SIG MP-41 Neuhausen submachine gun (Switzerland)

The SIG MP-41 Neuhausen Submachine Gun was produced by SIG – Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft GmbH at the onset of World War Two. It was produced on urgent request from the Swiss army, requiring more weapons in its fear of German invasion.

SIG developed the MP-41 as an evolution of the previous SIG MKMS / MKPS family of submachine guns. The iconic Swiss company submitted about 50 units for testing. However, instead of conducting fair tests, for nebulous reasons, the Swiss Army adopted a much more complicated and expensive weapon. This was the W+F Lmg.Pist 41  developed at the State arsenal in Bern. Overall, only about 200 SIG MP41 Neuhausen submachine guns were ever produced, and this model is extremely rare today.

 

SIG MP-41 Neuhausen submachine gun

SIG MP-41 Neuhausen Submachine Gun

 

The SIG MP-41  uses simple blowback action and fires from the open bolt. Single shot and fully automatic modes are both available. A manual safety is located on the right side of the receiver. Like its predecessors, the MP-41 Neuhausen features a folding magazine housing. When not in use, the magazine can be folded forward and up, to lay below the barrel, protected on both sides by the forend.

To commence firing, the shooter has to press a magazine housing catch, located at the front of the forend, on its underside. This will release the magazine, then rotates down to a vertical position under its own weight, and locks in automatically, ready to fire.

The magazine housing features a dust cover which closes the feed aperture in the receiver when the magazine is folded. Other features include an adjustable rear sight with settings for ranges between 50 and 300 meters, and double stacked magazines holding 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

 

Specification Value
Full text name SIG MP-41 Neuhausen submachine gun (Switzerland)
Caliber cartridge 9mm Luger - 9x19 Luger / Parabellum
Action type select-fire
Trigger type sa
Overall length, mm 800
Barrel length, mm 305
Weight empty, kg 4.2
Magazine capacity, rounds 40
Cyclic rate of fire, rounds/min 850