that I wish I had a lot more ammo for it.  It's a true joy to shoot.  Mine was a REWAT that was badly botched by Bubba, requiring welded repairs to the bolt guiding surfaces of the trunnion, reaming/polishing of the chamber, and bolt body replacement.  As such, it went from jamming every fifth round to working 99.8% of the time, more reliable than a friend's untouched MP-43.  It was thus saved from just being a wallhanger.

And the end product was, IMHO excellent. I do disagree however with the idea that conditioning a gun greatly reduces its value. Maybe for some, but for others not so! One example I think about often is the TSMG. Most of the WW2 guns were arsenal refinished after the war, so "original" is in the eye of the beholder. Same for most M3s. Russia refurbished millions of PPSH and PPS's after the war also. 

Anyway, a topic for much discussion. I however, do not hesitate to buy a great matching gun, if conditioned properly. 

[reichstall]

really nice-looking firearm, wish I had the cash but if I complain about that I probably  could not afford to feed it either.

[DARIVS]

2 hours ago, reichstall said:

really nice-looking firearm, wish I had the cash but if I complain about that I probably  could not afford to feed it either.

I had to forego a lot of takeout pizza and movies to scrounge up enough pennies for mine.  I built my small collection while I was still single.  It's impossible now!

[maxfaxdude]

Me shooting my MP44...runs like a sewing machine.  God I love these guns...

 

[Gold1927a1]

My DK Productions MP44

 

[68coupe]

4 hours ago, Gold1927a1 said:

My DK Productions MP44

That's what I'm talking about!!! Are they still being made?

Karl

[TSMGguy]

Sweet!

[BillinBama]

Nice! I have owned two, sold both years ago (to afford something else), wish I still had one.

[tricky9914]

On my wish list as well. I just need one of these and an MG42 and my German MG collection will be complete! 
Beautiful examples, fellas!
 

[StrangeRanger]

Your collection will never be complete. There's always one more out there somewhere and it invariably appears when you can least afford it.  Don't ask me how I know.

Edited September 15, 2025 by StrangeRanger

[DARIVS]

On 2/19/2025 at 9:48 AM, Rekraps said:

And the end product was, IMHO excellent. I do disagree however with the idea that conditioning a gun greatly reduces its value. Maybe for some, but for others not so! One example I think about often is the TSMG. Most of the WW2 guns were arsenal refinished after the war, so "original" is in the eye of the beholder. Same for most M3s. Russia refurbished millions of PPSH and PPS's after the war also. 

Anyway, a topic for much discussion. I however, do not hesitate to buy a great matching gun, if conditioned properly. 

The prices on the market demonstrate that collectable firearms which possess an original finish, even a worn one, are valued more than completely refinished ones.  Mismatched guns also take a hit on price.  I prefer refinished ones because they are easier to preserve long term, as well as being a bit less expensive.

[Gold1927a1]

On 9/14/2025 at 9:47 AM, 68coupe said:

That's what I'm talking about!!! Are they still being made?

Yes. And many other types of ww2 weapons.

https://www.dkproductiongroup.com/

 

[68coupe]

6 hours ago, Gold1927a1 said:

Yes. And many other types of ww2 weapons.

https://www.dkproductiongroup.com/

 

They're not making them fast enough. LOL

$500 pre-pay for one of the next batch is "Sold  out". The advertised price tag is $6200. That's just a hair more than I payed for my Ohio Ordnance 1918A3 BAR.

[APEXgunparts]

The semi-auto FG-42 from SMG is in that price range.
They are really well built too.

Now offered in 7.62 NATO, my guns are in the original 8MM

Richard