Erma EMP36: External Form Factor of the MP40

Published on March 26, 2025
Duration: 20:55

This video provides an in-depth look at the Erma EMP36, a rare precursor to the MP38 and MP40 submachine guns. Expert Ian McCollum details its external form factor, complex internal mechanisms, and historical significance. The EMP36 showcases early features like an underfolding stock and muzzle hook, highlighting its role in German rearmament development.

Quick Summary

The Erma EMP36 is a rare submachine gun prototype, a direct precursor to the MP38 and MP40, developed between 1933-1935. It features an underfolding stock, pistol grip, and muzzle hook. Its complex bolt and telescopic mainspring assembly were later simplified for production models. Only two are known to exist.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Erma EMP36
  2. 00:45Historical Context and Design Origins
  3. 01:55External Design Features
  4. 03:20Complex Bolt Assembly
  5. 06:19Telescopic Mainspring
  6. 08:21Trigger and Fire Control
  7. 11:13Barrel Assembly Complexity
  8. 14:52Stock Operation and Markings
  9. 16:40Muzzle Hook and Vehicle Ports
  10. 19:25Rarity and Provenance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Erma EMP36 and its significance?

The Erma EMP36 is an extremely rare submachine gun prototype, considered a direct precursor to the iconic German MP38 and MP40. Its development likely occurred between 1933-1935, and it represents a crucial step in German rearmament and submachine gun design evolution.

What are the key external design features of the Erma EMP36?

The EMP36 incorporates several features that would define the later MP38 and MP40: an underfolding metal stock, a pistol grip, a near-vertical magazine well, and a muzzle hook designed for vehicle firing ports. These elements provided the foundational structure for mass-produced models.

How does the Erma EMP36's trigger system work?

The EMP36 utilizes a progressive trigger system. A short pull of the trigger allows for semi-automatic fire, while a longer, full pull engages full-automatic fire. The selector switch on this model primarily functions as a safety mechanism.

What is the historical provenance of the Erma EMP36?

Only two examples of the EMP36 are known to exist. This specific gun, serial number 1, was recovered from captured weapons depots in Czechoslovakia after World War II, highlighting its rarity and the efforts to document or destroy such prototypes.

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