MP38 Modelgun?

Post by ChenKenichi

Has any company ever manufactured a MP38 model gun? I'm not refering to the Italian Beretta 38 smg, but the predecessor to the MP40 made by Erma. I've always favored the MP38 over the MP40, and it comes up quite often in early WWII photographs. With all the MP40 model guns that have been made, I can't imagine that it would be too difficult to manufacture an MP38 or perhaps an MP38 kit - mod from CAW or something.

Post by Gecko

hi,

yes there is one gunsmith from Switzerland, who made it as a real shooter or as a dummy model in 1:2 scale.
But this model is quite expensive - it cost 38.000 CHF!!!!

For more details pls follow the link: http://www.waffen-crottet.ch/

best regards,
gecko

Post by figaro

I really liked his 1/2 scale fg-42, too.
Yes he emailed me back, $36,000 -- much too much money, but a beautiful replica, he sent me tons of photo's too.
I wonder how many he sells, breathtaking workmanship.
Hmmm, got to be a hard core collector for that, I'm afraid.
(sorry about the mix up with nations, should have known better.)
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Last edited by figaro on Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:08 am; edited 2 times in total

Post by allenb

Argh! I can't seem to be able to get the 'miniature Arms' menu to work.

I've tried both Firefox and IE7 browsers without luck Did it work straight away for you?

Post by 2sharp

figaro wrote:

I really liked his 1/2 scale fg-42, too.
(Used a currency converter 45,000 Swedish kronars is US$6,953.)
Hmmm, got to be a hard core collector for that, I'm afraid.

Shame on you!
Swedish kronor comes from Sweden, in Switzerland they use Swiss francs
Sweden - ABBA, hot blondes and IKEA.
Switzerland - Watches, chocolate and Swiss army knives.

45.000 CHF is about 36.000 USD according to xe.com
Damn.... big pile of dough...

Post by Mark

As far as any MP38 modelguns being made, I would rather doubt it due to the fact that the MP40 is a far easier modelgun to make as well as being more popular. The MP38 while being first, is a feindishly hard gun to make due to the "Flutes" that are (or where) machined down the receivers length. To make the MP38 any erstwhile manufacturer of an MP38 modelgun would have to cast a receiver out of zinc alloy to get the flutes and comply with the current Japanese law(s)

It's too bad that Tanaka,Hudson or Shoei doesn't tool up to make a MP38 perhaps using MGC's old MP40 tooling if it still exists. The fact that the receivers would be expensive to tool up for. I would suppose this is the main reason that they didn't make one to this point.

Marushin could modify their MP40 molds to make an ABS MP38 if they wanted it wouldn't be that difficult. But, I am sure that they would think that the cost of re-tooling the molds wouldn't pay for itself due to the limited market.

I would love to have a MP38 no matter who makes one..If the receivers and other proper MP38 details are retained.

Many of the MP40 parts can be used other than the receiver (ribbed),grip frame(machined aluminum),front sight hood(machined),magazine housing(machined) etc.

Hmm, maybe I can modify my Marushin MP40's ABS magazine housing to make an early MP40 flat side housing (no hole) just to be different.
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Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Doc

watch this space and save your cash although we are doing a 9mm blank fire version first .
These won`t be cheap as the machining costs a heck of a lot , I won`t have any photos for about 2/3 weeks

DOC
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by MadMike

Wow, after your stunning Sten modelgun I am really exited about that new project. Please keep us updated!

Post by Doc

Good Morning Madmike,
Yes this post pre empted what I had planned to announce . Ok one has been roughly built and test fired (in 9mm blank) All the parts are currently being made to get five BF ones done and as soon as one of them is together I`ll post some pics .
Once A BF one is done it will be relativly easy to make it PFC.
It will have a front vent all steel barrel with a heavy pinned insert .
(I have seen the finished barrels and they are heavy duty ! lots of work)
Again these have been designed in mind for the UK market (as thats where I am )
They are being made to accept the Marushin side panels or the repro real ones (but these will cost more)
Proper fluted receiver and flat side mag housing with the large hole cut out .
Someone I know is desperatly looking to see if we can get a fake Waffenampt stamp made up as that would be a lovely finishing touch .
I do know the Stens were a real hassle to get blued so my guess is these will either end up with a fine powdercoat or some other finish .
I believe the MP38 were parkerised blank originally.
They will use either real mags for the BFs or Marushin mp40 mags for the PFCs

Price is going to look like £900 Sterling ,or there abouts but the steel is waaay thicker than the MGC MPs .
Its a lot I know but these are more complex than a Sten.

The first five BF ones are Pre sold already

Dont know if MGCUK will take deoposits on the PFC ones yet as once some people have paid a deposit they tend to get a little impatient for delivery and I understand this caused issues before.
(not anyone from this forum I might add)

More info when I have it.

DOC
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Claymore

Well doc i think you know i have been waiting for this announcement and i am waiting with baited breath.
I knew these would be more expensive than the sten for fairly obvious reasons but considering this will probably be the last model we in the UK will be able to buy then money worth spending, i also look forward to the next update.
Also have to say i would like the B/F version as well

Post by Mark

Doc,

The original MP38's where blued as they where made with the traditional old finishing techniques in mind. Parkerizing didn't appear until later in the war. The Germans used "Bonderizing" which is quite similar to parkerising and they had many variants of this finish from a clear to a dark black. Some of the Steyer produced MP40's where bonderised in 1944 but, no MP38's where finished in this fashion due to their series production ended in late 1941.

The replica Waffenampt stamps would be awesome and I am sure that you can find them on the "net" The plastic forearms are one of the important items on the MP38/40 and thankfully there are great sources for them. The Marushin versions are excellent but their color is "off" as well as being two piece in construction does spoil their visual presentation.

Sadly, the price has to be so expensive due to the hard work and the machining costs involved. But, as always, the cost is worth it as the real MP38's are always rare and extremely expensive. (if you can find one for sale) The magazine housings are, on the real guns made out of billet steel and their receivers where made out of a thick walled piece of tubing with the trade mark flutes being machined into the tube.

I hope to see one of these new MP38's soon (either the tool room sample or the production version)
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by 2sharp

figaro wrote:

(sorry about the mix up with nations, should have known better.)

Just to clarifiy; my post was made in jest so now hard feelings of course
I'm quite used to it

Post by ChenKenichi

Mark, you have a good idea there....modify the mag housing to be flat like an early MP40.
It's too bad there's no MP38s, it was more or less a rich man's MP40.
Thanks for all the information guys, I appreciate it. Who knows, perhaps some day Shoei may make one after the MP40....I mean they made an MkB42....which was far less common than MP38s.

Post by Doc

Some of the MP38 mag housing ,





The demo one was made more square but this has more of the correct shape and detail, still requires finishing.

More pics soon as I have them

DOC
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Claymore

Cheers Doc, i can see why the price will be high, there must be a lot of woek that goes into just that small piece

Post by ChenKenichi

Doc,
That MP38 mag housing looks fantastic. What is MGCUK? I have heard of it, is there a website?
If I have the extra cash laying around in the future I would definately be willing to purchase one of these replicas. My concern is if they would be legal to own in the US....I know the 9mm one would not be allowed, but perhaps the PFC one.
Cheers
Chenkenichi

Post by Spencerman

MGCUK is model gun collector. They are here:

http://www.modelguncollector.co.uk/

I have not used them yet but have heard very many good things about them.
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Post by Claymore

Absolutly top notch guys and their steel sten is excellent, i expect nothing more than a superb MP38 from then and well worth the cash

Post by ChenKenichi

figaro wrote:

I really liked his 1/2 scale fg-42, too.
Yes he emailed me back, $36,000 -- much too much money, but a beautiful replica, he sent me tons of photo's too.
I wonder how many he sells, breathtaking workmanship.
Hmmm, got to be a hard core collector for that, I'm afraid.
(sorry about the mix up with nations, should have known better.)

HA! I didn't catch the price there, $36,000??? I know a guy here in AZ selling a real one for about $25,000. I wonder if he's ever sold any. Seriously....who would spend $36,000 on a 1/2 scale replica? :?

Post by Doc

some more photos .
The pistol grip part/stock /trigger mech are all going to be the Marushin ones "modified" as when they were checked they were found quite accurate to the real thing (the original MGC stock button and trigger assy are all wrong BTW)
Note the longer (more simple) rear section that the receiver slips into





I`m told these will all be serial numbered up on all the main parts too

DOC
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Doc

and one more ..


_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by ChenKenichi

I heard back from the guys from MGCUK. Liek you said, very very helpful, but unfortunately they will not be exporting to the US....at least not to begin with. They said perhaps if enough people wanted them and they were able to send a sample to the US for approval.

Post by MadMike

Well, the MGCUK MP38 (blank firing) SMG is finally available:

http://www.modelguncollector.co.uk/index_wwII.html

The pics are very promising and it must be a very heavy and sturdy model. Really impressing. As these models are in high demand by reenactors, the BF model came first. But MGCUK told me a PFC modelgun will soon follow.

Well, I am impressed.
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"It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over."

Post by Phil_D

Now that looks nice albeit pricey !

If anyone is interested here is a picture of a real MP38 receiver..


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Too many to list now and the collection has stopped still growing.

Looking at MGCUK's site today lists the MP38 as a pfc firing model with an optional Blank Firer available too.
Sounds like Kevin's been busy!
If it's as good as the Sten, and I'll vouch for his Sten anyday, this MP will be stunning.
I'd have a PFC one today but there's noway I can afford £940 !
I envy the lucky ones that can.

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.