Original German WWII 1937 Dated Austrian Police MP30 Steyr Solothurn Display Submachine Gun with Magazine - Matching Serial 11468

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic non-functional BATF compliant non-firing Austrian Police Issue MP30 Steyr Solothurn display sub-machine gun, and is as far as we can tell, only the second example we have had. It is built from all original parts on an original BATF compliant non-firing display receiver, making this a 100% legal display Sub-Machine gun. This receiver was created by using the front barrel bushing and magazine well portion of a demilitarized receiver, combined with the rear portion where the top cover latches onto. Everything between has been completely removed, and a deactivated bolt welded in place extending into the magazine well. The result is this beautiful display "non-gun", totally legal to own without a license of any kind.

The magazine well portion and barrel jacket are intact and have not been majorly altered, however the barrel has had the chamber welded up The selector switch on the left side still works, as does the trigger, and the top cover still opens to show the solid steel dummy receiver, correctly latching closed. The safety is present in front of the sight, and can be moved back and forth correctly. The rear sight is unfortunately missing, and we were not able to source a replacement. The recoil guide extension is included as a separate item.

This example is offered in lovely lightly used condition, with much of the original finish still present.It was produced prior to the 1938 "Anschluss" annexation of Austria, as it has an Austrian "Double Headed Eagle" proof on the left just below the top cover hinge, under the year of production [19]37. There is also a conjoined HV marking to below the eagle, and to the right it has serial number 11468 still clearly marked. The left side of the butt stock is marked with matching serial number 11468 below a small German WWII Waffenamt inspection stamp, so this gun continued in service after the NSDAP takeover of Austria. 11468 is also stamped on the top of original bolt welded inside the receiver, and shortened number 468 is stamped on the spring housing for the top cover latch. There is even 68 on the underside of the safety lever.

Wonderfully constructed by Steyr, with a ventilated barrel jacket with built in magazine loader in the magazine housing complete with the correct "Fishtail" shaped stock, which has a sling clip loop on the bottom. The magazine is unmarked on the shell except for the cartridge count numbers, however the bottom is marked (Ü) next to a small Austrian double-headed eagle. The magazine will have the spring and follower removed where required.

This example was produced in 9×23mm Steyr, as used by the police forces in Austria during the 1930s. The condition overall is very good, with the wooden stock showing some great dark grain, without any repairs we can see, just the usual wear from use in service. There is a crack on the top by the butt plate, but no other damage we can see. These really were the "Rolls Royce" of submachine guns.

These were long gone from IMA more than 20 years ago after the original release from Portugal in the early 1990's. This won't last long because you can't find them anywhere else! Ready to display!

History of the Steyr-Solothurn MP30

The MP30 was based on a design for the MP18 by the Rheinmetall company based in Düsseldorf. The weapon is similar in design to the MP18 Bergmann, which itself saw service towards the end of World War I.

Restrictions on the manufacture of certain armaments within the 1919 Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from manufacturing certain types of weapons, such as light automatic firearms (designated as SMGs with barrels in excess of four inches (102 mm) and magazines holding more than eight rounds). To circumvent the treaty, Rheinmetall acquired the Swiss company Waffenfabrik Solothurn in 1929 and began secret production of a prototype. What was to become the MP30 and later MP34 was originally designated "S1-100" using the company's standard naming convention.

Due to the Solothurn Company being unsuited for mass production, Rheinmetall took a controlling interest in Waffenfabrik Steyr, an established arms manufacturer in Austria. Weapons manufactured by Steyr were sold via the Zurich-based trade company Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG to both the commercial and military markets.

The "S-100" series was manufactured from the very best materials available and finished to the highest possible standard. It was so well manufactured that it has often been nicknamed the "Rolls Royce of submachine guns". However, its production costs were extremely high as a consequence.

Service History:

In 1930, the Austrian police accepted the S1-100 as the Steyr MP30, chambered for then standard Austrian 9×23mm Steyr pistol rounds. The guns sold to South America, China and Japan were in 7.63x25 Mauser caliber. The Austrian Army adopted the Steyr-Solothurn S1-100 as the Steyr MP34, chambered for the powerful 9×25mm Mauser ammunition. The only major differences between the MP30 and MP34 is the cartridge and the stock. The MP30 had a ‘Fishtail’ shaped stock while the MP34 boasted a traditional pattern rifle stock. The MP30 also had a safety at the front of the trigger guard.

With the 1938 Anschluss between Germany and Austria, the German Army acquired most of the available MP30s and MP34s. A number were then re-barrelled to chamber 9×19 ammunition and issued to German troops as the MP34(ö) – Maschinenpistole 34 österreichisch (literally "Machine-pistol 34, Austrian"). Production of the MP34 ceased in mid-1940, and manufacturing lines at Steyr moved over to the production of the MP40 – a much simpler designed weapon and far less expensive to produce than the MP34. As a substitute standard small arm, it had a relatively short combat service once quantities of the MP38 became available, though some MP34s were used by Waffen SS units in the early stages of the war in Poland and France. It was then allocated to security and reserve units, including military police and Feldgendarmerie detachments.