Why doesn't anyone produce new historic military firearms?

[browningautorifle]

the German 7.92 Kurtz MP44 re-creations

Now I think about it, I'm a bit out of whack with facts. He has the MP44 copy in .22 and the FG 42 copy in semi auto. The FG cost him $10,000, which of course caused his wife to go ballistic. The MP44(STG) was in .22 and he loves it. He had to pay off the FG in $2500CDN monthly payments until done.

[mrclark303]

I heard they also did an FG42 Jim, I was privileged to handle an original 1st pattern example last year, now that's one reproduction I would love in my collection!

[bigduke6]

Must admit some of the replica reproduction BP revolvers and rifles are of excellent quality, shot quite a few but own a Ruger Old Army in Stainless.......not really a copy of a historic BP gun but does the job, and fairly indestructible.

After watching various parts of Where eagles dare over several days during the festive season I had a look at some of the reviews of the .22 MP40...... all seem quite good, of course it doesn't end there, had to have a look at the MP44 also...... maybe have a look for one when the market is flooded with second hand ones, bit like the prices of the GSG MP5 and the 1911, which I acquired for very reasonable prices....... The MP5 is more for practising my kneeling and standing shooting, cheap and cheap to run, there is a clip on youtube of a guy who swapped the butt etc for woodwork off a G3 rifle, looked really good.

[mrclark303]

The .22 GSG MP44 does seem to be an interesting piece Geoff, solid, heavy as the original and utilising a quality bolt group.

Never fired, but handled one and I have to say I was impressed, a faithful copy of the original classic.

[browningautorifle]

the .22 MP40......

That would be as much fun as a '28 Thompson in .22 I should think. Specially if it was FA...you'd need two boys with buckets to keep ammo to it...and a dozen mags. Much like the FN C1A1 I had in FA with sub cal device...back in the '80s in the army.

[Colonel Enfield]

Tons of people want old west style guns. Part of the reason it is viable for companies to make modern repros of 1880s and earlier guns is simply due to the fact the quantity of those firearms produced were relatively low (limitations of technology etc.) and the condition the originals tend to be in is fairly poor. Coupled with the fact that since the condition is crap and the price is high very few people can reasonably afford to shoot a original.

A C96 Mauser was a very expensive firearm to produce, now it would be even worse. A better option might be that Spanish 'copy' which was simplified as it is very similar (I believe it had the name Astra 700 or something of that nature) appearance wise but would be easier to make. In regards to the Webley in .38 special, your really starting to push the limits of that design with that caliber. Generally speaking most people are more interested in swing out cylinders, and generally prefer it to be .357 so they can choose between .38 or .357.

It would go without saying that a repro Webley would have to be a bit beefier to handle the cartridge. Alternatively you could chamber it for 9mm Parabellum perhaps?

I've heard the C96 was like an intricate and diabolical clock inside so a modern repro would have to be simplified - I suspect most of the intented market really want the external appearance (because it is very cool) combined with modern metallurgy and firearms technology advances.

[browningautorifle]

the C96 was like an intricate and diabolical clock inside

It's artwork...yes, they'd need to simplify it. Then the gun was rust blued by hand outside only. The one I had was still in the white inside.