The Schmeisser MP41: A Hybrid Submachine Gun

Most people think that the MP41 is simply an MP40 in a wooden stock, but this is actually not the case - and unlike the MP40, the MP41 can be accurately called a Schmeisser - because it was Hugo Schmeisser who designed it.
The MP41 is actually a combination of the upper assembly of an MP40 with the lower assembly of an MP28 - the gun which was Schmeisser's improved version of the MP18 from World War One. Where the MP40 fires only in fully automatic mode, the MP41 has a push-through selector switch located above the trigger which allows either semiauto or full auto function.
For the typical user, however, this mechanical distinction is not particularly important, as the MP41 handles very much like the MP40. It has the same relatively low 500 rpm rate of fire, and weighs about 8.2 pounds (3.7kg). It uses the same magazines as the MP40, although the magazines made and sold with the MP41 were marked "MP41". As with many other SMG designs, the MP41 was never formally adopted by the German military. In this case, the majority of MP41 production (26,000 guns in 1941 and another 1,800 or so in 1944) went to Romanian troops.
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[@jaxxons11]

For some reason I find this more appealing visually than the MP40. Something about the fixed stock...

[@Rx_Vitamin_R]

Definitely because of the wooden stock.

[@billbrasky6827]

The wood gives me wood.

[@bigquazz7547]

Well the wood stock gives it some color and integrity so yeah I agree

[@artinrahideh1229]

Mp40 looks way better

[@ericcook7622]

Anything looks and functions better than an under folder.

[@JounLord1]

Its funny that Wikipedia groups the MP41 on the same page as the 40 and even says its just a 40 in a wooden stock and Ian shows how wrong they are .

[@kingofhogwarts9499]

JounLord1 dude its wikipedia, its to give a general overview about a topic, not top notch background informations. For someone just looking up the strange gun with a wooden stock he saw on the internet, the information that its an Mp-40 with a wooden stock is more adequate then saying its a totally different gun. Mp-41 and Mp-40 sure have a lot more in common then Mp-40 and Ppsh-41 or even Mp-40 and M3.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@kingofhogwarts9499 Ding ding ding! Also, it's good for references and sources, and - always - READ THE TALK PAGE. Often you'll see someone has brought up the concerns you've registered, Wikipedia just has a bureaucracy for such things. At the very least, you can see what kind of arguments people have had about the topics which will let you know if the page has a certain bias or slant. People who punch at Wikipedia are wikilliterate.

[@cnlbenmc]

+@@fuzzydunlop7928+ Oh god, the Wikipedia Admins and Bureaucrats. Reminds me of the virtual flame wars that happened on the South Park articles about not including notes on cultural references unless they were blindingly obvious.

[@csabaweisz8791]

Good news, they corrected it

[@constantincalota2646]

Ian is great! Thanks for your brilliant work!

[@benjaminhart4354]

You ever realise you can't watch just ONE Forgotten weapons video

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

Benjamin Hart It's because Ian has found a way of delivering crack through a screen to get you hooked. Don't let the nice guy persona fool you.

[@bill9693]

Benjamin Hart we will see about that TIME TO PLAY WITH MY LEGOS YAY

[@matthewalberts8177]

U right tho

[@colinmasterson666]

Always…

[@MyRobertgrant]

Ian is brilliant . So knowledgeable , and such an easy way of putting things over.

[@jaymassengill3340]

The guy in charge of production ordering at Haenel was drunk when filling out the paperwork. He accidently added an extra zero to the quantity of all the MP28 parts except the receiver tube and barrel. They were last on the list and he fell asleep before he got down that far. Years later they had to come up with a solution to use all those extra parts. Just kidding, just kidding...

[@SgtKOnyx]

Jay Massengill The fact that I can believe that

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

The reason the Romanian version had a wooden stock was in case you ran into a vampire - simply detach the stock & either shoot it or cleave it into some handy stakes, ready to drive into the monster's heart.

[@ethanarroyo6891]

“Simply detach” 😂

[@Micro13bk]

Not many know that the wood finish contains traces of garlic just for that very reason, you would take off the magazine and then scratch the stock to release the scent, driving away any vampires. Trust me, I am Romanian : ))

[@florinsi]

We still , to this day, deal with monsters pretty much the same way ...

[@msbhicks8358]

You got one thing wrong. The Orita was it’s own gun, not a Version of the ‘41.

[@1zanglang]

Bram Stoker and Erzbeth Bathory knew it very well... 😁

[@ringowunderlich2241]

Haha, at your InRangeTV Q&A you said you would not take an MP40 because of the folding butt stock. I was going to answer: Take a MP41 instead. But wow, very rare one.

[@yetanother9127]

Another very minor difference is the absence of the MP40's resting bar. I wonder why that was removed.

[@dash0858]

r h Or the Romanians didn't have APCs. To be fair, the Germans didn't have that many either(propaganda footage was used for, you know... propaganda.)

[@LugerNut]

That and with a wooden stock, in a close compartmented vehicle it would be a hindrance.

[@thesturm8686]

Also the barrel nut is different, not sure if it's MP41 special or a variant of MP40 barrel nuts

[@Tunkkis]

​@@thesturm8686 Did you mean the muzzle nut? There is no barrel nut, the barrel is threaded into the receiver, or perhaps a front trunnion.

[@Whitelightnin76]

“Why would they do this” Cause they look cool AF

[@alexandruianu8432]

The Romanian smg is actually called the Orița; ț=ts. BTW I think Orița compatible mags were also used in a minimalist AK derived SMG from Cugir, the md. 96 (also known occasionally as the Ratmil smg).

[@jwl7249]

Thanks for stripping down a mp28 and a mp40 to show what parts the mp41 had taken from them. That extra work showing the differences/similarities really went a long way and was really cool to see side-by-side!

[@DudeNumberOnePlus]

Like it. 40s probably better, but this has more class.

[@vicnighthorse]

Your ending of each of RIA videos with "if you want this gun...." is depressing (for me and I imagine others) without solid six figure or more likely better incomes. I fully understand that it is quite necessary though. I am about as likely to win a bid on most of these as I would be on a Van Gogh.

[@joevidya]

ActionPhysicalMan Could be worse, many viewers are not allowed to own these.

[@indiequas]

ActionPhysicalMan pretty certain he says that stuff ironically. Although his relationship with ria is symbiotic I'm pretty sure he's aware not many people can afford these lol

[@SuperFunkmachine]

Over in the uk we can only have the old pre 1900 stuff as ornaments

[@vicnighthorse]

You have my sincere sympathies about that.

I believe many of those few who *do* consider bidding on them watch these videos though. It's a pretty neat what's-what about the interesting parts of the auction.

[@TeamFortressFag]

I really did think it was just an MP40 in a wooden stock, but knowing it's some weird mechanical abomination actually makes it cooler

[@Mixu.]

Somehow my brain took a long time to comprehend that this came *after* the MP40. Both are beautiful pieces of history though.

[@teneresand]

Next; MP40/1...

[@fee_lo8346]

I know. Has it really come to this? People can't tell the difference between a historical video and a political statement? I remember not long ago, like a year ago, when as a country we used to take pride in the fact that EVERYONE had a right to free speech

[@SgtKOnyx]

I missed something here

[@willkenny5687]

Fee_ Lo is there a comment missing here?

[@user-ht5tk8nw3p]

404 Context Not Found

[@roskcity]

@Ivan The evil 3 years late buddy

[@Hobgoblin1975]

10/10 Super cool, wish I could get one.

[@hauslp]

I never miss a Gun Jesus vid

[@Lightspit]

actually Orita is pronounced Oreetza. I am really curious if it is any review of that SMG.

[@GamersBar]

I have no idea how he puts out the videos he does , i swear its been like 1 a day for over a year now, anyway keep it up , especially with how youtube treats people who do anything to do with guns you do an amazing job ; do some shirts some time , or tell me whose shirts you want me to buy, im just not a huge fan of patron even though you definitely do deserve it in this case.

[@jcorbett9620]

If you listen to the latest Q & A with Karl, Ian and Karl both refer to the fact Ian has almost no time available in his schedule - this is why; researching, shooting, editing and uploading all his wonderful videos :-)

[@GamersBar]

Yeah for sure , his content lends its self to bulk shooting , he also obviously does not own all the guns so he has to visit the collections and shoot the videos in a bunch at a time. Im pretty sure he uploads them all at the same time and just schedule releases them which is nice because i get one a day to enjoy.

[@Taxandrya]

I'm sure/or I hope he must have some sort of video editor helping him. Anybody would be mad as a hat after a year doing a video a day all alone.

[@desperado8605]

Man there a lot of transferable smg this month wish I was rich

[@RGDcommentnode]

Only video game I know of that features the MP41 is Red Orchestra 1 on PC. It's an alternative to the MP40 and functions pretty much the same.

[@rubenlopez3364]

Ryan D Cod ww2 has it as a mp40 variant

[@kamilhernandez2543]

I really want it in RO2 heroes of stalingrad :(

[@alexsoklakov7454]

"Enlisted" has it as premium gun. Quite good gun, a little bit more stable than MP 38 and 40

[@herkuls5483]

In hoi4 it is Bulgaria's final (tier 4) weapon, that's where i learned about this gun, turns out Bulgaria did indeed receive some of these irl during ww2

[@rainbowpeanut2568]

its in "call to arms: gates of hell: ostfront" as well with certain irregular infantry units

[@J.DeLaPoer]

I know this is old, but thanks Ian! Somehow I missed this despite thinking I'd seen all your stuff. I had a highly realistic toy* MP41 in the '80s and always found them fascinating, mostly for the odd "mash-up" design, but also the obscurity as most people have never heard of them whereas everyone knows the other common MPXX models of the era. Even I myself thought it was just some silly invention by the toy company until I finally found a real example in an old reference book as an adult (pre internet days). *I think the company was Edison Giaccotoli, who made a lot of realistic/replica 1:1 size toy cap guns in the 1970s-80s. My grandparents brought it back from a trip to Italy c1983 in any case. Unfortunately it went in a yard sale when I was a teenager, as apparently they're as rare as the real thing now.

[@cptreech]

"One of the top tier sub machine guns of World War 2." Since the MP40 is still considered to be one of the standards that sub guns are judged by for the later part of the 20th Century (arguably to the present day) surely this is something more than just a "Top tier WWII gun"? Having fired an MP40 quite a lot (and loved it more than almost any sub gun I've played with, Sten, Sterling, Thompson and even Uzi.) having the more ergonomic stock and the select fire option whilst keeping the controllability of the MP40 really appeals.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Compared to the sten, sterling, and thompson, it is really no wonder you think so highly of the mp40.

[@toastpuppy3491]

Fuzzy Dunlop Thompson was good fun, just not good for a warzone

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

The question for any smg is basically: How far below the MP5 is it. Even HK had issues getting something new out there. The one of biggest reasons the UMP (any of the models) doesn't sell is because the MP5 exists!

[@calj6148]

And the Brits could've had the decency to manufacture their actual Stens with a superior magazine under the barrel instead of side feeding mags which are so inconvenient the concept is only utilized on machine guns which are meant to be fired prone with bipods or mounted somehow. Hell the Volksturm Sten had a proper under feeding mag and by that point in the war Germany was in more dire need of everything than the whole British Empire's most darkest hour during the Battle of Britain oh no what horrible logistics with vast overseas colonies and naval superiority! It still baffles me how simple it could've been done, German kids under constant allied bombing were cutting holes in the receivers while the comparatively safe British home front industry after 1940 (wunderwaffe rockets were far and few between) never at all considered rotating the mag 45 degress?! Not even after pushing the Wehrmacht back to the Rhine post D-Day they never even considered making objectively better Stens? Total complete incompetence like the .303 rimfire garbage

[@eddiesimone3568]

Never shot a MP38/40, but better than an UZI is impressive!

[@thevoxofreason8468]

Way off topic but just looking for info: Have any Albanian AKMs ever made it to our Country? As far as I know, it's the only flat walled reciever (i.e., no dimples like a WASR) AKM to be manufactured as a standard capacity rifle for military use. Because of this, I want to know why? Where did they get the technical info to build it? I was under the impression they were assisted by China, but does China make a similar version of the AKM? Of all the AKM's produced for military use, the Albanian is rarely, if ever, mentioned. I understand I'm asking a few questions that may require more than a comment here, but may not. That's what I'm trying to find out. Thanks.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Forgotten Weapons Math: 40+28=41. Hehehe... -Jen

[@Axonteer]

Question: How many Schmeisses can a Schmeisser Schmeiss when a Schmeisser Schmeisses Schmeissers

[@P7777-u7r]

Maybe Romania wanted specifically to have semi auto capability and this was the cheapest way to do it that's my guess

[@ayyrab2393]

If the mp28 and mp40 had a chi-

[@wingwangtingtang]

Maybe the reason why they made these instead of straight up mp40s would be I don't want to say the mp40 is a "better" gun but the Germans at the teme were quite protective of their state weapons and they didn't want the Romanians having the same guns as their own troops just in case SHTF with them?

[@000Mazno000]

If they use the same ammo, magazines, and have half their parts interchangable anyway, I doubt it was anything like a contingency plan

[@wingwangtingtang]

r h idk much about the Romanians relationship with Germany and their arms during ww2 lol so there's that theory out the window I guess unless they somehow modifies this panzers to be slightly more unwieldy

[@kylebell7323]

It looks so much like the beretta 38. I am now saddened by lack of beretta 38 vids. Very informative though

[@CaptainGrief66]

kyle bell Exactly, we need a video on the MAB 38

[@SVDCamper]

Huh... Just thought about you...

[@CaptainGrief66]

SVD Camper _Magic_

[@madcowrebel4216]

How legal was this to manufacture? Was Schimsser within copyright laws to build this or was this an under the table deal with the factory that made mp40 parts?

[@msbhicks8358]

Mad Cow Rebel He did make the ‘40’s Magazine, so that might have given him rights to do this.

[@MyRobertgrant]

My old Romanian Friend Franka who told me he was in the Stalingrad area and was issued with something like this during the War, tough he was an artillary man

[@Hughcook245]

I dont know what it is but a wooden stock on any gun usually makes it look better. Like… M60 M16 Mp40 M14 Any revolver

[@omardumbrell435]

This was an attempt by Haenel to avoid license fees for producing the MP40.IIRC Erma sued them and won for patent infringement.

[@seanfernandolopez9139]

I really thought MP41 is just an MP40 self-identify as a solothurn

[@brianpeniuk6202]

Off topic, but I'd really like to see a video of a Mauser M2 Pistol, seems like an odd and unsuccessful pistol, but very interesting.

[@MANC2311]

Just saw a couple of these in a Hungarian war movie called Dear Elza.

[@nimblebrock5504]

Best explanation for this gun is basically if the ppsh and mp-40 had a child.

[@feraligatorade99]

Did someone with a large German smg collection just die? There are a lot of German smg's in this auction!

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

I'd say that for all intents and purposes, this would literally just be an MP40 with wooden stock to the average soldier, but better. Same function, same caliber and magazines (which is good for logistics), but the stock is nice and more stable, disassembly is a bit easier, and the semi-auto function is pretty nice to have. Kinda wish more of these existed.

[@itsconnorstime]

I’d like to see an mp28 with an mp40 lower.

[@amabelgarnetyanson7337]

the anti-fandom coalition's standard SMG

[@sawks3300]

Ian: Why Me: One word, California

[@MikeBaxterABC]

Very interesting, I never heard of an MP41 before! ... I have a Romanian friend, she is kind of interested in firearms and most interested in Romanian history and WW2, she'll like to hear about these details :)

[@andrewince8824]

The MP41 looks like it has a marginally longer barrel and sight radius. Might just be the camera angle.

[@leoluca001]

Will you do a video on the steyr/solothurn mp34? It has some pretty unique features.

[@nindger4270]

Regarding the leftover parts at the end of the war: Haenel was responsible for the majority of Stg44 production. Could it be that MP40 parts production was lower on the priority list at this point, so they didn't have the parts to fully assemble those MP41s?

[@dash0858]

Robin Schuhmacher I think the biggest factor would have been the blaming of the Romanians for Stalingrad , even though Italians and Hungarians were just as responsible and the fact that the Germans never delivered the promised antitank guns to any of the allied troops at Stalingrad. Soviet T34 tanks were literally shot at point blank with the antitank weapons that the Romanians had, and there was NO penetration. Once the Eastern front had fallen Romania would have been overrun with or without 15000 SMGs. And the Romanians switched sides in August 44. And at the same time they were "liberated" by the Soviets.

[@hjalfnarinternational9157]

Any chance of you doing a Vergleichsschießen between MP28, MP38/40, MP41, Thompson M1 and Grease Gun? Would love to see something like this on InRange.

[@user-hy1sv5qo7s]

Do you lads have any suggestions for very good books about weapons?

[@walterkurtz4360]

You have no idea how long ive been waithing for this one thanks ian

[@ubergeek72]

Is it possible the MP41 exists because someone (perhaps the Romanians) wanted the semi-auto capability, and this was cobbled together out of existing parts and designs as Ian said?

[@mikep3180]

the Italian Beretta and MP40 had a baby

[@exploatores]

it´s the kid of the MP28 and the MP40 :)

[@rainbowpeanut2568]

@@exploatores idk man maybe mp 28 needs to talk to the beretta, looks an awful lot like his kid...

[@samhill5246]

Better stability when shooting I'm sure its alot more accurate

[@WolfRichter337]

propably because they could produce this without decreasing the mp40 output for domestic use

[@Ctiradloss]

Its funny, when I read F. Forsyth'sThe Dogs of War book, he refered that the submachine guns they used were "Schmeissers"... And in other book I had, the "Schmeissers" were indeed the MP-41. So in my mind, the mercs in the book were using this gun, not the MP-40s :)

[@haroldotrotter9148]

Guys... Is it me or is that a FRICKING PPSH 41 STOCK?

[@CplBurdenR]

It's just you. It's an MP28/MP18 stock.

[@keithhallstein7093]

If one had a mp-41marked magazine what would be it's value in today's market as opposed to an mp40 magazine? Thanks for your awesome channel

[@debbiearendas2369]

A friend of mine showed me actual pictures of Adolph Hitler with 2 guards that were protecting him everywhere he went and the guards were holding MP-41 sub machine guns, my friend said that the MP-41 was select fire and that is what Hitler liked about the MP-41. It was a very easy gun to control and right on the target when in semi-auto. Makes good sense to have your body guards have a semi-auto rifle type gun.

[@1111Tactical]

I always thought that since the SS preferred the MP28 (it's much smoother recoil wise, kinda like the Suomi vs KP44 situation), they made this gun as a compromise, better recoil and handling than an MP40 or MP38, but also cheaper to make than an MP28. Surprised to find out it was just for Romania.

[@williamsohlstrom1530]

I always thought the Waffen SS used MP-28's and MP-35's and what-nots simply because all the MP-38's and MP-40's were going to the Wehrmacht and only when the Waffen SS transformed from private orgsnisation to a part of the stately armed forces did it too get the "fancy" guns. It's been a while since I read up on this though, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@billbrasky6827]

Because the SS were a bunch of nancy boys. They were routed quite a few times decisively.

[@kaiserwilhelmthe2nd349]

I have one of these it is a fun gun to own and shoot

[@Khoros-Mythos]

When two SMGs love each other very much...

[@jjdotmdl]

a Call of Duty 2 mod included the MP41, and I just instantly fell in love with it. The hybrid of the MP28+MP40 just looks really awesome

[@kazkazimierz1742]

This one was made in Suhl. That's where I was as a babe in arms when US tankers rolled in and took the town.

[@kazkazimierz1742]

@@aquila3958 What story and what numbers?

[@matejgregor1019]

These guns were also used by army of Slovakian state

[@krisathe1stp0wer46]

Interesting topic and another well presented video. I like the look of this gun over the other models. More rugged and robust. Having these weapons didn't stop the Rumanian troops from getting overrun by Soviet forces as they protected Nazi forces in Stalingrad.

[@richhartnell6233]

The Romanians had insufficient supplies and troop numbers to deal with well mechanized infantry. I don't believe the MP 41 would have made much a difference and there were so few of them I doubt any of them made it to Stalingrad. But I totally agree with you vary robust and comfortable looking to shoot! Although I bet I would regret not having that folding stock on the move though!

[@dash0858]

The problem at Stalingrad were Russian tanks. Or more precisely the problem was that the Germans didn't deliver promised anti tank guns to any of its allies at Stalingrad. Romanian guns were shot point blank at Soviet T34 with NO penetration. The SMGs would have made no difference. Also, the left over SMGs from late in the war could be explained by the fact that Romania changed sides in August 44. And it was "liberated" by the Soviets at the same time.

[@jeremeymcdude]

what would have been funny, MP42: the MP41 except with a Pistol grip

[@rzerizrz]

I remember, seeing these in the movie Pianist, with the soldiers around the wall, standing and watching the buildings burn

[@george6915]

barrel blocking system is also different from mp38 and 40

The MP41 was a manufacturer economical innovation. Very German..

[@Major_Georgy]

This video supposed to got millions views since october 2017

[@iangreenhalgh9280]

The MP40's wire stock is appalingly bad, so putting a wooden stock on it makes sense to me.

[@jimvandemoter6961]

Ian, I envy you so much. You get to shoot so many awesome (and some not so awesome) guns.

[@Panzerkopf]

The MP 41 is so neat. It's like a German PPsh-41

[@beefyblom]

MPPSh-41

[@macobuzi]

Wait until you know MP41(r) which is PPSH adopted with Mp40 magazine.

[@ONEIL311]

I actually like this better then the mp 40

[@arisu-chan3491]

I have opinion that combunation gun. Beetween mp20&mp40 :v

[@ragman2623]

You spell "Oritza" not "orita"

[@eddiesimone3568]

It stays being awkward to me, a country where I can buy stuff like this legally. While in the meantime, it probably is more awkward that I'm legally not allowed to defend myself. Nevertheless, of course I never ever would question Dutch/European legislation...

[@royale7620]

you get what you vote for, shitty neo-liberalism

[@Kotius_]

Ț = [ts], I corrected that from the pronunciation of Orița

[@chuckebbs7541]

Really enjoy your videos thank you

[@WarFrog935]

This probably makes it more accurate than the PPSh

[@jameswesson7372]

Looks like Romanian Orita submachine gun.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

You only like(looks cool) folding stocks - when young 'n' not knowing!

[@basichistory]

Fascinating weapon

[@tortillachip2342]

It looked like he rotated clockwise not counter clockwise to me. 6:35

[@jonataneriksson8216]

Why they would put mp40 in a wooden stock? Because it looks sweet

[@lordofdiscord9941]

The one fuckwit who didn't actually watch or listen to anything that was said...and still has to comment

[@bobbyhood101]

Attempt to fix one of the 2main problems with the mp38/40s the wobbly folding butt stock unfortunately they didn't fix the single feed magazines!

[@norad_clips]

9:40 Hears “top tier” during the Great KZbin Tier List Craze of 2019

[@michaelemberley2767]

Have you run across any hints of these being used by the Afrika Korps? Wondering if the "System Schmeisser" magazines led to the UK dubbing all German SMG's as Schmeissers. Second reason is because for some reason Airfix toy soldiers had their Afrika Korps guys armed with these.

[@Pcm979]

I'm very much a fan of any SMG design that inherently prevents the spring from going walkabout during disassembly. It seems like the sort of idiot-proofing that would save a great many conscripts their blushes.

[@lizardb8694]

It s Nissan Sileighty of submachine guns and... also NOT A CAR but I bet it can get LS swap anyway.

[@TT-xh8xd]

I think they made this gun because field reports showed that metal stock on mp 40 would easily get damaged , also later in the war the Germans started running out of metal for tanks and stuff like that so they would have manufactured this as an alternative.

[@Nipari69]

Sorry for late comment, but does mp40 bolt work on mp41 and does mp41 bolt work on mp41?

[@privatecanook]

You can see some of these in “Enemy at the gates”

[@MUCKLEECH]

So freakin awesome!!

[@DudeSushisbomb]

I’ll take this over an MP40

[@baz5042]

Not the strangest gun the Germans “produced” during WW2 but very interesting

[@eltenda]

Looks like a Beretta m.a.b and and m40 had a baby

[@azmodanrom]

maybe the romanians requested a MP40 with semi-auto option...

[@artificialcheesebro8130]

I have no idea why i like this gun but it is sexy. The connection I have with this gun is like Ian with his chauchat.

[@super5oldier139]

Orița 1941 PLEASE IAN!!