Erma MP58
Erma-Werke (Erfurter Maschinenfabrik) · Submachine Gun · Prototype · 1958
Also known as: Erma MP60, Erma MP58/60
Overview
The Erma MP58 was the first of a family of West German experimental submachine guns developed by Erma-Werke of Dachau in the late 1950s as a low-cost candidate for the Bundeswehr. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Defense after the rejection of the Mauser MP57, the MP58 was a blowback, open-bolt design built largely from sheet-metal stampings, with a layout closely based on the wartime MP40 including a similar folding wire stock and use of MP40 magazines. It was rejected, leading to the improved MP59 and the heavily simplified MP60, whose entire body was stamped from a single sheet of steel.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3540 g (124.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 790 mm (31.10") |
| Folded Length | 520 mm (20.47") |
| Barrel Length | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Full Auto Only |
| Magazine Capacity | 36 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 420 m/s (1378 fps) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Stamped Sheet Steel Construction, Side Folding Wire Stock, Dual Recoil Spring Guide Rods, Single Sheet Stamped Body
Variants
Production
Estimated total produced: 40 · Production years: 1958-1960
Prototype/trials only; roughly 40 MP60 units hand-built in two sets of 20; MP58 and MP59 made only in small prototype quantities. Never adopted; the Bundeswehr chose the IMI Uzi instead, after which Erma abandoned submachine gun manufacture.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Josef Eder
Discontinued: 1960
Notes
The MP58 itself has few documented dimensional figures; the specifications listed here are primarily those of the canonical MP60 trials gun (1960), which is the best-documented member of the family. The MP59 added a hydraulic buffer to reduce the cyclic rate from roughly 650 rpm to about 450 rpm, but the buffer wore out in use. The whole program was a prototype effort that never reached production. Sources disagree on the MP60 overall length (790 mm per armedconflicts.com vs ~650 mm per IMFDB-derived figures).
Background
After Erma confidently iterated through the MP58, MP59 and single-sheet-stamped MP60 to win the Bundeswehr's submachine gun trials, the German army showed no interest and adopted the Israeli Uzi instead, ending Erma's submachine gun business for good.