Michael Heidler has again come up with a one-of-a-kind German firearm, and sent us this writeup. This time, it is an experimental variation on the MP38 submachine gun. Thanks, Michael!

The German experimental light-weight submachine gun MP38(L)

by Michael Heidler
One would imagine that everything about German submachine guns of World War Two has already been written. But in-depth research still goes on and sometimes little treasures surface:

The MP38(L)
The MP38(L)

The submachine gun with serial number V3013 is kept in the outstanding collection of the Czechoslovak Military Museum in Prague (Vojenský historický ústav Praha). Until today no other example of this model was found. The relevant literature mentions this weapon, but no detailed pictures have ever been shown.

MP38(L) stripped
The MP38(L) field-stripped. The barrel with front sight, the bolt with recoil spring covered by a telescoping tube and the firing pin do not differ from the standard MP38.

At the beginning of 1938 the Erfurter Maschinenfabrik (ERMA) received an official order for the development a new submachine gun from the Heereswaffenamt (office for army weapons). Already a few months later, at the beginning of June 1938, ERMA presented the “Maschinenpistole MP38”. This achievement is impressive, however the time interval seems to be much too short for developing such a new weapon. This fact must arouse suspicions that a (nearly) ready draft must have slumbered in the drawers of ERMA. And now the time had come to take it out. And actually, the MP38 wasn’t a complete new design by any means, but rather the advancement of a nearly unknown predecessor model: the EMP36.

ERMA EMP36
The predecessor of the MP38: The rare ERMA EMP36.

The weightiest change, in the true sense of the word, concerned the manufacturing of the receiver. For reasons of weight reduction the solid steel receiver was provided with numerous oblong grooves and and the vertical magazine well got a large round cutout on each side. The lining of the receiver’s lower part of the EMP36 was completely made of wood, but with the MP38 the much lighter bakelite was used instead. At this time still a quite new material in the manufacturing of weapons. In addition the fire selector has been omitted.

The revision was done in a short time. Only seven months later the MP38 was basically tested, followed by the official introduction on 29 June, 1938. Serial production started in July 1938, although very slowly. When Germany launched the attack on Poland (“Fall Weiss”), about 8700 MPs were listed in the inventory reports of the units. The distribution of the new weapon took place in a hurry with the result that there was no time for special field tests. So selected units had to send experience reports back continuously.

German paratrooper on Crete with an MP38
German paratrooper with MP38 after the capture of the Crete island. Note the milled solid steel receiver with grooves for weight reduction.

But the MP38 still was an expensive weapon to manufacture. In spring 1940 the company ERMA tried to simplify their design. In the meantime the use of pressed sheet metal parts in the industry had made great progress and so the receiver and grip-piece were redesigned for this kind of technology. The new weapon was named “MP40” and serial production started in March 1940. The MP38 stayed in service till the end of the war, but most of them were modified with an improved safety from the MP40.

In this time experiments were carried out with a light-weight MP made of aluminum. No documents or other information could be found, so all that is left is the unique MP38(L) as a piece of evidence. The initiator of this development is still unknown. Some researchers think that the “L” stands for “Luftwaffe” (air force) and that the weapon was a development for the paratroopers, that were in need of light-weight infantry weapons. But the air force did not have enough influence on the arms industry at this stage of war and one should keep in mind that aluminum was a rare and expensive raw-material. Most of it was used in the aircraft industry and step by step the parts made of aluminum on military equipment were reduced to a minimum to avoid shortages. For logical reasons the “L” means “leicht” (light). With a weight of 3.34 kg (7.35 lb) the MP38(L) weights one kilogram less than the MP40.

MP38(L) markings
Marking “M.P.38 (L)” on the top rear of the receiver. Neither manufacturer nor date are mentioned.
The MP38(L)
The MP38(L), with stock folded
The MP38(L)
The MP38(L)

The military manufacturer code of ERMA is not put on the weapon. The only marking that connects the weapon with ERMA is the Waffenamt WaA280 found on some parts. Some other markings “EE in a circle” can stand for “ERMA Erfurt”. The cast upper and lower receiver are marked with a nearly not visible “AWW” logo. So this parts were made by the Aluminium-Werke Wutöschingen in southern Germany close to the Swiss border.

MP38(L) markings
The barrel-rest was made by NÜRAL (Nürnberger Aluminiumwerke / today Federal-Mogul).
MP38(L) markings
The Waffenamt WaA280 was used by ERMA. Also the marking “EE in circle” may stand for “ERMA Erfurt”. On the barrel the lowest line of the second “E” is nearly invisible.
MP38(L) markings
The marking “V3013” can be found on the underside of the receiver behind the magazine well. The “V” may stand for “Versuch” (experimental).
MP38(L) receiver thickness
The receiver walls are 5 to 7 mm thick to be robust enough for combat.

MP38(L) latch

MP38(L) latch
In difference to the MP38, which is only hold together by the spring-loaded button, the two receiver-parts of the MP38(L) additionally interlock with each other. This design takes pressure of the point of connection when shooting the weapon.
MP38(L) barrel threads
The thread for the barrel nut is not as fine as on the MP38. Below the sling-lug the logo “AWW” of the Aluminium works Wutöschingen is visible.
MP38(L) rear sight
The screwed-on rear sight has a fix notch for 100 meters and a flip-up notch for 200 meters. Around the hook-in cut-out for the cocking-handle the receiver is strengthened. The “S” means “Sicher” (safe).
MP38(L) trigger
View inside the lower receiver showing the moving parts of the trigger mechanism. The receiver is cast of one piece and not embedded in wood or Bakelite.
MP38(L) trigger
The trigger guard is cast of one piece together with the lower receiver.

The author wants to thank Jan Skramoušský and the Military Museum Prague.

Technical Specs

Action: Straight blowback, open bolt
Caliber: 9×19 mm Parabellum
Magazine capacity: 32 rounds
Rate of fire: 500 rpm
Weight without magazine: 3.34 kg (7.35 lb)
Weight of empty magazine: 275 gr (0.6 lb, or 9.7 oz)
Length stock extended: 847 mm (33.3 in)
Length stock folded: 626 mm (24.6 in)
Length of barrel: 250 mm (9.8 in)
Rifling: 6 grooves, right hand twist
Sight: Flip-up U-notch rear sight for 100 and 200 meters

6 Comments

  1. I have an early Erma MP40 with various MP38 features, including the hooked front sight, curved bolt handle, and the NURAL barrel rest bar. But this MP38L is the cat’s meow.

    I’d be hard pressed to argue that the MP38 is superior to this model.

    Cheers,

  2. WAS THIS EARLY TYPE OF SUB-MACHINE PISTOL (38L)GERMAN MACHINE PISTOLE THE ONLY ONE OF A KIND IN EXISTANCE ,OR WAS THIS EXPEWRIMENTAL TYPE OF ARM DISTRIBUTED TO THE OTHER ARMED UNITS OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES DURING THAT PERIOD FOR EXPERIMENTAL OR TRIAL PURPOSES .Thank You .

    • Thank you ,the information regarding weapons of the 2ww is very interesting and does explain a lot about the production and development of armaments during the 2ww .Thank you .

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