MP40 sad news

[me6_130]

Many years ago (in the 90's), in Spain, I met an army officer who had a really nice MP40 of the 1943 Spanish contract. He had recently bought it for only 6000 pesetas (about 200€) in an army facility, as they were being deactivated, but officers could buy them in working condition as a private weapon. When he retired he had it deactivated according to old specs, only three holes in the barrel. Form time to time he would let it to me, I would play with it for some days, clean it, grease up it and hand it back to him. I tried to buy it several times but he always told me it would be for his son. In the last occasion I even made a nice box to store it and included a card with my name, phone and address. That last time I saw him was about 5 years ago, so I decided to phone him 3 weeks ago...his wife answered, I told her who I was...and asked for him, as I was interested in having the MP40 for some days. She said she recognised me but informed me he died in 2016 and the MP had been handed to her son. I gave her my respects and sorrow for the news and hanged.

I' ve been feeling nervous for the last weeks, so I phoned her again and asked her if she could get me in touch with her son, as I didn't want to lose the track of the MP. She then replied it was not possible, as her son had handed the weapon to the authorities because he didn't have a license for it. I do have a collector's license and I could have it deactivated...but they didn't even think in contacting me

What I really hate is that the MP40 might have been scrapped or kept by a weapon's official just for nothing...

Posting some pics of the last time I had it....

Carles

[Mauser888]

Sad indeed. That looked like one in very nice condition.

[Ron P]

One less piece of history.

[RED LION]

verry sad to hear . one moore that gone into valhalla

[Waffenreich]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Carles, even though it has been quite a few years since his passing. Also, total bummer about the weapon. I've had a couple of similar instances throughout my life and they just leave you feeling kind of empty till you can just say "f... it", and move on.

Best regards and Happy holidays!

Bob

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Carles, even though it has been quite a few years since his passing. Also, total bummer about the weapon. I've had a couple of similar instances throughout my life and they just leave you feeling kind of empty till you can just say "f... it", and move on.

Best regards and Happy holidays!

Bob

Agree completely with all of this.
As sad as it is it is just stuff.
Sorry about the loss of your friend.

[me6_130]

Unfortunately veterans leave us, as time goes by. Some years ago, more than 15 (the age of my elder son) as I didn't have kids by then, I was able to chat with a workmate's grandfather. He was a Spanish Civil War (republican) veteran and Blue Division veteran (possibly to have his faults forgiven). He later became a Civil Guard. I wanted to know about his WWII experience in the 250 Div. but he only told me about the SCW. He had a wallet all decorated with German insignia, and full of Russian currency and his Wehrpass. He had a Spanish copy of the EMP35. When he died I asked my mate about those things...but was told they didn't find them Well these things happen..


Merry Christmas to all!


Carles

[pitfighter]

Unfortunately veterans leave us, as time goes by. Some years ago, more than 15 (the age of my elder son) as I didn't have kids by then, I was able to chat with a workmate's grandfather. He was a Spanish Civil War (republican) veteran and Blue Division veteran (possibly to have his faults forgiven). He later became a Civil Guard. I wanted to know about his WWII experience in the 250 Div. but he only told me about the SCW. He had a wallet all decorated with German insignia, and full of Russian currency and his Wehrpass. He had a Spanish copy of the EMP35. When he died I asked my mate about those things...but was told they didn't find them Well these things happen..


Merry Christmas to all!



Carles

He must have taken some incredible stories with him.

Quite a life.

[BenVK]

Every once in awhile in the UK, the Police hold a gun amnesty week where you can hand in firearms without risk of prosecution. Well, that's what they say anyways.
TV news usually reports on it and I remember watching one some years back and on the table surrounded by mostly modern pistols and shotguns was an MP40 and a Luger P08. I wondered at the time what was going to happen to them, melted down or cut up most probably.

[Willmore]

Has anyone here heard of Eileen Burgoyne?


Quote ‘evidence of a past life as a secret agent came to light when builders, renovating the property after her death, came across a cache of ammunition and weapons – including a still-functioning Sten sub-machine gun’

Source - https://www.channel4.com/news/secret...yne-twickenham

[pedroMM]

What a shame!

The owner of that deact MP40 did not need a license for holding it, but he might have been given some interested information by someone...
Sadly, it is just part of the current European policy of stealing us our legal weapons while tolerating the criminals to keep theirs.

By the way Carles, I have a functional MP40, so if you want to shoot it, just write. It is always great to share our hobby with others.

[Alan Smith]

Just to be clear: We do not know what disposition was made by Spanish police of the MP40 in question, after it was abandoned to police by the heirs of OP's deceased friend. Correct?

While the MP40 may (???) have been destroyed by the police, it is also possible that some other disposition was made . . . transfer from the police to a museum; kept by the police as a reference collection item; kept by an individual police officer and/or other individual person and lawfully registered to such person. Correct?

Again, I do not think we know for sure that the MP40 was destroyed, so I was wondering what other lawful disposition may have become of it under applicable Spanish and/or EU law.