MP41 Submachine Gun

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	Weapon: MP41 Submachine Gun Type: Submachine Gun Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1941 Caliber: 9mm Luger Action: Blow Back Fully Automatic Overall Length (mm): 890.0 Weight (kg): 3.00 Effective Range (m): 200

The MP41 was a German submachine gun designed by Hugo Schmeisser during World War II. It combined features from two iconic German weapons: the MP40 and the earlier MP28. The MP41 featured a wooden stock similar to traditional rifles, which differentiated it from the MP40's folding metal stock, while retaining the MP40's blowback action and 9mm Parabellum cartridge. This design aimed to provide greater durability and stability during prolonged use.

Production of the MP41 was limited, with only approximately 26,000 units manufactured between 1941 and 1942 by the Haenel company. Unlike the MP40, which was issued primarily to German infantry and mechanized troops, the MP41 was primarily supplied to paramilitary units, such as the SS and police forces. Its hybrid design made it less appealing to the Wehrmacht, as it lacked the portability advantages of the MP40 while offering limited innovation over the MP28.

Despite its limited production and use, the MP41 holds a unique place in firearms history due to its combination of features from two significant submachine guns. Its association with SS and police units during the war has also contributed to its notoriety. Today, the MP41 is a rare collector's item, valued for its craftsmanship and its role as a transitional design in the evolution of submachine guns during World War II.