BACKGROUND: The development of a German sub-machine gun can be traced back to World War I when the requirements for a light weight, quick firing, close combat weapon which could be utilized by a single man was needed in the close quarter, static warfare of the trenches. The primary weapons of the time, the slow firing repeater rifle and the relatively immobile machine gun were found insufficient and the Spandau Rifle Testing Commission began research on developing a sub-machine gun in late 1915. In 1917 Hugo Schmeisser, then in the employ of the Theodor Bergmann Weapons factory in Suhl, developed the first German fully automatic sub-machine gun, designated the MP18/I, which was to be the forerunner of all the MP’s to follow. In August 1938 the German army adopted the newly developed MP38. Further developments and improvements and the need for a cheaper, mass produced, weapon resulted in the introduction of the MP40 in April 1940. When issued the MP38/40 came equipped with a leather carrying sling. Of Note: The K98 and MP38/40 slings are almost identical and are interchangeable. The main difference is the K98 has three stud holes and the MP38/40 sling only has two stud holes. Also the K98 has the separate leather covered steel tab, which the MP38/40 sling didn’t require. The development and production of German army ordnance was under the supervision of the HwaA, Heereswaffenamt, (Army Ordnance Office), or the H.Fzm, Heeresfeldzeugmeisterei, (Army Ordnance Department), both designations were used, which was a subsection of the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and was responsible for testing, evaluation and eventual issue of all ordnance. The HwaA would issue all ordnance to a units Quartiermeister, (Supply HQ unit/Quartermaster), which contained the units Administration, Medical, Veterinarian, and Transport officers and its main responsibility was the control of all supplies to the forward troops including all vehicle fuel, and lubricant requirements as well as animal feed and rations and ammunition and accessories.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 54 1/4", (137.8 cm), long, 7/8", (2.3 cm), wide, age and usage darkened, brown leather construction MP38/40 sling with steel fittings. The sling doesn’t appear to have the usual impressed, grooves near the outside edges or the all over, impressed, diamond pattern to the obverse. One end of the sling has a pointed tip with two, cut-out, tear-drop shaped, stud eyelets. The opposite end of the sling is folded over and machine stitched to the reverse to secure a partially leather covered, tooled steel, grasping buckle with an internal, gripper bar. The sling has a sliding, leather, retaining loop intact. The sling has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The sling is in overall good condition with light chafe wear, some light surface scarring and the leather is still quite supple. The steel fittings all show light surface spotting. Austrian production example.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $59.00