Earliest 'Assault Weapon'

[Patriot]

Clever answers involving sticks and stones aside, what is the earliest hand-held production firearm that meets one of the following criteria? [Note that this exercise doesn't always correspond with statutory AW definitions.]

1. Any weapon fitting CA/federal AW definitions
2. Any semiautomatic longarm with a detachable magazine
3. Any semiautomatic longarm with commonly available magazines (fixed or detachable) or clips with 10+ round capacity
4. Any automatic weapon with a feeding device capacity of 10+ rounds
5. Any automatic weapon with a non-fixed feeding device and a pistol grip

[Gator Monroe]

MP 44 ?

[NeoWeird]

I'll say M1 Carbine?

[WallySparx]

I'll say M1 Carbine?

wasn't full auto, nor did it have a pistol grip.

[Whiterook]

Stg 44

[DB2]

Thompson machine gun?

[NRAhighpowershooter]

MP 44 ?

the Germans actually had an earlier SMG.. it was the MP 18/1 used in 1918 in WW-I

[Gator Monroe]

MP 43 ?

[jumbopanda]

Thompson machine gun?

Probably...other SMGs at the time didn't have the ever so evil pistol grip.

[NeoWeird]

wasn't full auto, nor did it have a pistol grip.

Well seeing as he said "that meets one of the following criteria" it doesn't matter that it doesn't meet ALL the criteria. If you really want to be a pickler I'll change that to the M2A2 Carbine then so that it fits ALL the criterias. Happy?

And seeing as you only said one, I'd like to change my answer to the Browning Automatic Rifle - the BAR.

[Patriot]

Keep them coming I didn't mention it, but dates would be nice unless already part of the name.

M1 Carbine, yep. On the HR 1022 list among other things. Semautomatic + detachable 15rd mag.

Thompson, sure.

Various WW2 German guns, absolutely.

Anything earlier? Remember, the criteria is a bit more expansive than how we normally think of AWs.

Any semi/auto longarm with a detachable or large capacity magazine.

[sen24]

mkb 42 h predates the mp44

[Fjold]

Fits one of the criteria?

Gatling gun

[bear308]

BAR

[NeoWeird]

Fits one of the criteria?

Gatling gun

Nope, he said hand-held and the mini-gun didn't come around until much later in the Gatling's life.

Of course hand held is VERY vauge seeing as how an MG42 can be hand held but was not designed to be fired that way (even if they did train to use it that way under VERY rare circumstances).

Even the original Maxim could be held in one hand, but was designed to be fired from the ground.