#walther mpl

[captain-price-unofficially]

A photo of Detachment A "Stay-behind" operatives with Walther MPLs in Berlin, 1970s-1980s.

[gunssmith-blog]

[ravenkult]

Walther MPL Animation Reel by Micah Reigstad https://www.artstation.com/artwork/A9Jg4o

[alekksandar]

I wanted to make an SMG inspired by the Walther MPL, but fatter and bulkier -  like something you’d see in the Fallout games... I wonder how much this slab of steel would really weigh?

[tonytylerdraws]

Sketch of my #cyborg #heroine Olivia from #cyberpunk #webcomic I'm developing called Only Human. She's sporting a modernized version of the #Walther #MPL (sorta). I've been in a creative slump lately. Been hoping to be inspired by looking at cyberpunk art, but it's not helping. Instead of getting out of it naturally, I'm going to force myself out. Maybe not the best idea, but that's all the ideas I have left.

[gunssmith-blog]

if you are reading this it's too late

[pattern-53-enfield]

German special policeman with a Walther MPL, Munich 1972.

[gunzlotzofgunz]

Walther MPL, 9mm

[historicalfirearms]

Walther MP Submachine Gun

The Walther MP was a German submachine gun which has been somewhat lost in the shadow of its more famous contemporary, the HK MP5.  Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s the Walther MP entered production in 1963. Chambered in 9mm the weapon was an open bolt, blowback submachine gun with a stamped steel receiver and folding rubberised wire stock.  The MP had a non-reciprocating bolt handle and an ‘L’ shaped bolt which when closed sits partially above the barrel (see image #3). This significantly reduced the length of the gun’s receiver.  

The Walther MP came in two variants the MPL (Maschinen Pistole Lange) which was 75cm long (with stock extended) and the MPK (Maschinen Pistole Kurz) which measured 66cm long.  The MPK was also 0.2kg lighter than the MPL, both were capable of a rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute. The weapon had a number of interesting features including a combination peep and snap shooting sight which places a broad notch sight above a peep sight. This allowed for instinctive point shooting and more precise aimed fire.

A common problem for open bolt submachine guns is that when dropped with enough force the mass of the bolt will travel to the rear and cycle the weapon’s action even when the gun has been left in the seemingly safe bolt closed position. To combat this the Walther MP had both a selector switch/safety and an additional safety sear which prevented the weapon’s bolt from being jolted backwards and cycling the gun when dropped. 

Photograph from the LF-57′s manual (source)

Interestingly the MP shares a striking resemblance to the Italian Franchi LF-57 which was developed during the same period. The LF-57 was also stamped and although not internally identical it does have a similar ‘L’ shaped bolt.  The LF-57 lacked a safety/selector like the MP and instead had a large grip safety and a push button selector. The LF-57 also had simpler sights, zeroed for just 50m rather than 100m and 200m.  The Italian Navy was the only service to adopt the LF-57 in 1962.  Little is written about the two gun’s striking similarities but the LF-57 was likely developed from Giuseppe Oliani’s Armaguerra OG-44 prototype and Beretta’s experiments with ‘L’ shaped and telescoping bolts.

Oliani’s prototype Armaguerra OG-44 bears more than a passing resemblance to the layout of the later LF-57 and Walther MP (source)

Another prototype weapon that shares a remarkable similarity, in configuration, with the MP is the French MAS Mle 1948. While the Mle 1948 had the same bolt-over-barrel configuration it also had the added feature of a folding magazine housing. It eventually lost out in French trials to the MAT Modèle 49. It is unclear if the MAS design has any influence on the later weapons.

MAS Mle 1948 (source)

While not as successful as its more famous HK rival the Walther remained in production for twenty years with the last built in mid 1980s.  The MP was bought by a number of West German police departments and the Mexican, Portuguese and German navy.  Some were also used by US special forces and South African police.

Sources:

Images: 1 2 3 4

ForgottenWeapons MPL video

‘Walther MPL and MPK submachine guns‘ - World Guns.ru

Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, I.V. Hogg & J. Weeks (1985) 

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[gunfm]

Shooting The Walther MPL Subgun [video]

Shooting The Walther MPL Subgun 

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hand gun

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[gunssmith-blog]

choose yours lets execute the mission 

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ware house 

[gunssmith-blog]