Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptionally attractive 1942 dated Portuguese contract Steyr Solothurn MP34(ö) inert display submachine gun, assembled from original components on a permanently non-firing display receiver and complete with its original magazine and wood stock. The gun retains the prominent Portuguese Crest and 1942 date markings, Steyr factory markings, German Eagle / 189 Waffenamt inspection marks, and serial number 2411. These Portuguese contract MP34s represent one of the final and most distinctive versions of this exceptionally well made prewar Austrian submachine gun design.

The display gun is built from all original parts on an original BATF compliant non-firing display receiver, making this a 100% legal display Sub-Machine gun. This receiver was created by using the front barrel bushing and magazine well portion of a demilitarized receiver, combined with the rear portion where the top cover latches onto. Everything between that has been replaced with solid steel bar stock shaped to fit under the top cover, hidden by the stock and side cover, meaning that over 80% of the length is now solid steel. The result is this beautiful display "non-gun", totally legal to own without a license of any kind.

The magazine well portion and barrel jacket are intact and have not been majorly altered, however the barrel has been deactivated by having the chamber welded up, and it is also welded to the front of the barrel jacket. The selector switch on the left side still works, as does the trigger, though it is very stiff. The top cover has been permanently welded closed at the rear. The rear sight is present and fully functional, and the safety is present in front of the sight, but does not move. The metalwork has been painted with our gunmetal gray spray paint to give it a great look.

This example is offered in lovely condition, and is marked with the Portuguese Crest and 1942 date both just forward of the safety and on the right side of the butt stock. It is also marked with the STEYR logo just behind the rear sight, as well as an Eagle / 189 Waffenamt over the Steyr "Bullseye" logo on the top of the magazine well. There are also the same markings on the rear left of the trigger guard.

Wonderfully constructed by Steyr, with a ventilated barrel jacket with built in magazine loader in the magazine housing complete with wood butt stock assembly serial numbered 2411. It comes complete with an original magazine, which will have the spring and follower removed where required.

This example was produced in 9mm parabellum, as used by countless German troops and other Nations friendly with the Germans. The condition overall is very good, with the wooden stock showing some great dark grain, though there is a repair to the lower toe. We checked inside the butt trap, and the buffer spring is still present, and can be removed by rotating it 90 degrees with a screwdriver. These really were the "Rolls Royce" of submachine guns.

These were long gone from IMA more than 20 years ago after the original release from Portugal in the early 1990's. Overall, this is a very impressive display example of one of the most finely manufactured submachine gun designs of the prewar and early WWII era. The 1942 Portuguese contract markings, Portuguese crest on both metalwork and stock, Eagle / 189 Waffenamt stamps, Steyr markings, serial number 2411, original magazine, substantial original components, and attractive wood furniture give it outstanding display presence. IMA has handled very few of these since the Portuguese surplus examples seen decades ago, making this a particularly desirable opportunity for a WWII, Portuguese military, or historic automatic weapons display collection.

History of the MP34

The MP34 was based on a design for the MP18 by the Rheinmetall company based in Düsseldorf. The weapon is similar in design to the MP18 Bergmann, which itself saw service towards the end of World War I.

Restrictions on the manufacture of certain armaments within the 1919 Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from manufacturing certain types of weapons, such as light automatic firearms (designated as SMGs with barrels in excess of four inches (102 mm) and magazines holding more than eight rounds). To circumvent the treaty, Rheinmetall acquired the Swiss company Waffenfabrik Solothurn in 1929 and began secret production of a prototype. What was to become the MP34 was originally designated "S1-100" using the company's standard naming convention.

Due to the Solothurn Company being unsuited for mass production, Rheinmetall took a controlling interest in Waffenfabrik Steyr, an established arms manufacturer in Austria. Weapons manufactured by Steyr were sold via the Zurich-based trade company Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG to both the commercial and military markets.

The MP34 was manufactured from the very best materials available and finished to the highest possible standard. It was so well manufactured that it has often been nicknamed the "Rolls Royce of submachine guns". However, its production costs were extremely high as a consequence.