Snow Wolf MP18 Submachine Gun AEG

The Schmeisser MP18 is known the world over as the first SMG to serve in combat and the original variant was first seen in the hands of German Sturmtruppen but was later adopted around the world in its modernised "MP28" form. The MP18 formed the basis for practically every open bolt simple blowback SMG of the 20th century, including the STEN gun, Lanchester, Greece Gun, PpsH, Mp40 and any others that we have forgotten, and is the granddaddy of infantry issued light assault weapons.

The Snow Wolf MP18 is one for the collectors and skirmishers alike, boasting full metal construction with a large proportion of steel in its build and a gorgeous real wood stock with a flawless finish and perfect shape. Snow Wolf has replicated the MP18 nearly perfectly, though they have chosen to make use of the magazine well style of the later MP28 to allow the SMG to feed from STEN and MP40 magazines. Inside we are treated to a version 7 gearbox with a quick change spring system and rotary HOP-up unit with full AEG compatibility, so if you want to turn this unconventional retro SMG into a skirmish beast you can!

Starting at the front end of the SMG we are greeted with an 8-inch outer barrel constructed from alloy with a steel ported barrel shroud/headshield surrounding it. This makes for an absolutely authentic MP18 look and its steel and alloy construction provide the heft and strength to do this mighty SMG some justice.

The front sling point is located on the bottom of the barrel shroud and can be paired with the rear sling point on the bottom of the stock to mount a two-point sling in classic "infantry" style positioning. The barrel shroud ports are well-machined and perfectly symmetrical, and although this would be a bit too hot to handle on a real firearm it can be used as a handguard and is quite comfy for those who are used to more modern platforms.

n the modern era, SMGs are known for being small, light and fast, though in the MP18s day, this was definitely not the case. As a gen.1 SMG, the real MP18 was constructed from milled steel and thus weighed a ton, but was worth every lb for the firepower it brought to the trenches of WW1. The Snow Wolf MP18 is right at the sweet spot of having some heft but not being unskirmishable at 3.5KG approx, showing that Snow Wolf want to keep this classic competitive and authentic at the same time.

The barrel shroud also houses the front iron sight which is a German barley corn-style blade which aligns well with the V notch in the rear sight, mounted dead centre on the top of the receiver. The rear sight has two notches to choose from; a low notch for close range engagements and a higher notch for longer ranged shooting.

The magazine well of the MP18 is constructed from alloy, with the magwell itself being on the left side of the SMG and the ejection port over on the right. The magazine release is on the top of the magwell and is constructed from steel, and is well positioned for retention reloads, allowing you to grab the mag and press the mag catch in one motion.

Following the magwell, we come to the tubular receiver which is constructed from steel. The charging handle is present on the right side and is an extended design which is easy to grab when wearing gloves, and provides access to the rotary adjustable HOP-up unit inside the ejection port. With the charging handle pulled back the mock bolt will retract and reveal the rotary adjuster, allowing you to tune the MP18 for ammo of various weights to suit any skirmish environment.

The charging handle slot is the correct shape and design for the MP18, and this is one of the areas you will see STEN-like features, with a safety notch cut into the receiver tube allowing the real MP18 to be carried without the risk of accidental discharge if the weapon is bumped or dropped. The Snow Wolf MP18 charging handle cannot be locked into the safety notch but does have full travel, treating us to a lovely metal-on-metal sound when it is racked back and released.

The real MP18 doesn't have a fire selector or safety other than the safety notch cut into the charging handle slot, but we live in a modern safety dominated world, so Snow Wolf has added a safety and fire selector in discrete locations so as to keep the old school aesthetic of the MP18 and provide modern functionality. The safety catch is located on the right side of the stock, just behind the charging handle. With this textured button pushed forwards the trigger will be locked, and pulling it rearwards will release the trigger. Over on the left side, you will see a similar button which serves as the fire selector, with the forward position providing semi-automatic fire and the rearward position giving you full auto.

The stock of the MP18 is constructed from real wood with a gloss-varnished finish and looks fantastic with its deep and varied wood grain and perfect shape. At the front you will find a groove on each side which is intended to serve as the "handguard" of the MP18, keeping your hand clear of the barrel so it doesn't get cooked when shooting the real thing. Holding the MP18 here with a magazine inserted gives you the real experience of handling a side feeding SMG, and it feels like the whole gun wants to flip over from the odd weight distribution. Although its effectiveness in the real world is a point of conjecture, we suggest gripping the MP18 STEN style, with a hand over the top of the magazine well, making this unconventional design far easier to handle.

On the bottom of the stock, we can find the trigger and trigger guard assembly which is constructed from alloy. The trigger is a simple curved design and has quite a long pull which is apparently quite authentic to the real MP18. At the top of the stock, on the rear of the receiver, you will see a textured dummy button, this is the mock disassembly lever and is used to split the real MP18 receiver from the stock/chassis. This does nothing on the Snow Wolf version but is nonetheless included to keep the looks of the SMG realistic.

The shape of the stock is similar to that of a KAR98K, which is no surprise as the MP18 served alongside the KAR98K's predecessor, the Gewehr 98 during WW1. On the bottom of the stock, we can find the rear sling point which is centrally positioned. Both sling points on the MP18 are constructed from steel, so no need to worry about them giving way if you like to carry the SMG on a sling. Just make sure your sling is up to the task!

As we arrive at the rear of the MP18 we can see the steel butt plate which conceals the battery compartment beneath. No need to worry about removing screws to get to it though, Snow Wolf has done something rather nifty to make battery access easy without ruining the looks of the MP18 by adding buttons or catches where they shouldn't be. To access the battery compartment simply pull the butt plate back slightly and rotate it to the left about the bottom screw which will stay in place. With this done you should see a massive cavity inside the wooden stock and a mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your battery of choice. For the Snow Wolf MP18, we suggest taking pure advantage of its cavernous battery compartment and making use of a 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo battery in crane/nunchuck configuration which fits in nicely and will easily last a full skirmish day.

Those with a collection of classic SMGs; your collection is not complete without an MP18! The hefty build and perfect combination of steel and wood make this one of the best SMG replicas on the market and will serve you well whether you want to use it for re-enactment, display or as an eye-catching and unique skirmishers primary!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Mostly steel - Very hefty and authentic
• Real wood stock - Perfectly finished and shaped
• Sling points at the front and rear - Ready for two point slings
• Ported barrel shroud/heat shield/handguard - Call it what you like, it looks great!
• Open iron sights - Two rear notches to choose from
• Side feeding design - Very unique, and handles remarkably well
• Version 7 Gearbox - The same gearbox used in the M14 platform
• It looks like a Lanchester SMG if you squint!
• Suitable for German Sturmtuppen WW1, French Resistance WW2 loadout
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Great design, accessible with the charging handle held back
• Separate selector and safety switches - Safety on the right, selector on the left side of the stock
• Enlarged charging handle - Easy to grab and operate when wearing gloves
• Massive battery compartment - Plenty of space for a 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo battery (block or nunchuck/crane)
• Rear wired - Mini-Tamiya battery connector and automotive fuse inside the stock

Package Includes

• Snow Wolf MP18 Submachine Gun AEG
• 130rnd Mid-cap magazine
• Speed loader
• User manual