Walther MP-L
Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen · Submachine Gun · Out Of Production · 1963
Also known as: Walther MPL, Maschinenpistole Lang
Overview
The Walther MP-L (Maschinenpistole Lang, 'long machine pistol') is a 9x19mm selective-fire submachine gun produced by Carl Walther between 1963 and 1985. It is the long-barrel variant of the Walther MP family, sharing all mechanical features with its short cousin the MP-K but offering improved accuracy and effective range from a 260mm barrel. The weapon uses a simple blowback action firing from an open bolt with a distinctive 'L'-shaped bolt that wraps around above the barrel, allowing a shorter, more compact receiver than competing designs. A side-folding tubular steel stock collapses against the receiver to bring overall length down to 462mm for stowage. The MP-L was adopted in modest numbers by West German naval and police units, and saw export service with the Mexican and Portuguese navies, South African police, and US Army Special Forces detachments stationed in West Germany.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3000 g (105.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 746 mm (29.37") |
| Folded Length | 462 mm (18.19") |
| Barrel Length | 260 mm (10.24") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 396 m/s (1299 fps) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector Safety
- Features: Side Folding Stock, Open Bolt, L Shaped Bolt, Flip Up Sights, Selective Fire, Double Column Magazine
Variants
- Walther MP-K — Short Barrel
Service history
Operators
- German Federal Navy · adopted 1963 · as MP-L
- West Berlin Police
- Mexican Navy
- Portuguese Navy
- South African Police
- United States Army Special Forces (39th Special Forces Detachment)
Conflicts
- Cold War (1947-1991)
Production
Estimated total produced: 27,000 · Production years: 1963-1985
Approximate combined total of MP-L and MP-K variants. The MP series never achieved the commercial success of the H&K MP5.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Carl Walther GmbH
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
MP-L and MP-K differ only in barrel length (260mm vs 173mm) and the resulting overall dimensions; mechanical internals are identical. Total combined production of both MP variants reached approximately 27,000 units before Walther ended manufacture in 1985, unable to compete with the dominant Heckler & Koch MP5 in the 9mm submachine gun market. The L-shaped bolt was unusual for its era and gave the gun its distinctive top-heavy silhouette.
Background
Walther began designing the MP series in the late 1950s as West Germany rearmed under NATO, hoping to reclaim the prewar prestige of brands like the MP38 and MP40. The distinctive L-shaped bolt that wraps over the top of the barrel was a clever space-saving trick - it lets the receiver be far shorter than a conventional inline blowback design - but the gun arrived just as Heckler & Koch's roller-locked MP5 was about to dominate the global market for decades.