BACKGROUND: With the invasion of Russia in June 1941 the Germans encountered Soviet troops equipped with fully automatic individual weapons which greatly enhanced their fire power. This increase in enemy fire power would result in the German development of their own assault rifle. Initially tests on such a weapon were initiated by the Army Ordnance Office as early as 1938, but it wasn’t until July 1ST 1942 that fifty test models of the Maschinenkarabiner 42 {H}, (Machine Carbine 42 {H}) were produced by the C. G.Hänel firm in Suhl with thirty-five of them being delivered to front line troops on the eastern front for actual field testing. During this development phase the armament firm of Carl Walther in Zella-Mehlis also began production of an almost identical fully automatic weapon that was designated, Maschinenkarabiner 42 {W} and supplied two weapons for field testing also on July 1ST 1942. Both of the weapons proved equal in performance and the Army Ordnance Office ordered a further two hundred weapons from each firm for delivery in December 1942 for continued testing in order to determine which weapon was to be put into mass production. Mass production of both weapons began in February 1943 and by July that year about eight thousand weapons were being utilized in the field when the Army Ordnance Office decided that by combining features from both the Hänel and Walther weapons resulted in an inexpensive, easily produced, effective weapon which lead to the development of the MP43, (Maschinenpistole 43). Further development and improvements resulted in the introduction and mass production of the StG44, Sturmgewehr 44, (Assault Rifle 44), in the spring of 1944. When issued these weapons were all equipped two specific ammunition pouches which would contain three thirty-two round magazines each.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slightly curved, thirty-two round (converted to five as per Canadian law), stamped, blued, sheet metal construction, magazine with impressed vertical strength reinforcement ribbing to each side. The top edge of the magazine has a separate, brazed on sheet metal panel with raised lips to each side to secure it into the MP44's magazine receiver housing. The magazine is well marked with deeply stamped designation, "MP44". Maker marked to "kur". Nice clean example.

Please note, due to Postal Regulations. De-activated firearms and Inert Ordnance may not be shipped outside of Canada.