Sampings on a MP41

[Stian]

Hi all,

I got a nice MP41 with serial number 14350. Under the barrel there is some stamping that I’m wondering about.

Looks like there is a new serial number 2480P (Barrel is also stamped with 4350 on the left side of the barrel)
BNP under a crown
9MM P
M4C in a sword.

Is this some type of import stampings (UK?) and what does it mean?

Best regard,
Stian

[Richard W.]

Your MP spent some time in the UK, as you guessed.

All working firearms sold to the public in Britain, either foreign or domestic, must be proved and marked to indicate that they're safe to operate.

The "BNP" is the mark of the Birmingham Proof House. "9MM P" is for 9mm Parabellum ammunition. I'm not familiar with the other mark.

Is this a deactivated firearm? If so, perhaps that mark with the swords has someting to do with that (?)

[Stian]

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your reply. It is deactivated. But it is deactivated the old way so if it has been deactivated in the UK it must be a long time ago.

Stian

[stevezz1]

Richard is correct, the crossed swords stamp is the deact mark.

Steve.

[Stian]

Thank you very much for your help. I suspect that the “new” serial number 2480B is something that has been entered by the gunsmith at Birmingham Proof House for future reference, and entered in a deactivation certificate if this was made.

Best regards,
Stian

[phil337]

BNP means British Nitro Proof.

[Jan Balcar]

M4C in a sword.

The meanig of M4C is following: Letter M at left of intersection of crossed swords and letter C at right means year of the proof 1986. Inspector's number at bottom.

[phil337]

i thought the date codes on british deactivation marks is always at the bottom, looks to me either it was resubmitted in 2004, or could be deact 94, or 84 etc

[Jan Balcar]

M4C is not deactivation mark. It is year of nitro proof (BNP) and 9 mm P is calibre. M4C and BNP stamps have nothing to do with deactivation.

[Greif7]

I was very intrigued by the 2480b "serial number" as you called it. I'm keeping a serial listing on my website www.mp40.nl. This 2480b number is already listed in my list but this mp41 was sold on a german militaria website www.sauer-militaria.de in 2008.

My opinion now is that it is not a serial number but a "Steel lot" number. These number were also stamped on a lot of MP40's. This solved a mystery for me unless off course it's exactly the same gun? I see you are from Norway. Did you buy it from Sauer?

I'm looking forward to your answer.

Alex

[Stian]

Hi Alex,

I bought this MP41 on a web auction in Norway in July this year. The guy I got it from had it for about a year. And he got it from a collector that bought it from another country. But I do not know from where.

It may be the same gun.

Stian

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[Stian]

When you look at the way that 2480b has been stamped next to the WaA "37" it may be as you say some type of factory code like steel quality for example. The UK stamping is turned 180 degrees, so it was probably stamped at a different time and place.

I have never taken disassembled my MP40 or my MP38 to see if there is a similar stamping like the “2480b” under the barrel.

Stian


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