STG 44 help with indentification

Hi Everyone,

i might be lucky enough to buy an original STG44 in the near future, but it is time to do home work and i am not sure where i can find a forum or someone that can really help. the internet so far talks in general i need information on serial numbers, markings and stamps to look for and anything else to look for. i have never even seen one before in real life, so your help is very valuable thank you.:)

Hi Everyone,

i am not sure where to post this thread and maybe this is not the right forum but i need your help. i might be lucky enough to buy an original STG44 in the near future, but it is time to do home work and i am not sure where i can find a forum or someone that can really help. the internet so far talks in general i need information on serial numbers, markings and stamps to look for and anything else to look for. i have never even seen one before in real life, so your help is very valuable thank you.:)

What do you mean by "info on serial nrs, markings and stampings"?
Ser nrs are on all the parts except the grips, firing pin & handguard. Needless to say they should all match!
Ask me specifik questions and I'll give you specifik answers. I have several MP/Stg 44s.
I've been collecting and shooting them since 1957.
Sarge

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sarge 13

What do you mean by "info on serial nrs, markings and stampings"?
Ser nrs are on all the parts except the grips, firing pin & handguard. Needless to say they should all match!
Ask me specifik questions and I'll give you specifik answers. I have several MP/Stg 44s.
I've been collecting and shooting them since 1957.
Sarge

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Sarge thank you for your quick reply, as i have never held one in the flesh and or seen one up close and wanted to see if you had some pics of one and where the serial numbers are found on those parts exactly. apparently this one i will be looking at soon is in very good condition and so what am i looking for that might give it away compared to the post war manufactured guns?

i see you have been collecting quite some years longer then i have been alive, i hope i can say that one day, thank you again

Mudgee

The only MP 44 series weapons made post WW 2 are the semi-auto commercial versions currently being made in German and the US. There have Not been any of the select fire weapons made by anyone since the end of WW 2.
There are probably 10+ countries that have used WW 2 weapons in the past 70 yrs and several 3rd world countries that may still be using them. NONE of these are of post war mfgr!
As I have said previously - about every part will have a ser nr except front sight assy, sight hood, hand guard u. firing pin. Some bbls will and some will not have a ser nr.
Here is a photo of some of my 44s and extra parts.
Attachment 59648
Sarge

I guess really it all comes down to where you live as to what your likely to encounter.... your profile says "South Pacific", do I take it to be around 42 Below? Well then in New Zealand you will find quite a few original MP43/MP44/StG44 rifles as they were imported into New Zealand back in the late 80's, the majority were converted to MSSA's with some Cat 'C' (full auto) versions too. I believe the rifles came out of East Germany and a lot of them were refinished. if your lucky you will get an original WW2 magazines if not it will be one of the later East German produced magazines.

What you will need is photo's, lots and lots of photos of all the markings and believe me the rifles are covered in markings. Do not expect to find a rifle that is made by one maker, the rifles were assembled from part bins and you can have a dozen different makers markings on the same rifle with matching serial numbers. Without this info no-one will be able to help guide you.

I use to have one.

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Originally Posted by nzl1a1collector

I guess really it all comes down to where you live as to what your likely to encounter.... your profile says "South Pacific", do I take it to be around 42 Below? Well then in New Zealand you will find quite a few original MP43/MP44/StG44 rifles as they were imported into New Zealand back in the late 80's, the majority were converted to MSSA's with some Cat 'C' (full auto) versions too. I believe the rifles came out of East Germany and a lot of them were refinished. if your lucky you will get an original WW2 magazines if not it will be one of the later East German produced magazines.

What you will need is photo's, lots and lots of photos of all the markings and believe me the rifles are covered in markings. Do not expect to find a rifle that is made by one maker, the rifles were assembled from part bins and you can have a dozen different makers markings on the same rifle with matching serial numbers. Without this info no-one will be able to help guide you.

I use to have one.

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Thanks for your response and i will have photos in about 2 weeks when i get out to see the collection, i seee you are in NZ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nzl1a1collector

What you will need is photo's, lots and lots of photos of all the markings and believe me the rifles are covered in markings. Do not expect to find a rifle that is made by one maker, the rifles were assembled from part bins and you can have a dozen different makers markings on the same rifle with matching serial numbers. Without this info no-one will be able to help guide you.
I use to have one.

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The MP/Stgs were NOT assembled from parts bins! Each of the 5 factories that made them made almost all of their own parts with some small parts sub contracted. For example you will never find Steyr parts on an Erma gun!
I currently have 5.
Sarge