MP Transportation box
One of the rarest accessoiries for the MP38 and MP40 is the wooden transportation box. Very few examles have survived the war and the post war period. There must have been a few versions. I don't think the transportation box that is showed on this page was produced for every single MP40. I think only the MP's that were allocated to high ranking officers or other (nazi) officials were packed this way. I cannot imagine from a logistics and cost standpoint that the Wehmacht, Kriegsmarine of Luftwaffe received their supplies in this way. Larger boxes or other packing material must have been used. (if you know more about the subject, please let me know info@mp40.nl)
The box is made of blockboard and painted in the colour grey. I'm not sure if this is the original colour. The repro boxes are not painted. It offers room for a MP38 or MP40, 6 magazines, a sling and other small items like a muzzle cap or a wintertrigger and a magazineloader. If necessary 2 empty magazine pouches can be put on top. As soon as I have the measures on this item I will put them here.
The original transportation box that is pictures on this page was found in Austria in a policestation. The Austrian Army had been equiped with MP40's after the war. I guess the Austrian police also used the MP40 as backup. The pictures I recieved from Simpson Ltd., a company specialised in Collector Fire Arms. www.simpsonltd.com
Since 2006 Sport Systeme Dietrich in Germany is, apart from reproduction arms, also offering reproduction transportation boxes (See below).
Then there is off course the home made version. Biggest advantage being the smaller size. Problem is that you have to screw on the barrel constantly. Not very handy for military purposes!