MP44 Value

[Matt L]

Hi Guys,

My Dad's thinking of selling one of his MP44s- an MP43 actually- but really has no idea what the market value these days is- so I'd really appreciate your help.

It's in beautiful condition, and converted permanently to fire semi-auto only (as per Canadian law), and it shoots nicely. He's got a sling and magazine for it too. Its only flaws are one of the bakelite pistol grips is cracked (and glued back together well), and the takedown pin is missing its small wire spring.





Just like all German firearms it's very well-marked- the main ones on the receiver are:
“MP 43”, “2947i/44, “cos” (Merz‑Werke, Frankfurt), and “ayf" (Erma). The serial numbers are non-matching.

My Dad's not looking to get rid of it or anything, so would only let it go for fair market value- so I'm also curious where might be a good place to find truly serious buyers.

Thanks guys.

Matt

[kiwicollector]

Hi Matt,

Really hard to judge, but on the international market these range between US$ 1500-3000 you really need to take it to a local dealer or collectors club to get a true estimate. Give Marstar international a call they might be able to help.

How was the rifle converted to semi-auto and what other ones does your father have?

Cheers

Bas

[Joe N]

Oh Matt................you are killing me!! it's a 12-3, right? Let me know when he has a price!

[rogerbh]

I do not know if you mean that by being permanently converted to semi-auto means that it can never, ever be made full auto. I do know that a registered dewatt went for over $13,000 in the past couple of months.

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/vie...?item=24265393

I understand it went that high because it could be converted.

But because I live in California, its all academic to me anyway.

[Tackleberry203]

I have seen in the past where the selector switch had a block welded in the reciever where it could not flip to auto. or it was permantly welded to another position. If it has capture papers its worth a fair bit. like the previous post mentioned, 13k. other wise.... not too much. 2000-3000

[Matt L]

The selector switch is welded to the receiver internally in the semi-auto position, and I believe a couple of or all the necessary auto components inside have been removed- but as I said, it still fires well. It's been inspected by the police firearms authority here in Canada, so it's registered and perfectly legal to own and buy.

Now the last two responses have me confused a bit; are you guys saying that if a weapon has the document that gave a soldier to bring it home as a 'trophy' after the war, the set is worth 4x as much as the weapon on its own?! Or do you simply mean if it's properly registered (and thus legal to own) it's worth $13k and not $3k?

Matt

[rogerbh]

I don't have the technical or legal experience to answer if your rifle could be converted to full-auto. All I know is that if it is possible, your rifle should be worth as much as the one referenced in the link.

Even just as a semi-auto, I would almost move out of California and desert my family for a chance to own your rifle for 3 grand. (Tempting but no )

Good Luck

[Bill Grist]

Mp44

The selector switch is welded to the receiver internally in the semi-auto position, and I believe a couple of or all the necessary auto components inside have been removed- but as I said, it still fires well. It's been inspected by the police firearms authority here in Canada, so it's registered and perfectly legal to own and buy.

Now the last two responses have me confused a bit; are you guys saying that if a weapon has the document that gave a soldier to bring it home as a 'trophy' after the war, the set is worth 4x as much as the weapon on its own?! Or do you simply mean if it's properly registered (and thus legal to own) it's worth $13k and not $3k?

Matt

The only thing that would make a MP44 rare is where it is owned cheap in other countries, but here in the USA with proper 1968 amnesty registered or 1986 remfg. paper work.. They are expensive. Here in the USA, 8 to 12 thousand $s, but not anywhere else in the world..Reason no live or dewat MGs can ever be brought into the USA period.. Not to be confused with DeMILL which is totally cut up, crap, destroyed recievers...BILL.. So don't get confused with USA paper work, a must for live or dewat MGs here in the USA.. BILL

[rogerbh]

Bill, Thanks for educating me.

[Jarrid Marsh]

Bill, Thanks for educating me.

That gun in the U.S is totally illegal whether its welded or not unless its tranferable with a registered reciever.

It is worth here approx. 10 years in Jail and 250k fine.

Its a class 3 reciever and unless it was registered here under the 68 amnesty its scrap metal, a registered dewat can be recoverted leagally and can bring the price upward to 15k

No way no how.

J

[Matt L]

Ah- I understand now. The reason they can command such a high price in the US is because the ones there now are the only ones there'll ever be (legally). Makes sense.

Matt

[k98]

Value in Europe!

In Spain could cost about 4.000 Euros but only in semiauto,then you have to reload the ammo.

[captainhoot]

Matt.

Bill is absoultely right. I own (legally) this same weapon here in the U.S., in the full-auto, untouched. Anyone here in the U.S. that tells you what they sell for here, or quotes a "value" here is comparing apples and oranges.
Your weapon cannot be brought into this country at all. Not even the parts of it. The reciever would have to be cut into three parts, and then the rest of the weapons parts would have to be brought in under APPROVED paperwork from BATF. By then, the value of the weapon is changed completely.

To get a value on your Dad's weapon, only deal with figures in Canada or other countries you can sell to in it's present the form, with does not include the U.S., sadly so.
Even "demilled" or "dummy" weapons like these are very difficult to bring in to the U.S. because of differences in the laws regarding what is "demilled".
Throw the $13k figure out of your head, unless someone there promises to pay you that for the weapon....
Hope this helps you.

-Andrew

[Chris Chalupa]

Not to stray from the topic, nice piece by the way, but have rewats/C&R MP43/44s really climbed that high here in the US? Wow....

[C.O.Sargent]

I own one and payed 1200.00 for it stone cold mint it to was converterted from full auto to semi auto.
One thing should be mentioned here is that in Canada the only people that can buy that firearm are people who already own converted autos, the only other way is to deactivate it then anyone in Canada can buy it.
Believe it or not deacttivated weapons actully bring more money than working weapons.