ITEM TITLE : Steyr-Daimler-Puch MP40
SERIAL NO: 351 b
MANUFACTURER : Steyr-Daimler-Puch, Austria (bnz)
MODEL : MP40 (Standardised Mid-War Configuration)
DATE OF ORIGIN : 1943
CALIBRE : 9x19mm Parabellum

Produced at the industrial apex of the Second World War, this 1943 Steyr (bnz) represents the most refined and safest iteration of the Maschinenpistole design. Unlike early-war variants, this specimen embodies the maturity of German mechanised armament, balancing streamlined production with field-proven reliability.

THE HISTORICAL APEX (1943)

By 1943, the MP40 had evolved from a specialist paratrooper's weapon into the definitive symbol of German field leadership.

This asset, manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch under the clandestine code bnz, was produced during the year of the weapon's highest technical refinement.

The 1943 production block solved the safety vulnerabilities of the inaugural 1940 models through the standardisation of the two-piece locking cocking handle.

As depicted in the accompanying archival imagery, the MP40 remained the preferred choice for mechanised units due to its compact frame and the inclusion of the resting bar, which allowed for stable suppression fire from the ports of armoured personnel carriers.

THE FORENSIC GRID

Safety Standardisation : This specimen features the authentic 1942/43-pattern safety handle, ensuring the bolt remains locked in battery - a critical combat upgrade.

Sight Integrity : Note the stamped front sight hood, a definitive mid-war diagnostic feature designed to protect the post from zero-drift during vehicle transport.

Structural Rigidity : The magazine well features the horizontal strengthening ribs introduced to prevent feed-lip deformation under heavy service.

Buffer Evolution : Internally, the weapon utilizes the ribbed recoil tube, engineered to channel debris away from the mainspring in the grit of the Eastern Front.

PROVENANCE & CONDITION

The Selection Narrative

This asset was meticulously hand-selected by the Director from a restricted overseas arsenal pool of over 200 specimens. Serial No. 351b was isolated as the superior example due to its lack of post-war Frankenstein parts and its exceptional state of preservation.

The Configuration List

Original Finish: Preserved under a hermetic layer of Cosmoline storage grease, protecting the factory bluing for over eight decades.

Furniture: High-lustre, original dark-matter Bakelite grips and lower frame housing, exhibiting an honourable patina without structural crazing.

Accessory: Includes a period-correct magazine stamped M.P.38u.40, highlighting the weapon's legacy compatibility.

Historical Status:

A “Time-Capsule” grade acquisition, likely retired into strategic reserve immediately following 1945.

INVESTMENT SUMMARY

The Steyr 1943 (bnz) is a blue-chip asset class for the discerning collector.

Its scarcity is anchored by the low three-digit serial block (351) and its verified provenance as a hand-picked, arsenal-preserved specimen.

This is not merely a firearm; it is an investment-grade relic of the 20th century's industrial zenith.

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