The Wimmersperg Spz ("Sp" stands for STEN-pistole, "z" for zweiteilig. English: Sten pistol, made of two parts) was a family of German assault rifles that was in the planning stage during the latter days of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

Overview

The overall weapon is largely made up from Sten Mk II submachine gun components (which the Germans copied as Gerät Potsdam), most notably the receiver and buttstock. The magazine and magazine release are from the

StG-44 The StG 44 (abbreviation of Sturmgewehr 44, "assault rifle 44") is a German assault rifle developed during World War II by Hugo Schmeisser. It is also known by its early designations as the MP 43 and MP 44 (''Maschinenpistole 43'' and ''44''). ...

, and so were the barrel blanks. There were three variants designed. The Spz-l (''lange Bauart'', long variant) used a conventional layout with separate pistol grip, while in the Spz-kr (''kurze Bauart mit Regler für Serienfeuer'', short model with burst-fire switch) and Spz-kv (''kurze Bauart mit Verschlußzündung'', striker-fired short model) the magazine itself was the pistol grip. The Spz-l and Spz-kr were hammer-fired, while the Spz-kv was striker-fired. All variants were gas-operated, had swappable barrels, and were designed for selective fire. Single-shot fire could be applied by pulling the trigger half way, while pulling the trigger further to the rear produced burst fire.''Sturmgewehr! From Firepower to Striking Power'', Hans-Dieter Handrich, This function predates the similar operation used on the present day Steyr AUG series of rifles. There is no trace of these weapons in official Nazi documents or even in some German manufacturer's archives. Wimmersperg however had contacts with

Mauser Mauser, originally Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik ("Royal Württemberg Rifle Factory"), was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols has been produced since the 1870s for the German arm ...

, Simson & Co, and Fokker for some of his other designs. It is possible that Wimmersperg designed the Spz's on behalf of the metal goods factory Spreewerke. Currently, there is only one true-to-scale museum grade replica of the Spz-l in the world. This was digitally reconstructed by a German designer on the basis of the original construction plans and then built by him. The gun was designed by Heinrich von Wimmersperg of Austria, who after World War II, moved to

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

, USA. He also designed the ''Wimmersperg Maschinengewehr'' in 1937, a double-barreled, combined gas/recoil operated firearm fed from either magazines or a belt feed with 7.92×57mm cartridges — which was unusual for that the top barrel acted as a gas piston. The over/under barrels fire and reload vice versa. In his later years, he patented designs for car seats for infants and toddlers.

References

{{WWIIGermanInfWeapons 7.92×33mm Kurz assault rifles World War II infantry weapons of Germany Research and development in Nazi Germany Rifles of Germany

Overview

See also

References