MP5 drum ID assistance needed please!

[Darth2a]

Hello all,

I have had this drum for many years, and was going through some accessories when I came across it. I bought it (2nd hand) as a C&S drum, and although I haven't shot it in a while (I no longer shoot my HK94), it ran flawlessly when I last did. I started looking at GB and other sites to confirm that it is, in fact, a C&S drum. In doing so, I saw many posts that contradict one another on whether C&S used both Suomi and PPsH drums, or only PPsH.

It has the teflon guide on the inside, and aluminum dummy rounds but the overall appearance of the drum does not match Suomi or PPsH drum patterns I have found. It does have a number electro-penciled on the front panel, but it is very faint. The screws on the sides of the feed tower are also unique (at least in my research thus far). The weld quality is excellent, in my opinion.

Thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Darth2a]

A few more...

 

[Grease Gunner]

Suomi drum with an HK tower. C&S made them and from all that have them, they love them. Can be heavy, but they lighten up fast with a full auto gun lol

Someday I’d like to end up with one To pattern.

Btw you wouldn’t really use a PPSH-41 drum as they are longer to allow the 7.62x25 to fit. 9mm is shorter and can cause feeding issues. That’s a Suomi drum

 

[Darth2a]

Most appreciated!

 

[ghoulardi]

I've never seen a C&S drum where the spacer in the feed tower was screwed in. but then I haven't seen every C&S drum that were ever made. I do know that C&S used PPSH drum, I don't believe SUOMI drum were available when they were making MP5 drums back in the day, otherwise they would have use those instead of PPSH

BTW, the drum is a PPSH-41 not a SUOMI drum. the drum cover latch gives it away as being a PPSH. that and the spacer/"racer" around the inside of the drum and the spacer inside the cover (where you see the rivets) was to take up the spacer for the shorter and thinner 9mm rounds. if it was a SUOMI drum then that drum wouldn't be needed spacer

 

[ghoulardi]

back in June 2020 I made a 70rd MP5 drum in my basement, using a SUOMI drum. a few years before that I made a 9mm PPS-43 drum and a 7.62x25 PPS-43 drum using a PPSH drum.

for those that might be interested to know how my homemade drum function. below is a video of it. unfortunately, I couldn't rapid fire it, it's not allowed on the range, and I didn't want to be kicked out and banned, for trying it. but I managed to do a bit of rapid fire.....so I have no doubts that it could keep up with auto fire

 

[Grease Gunner]

I missed the latch difference. I’ll have to get out my PPSH-41 and Suomi drums out and put them side by side.

 

[Tailflash]

I got this drum way back in the early 90s when I first purchased my SP89, but never used it. Got this from an ad in Shotgun News; believe the ad said C&S. Seems well built with nice welds on the tower and complete Parkerized finish. This drum seems a bit thinner than the drum in the above pics; Suomi origin?

 

[ghoulardi]

that is a SUOMI drum, the C&S had plastic spacer rounds though.........so I'm not sure, there was another manufacturer of Mp5 drums McGuire

in any event if the drums function perfectly, then who care who made them?

I went ahead and had a data plate made for mine just for $hits and giggles

 

[ghoulardi]

I've also had plates made for my 9mm PPS-43 and 7.62 drums

 

[Darth2a]

Ok, I actually received an email back from C&S! They confirmed that the drum I posted is in fact one their first drums they made! They confirmed that it is a PPsH drum, and that they switched to Suomi drums afterwards. They estimated its production between 1992-1995. Now all I need is that Eagle case it should have come with. I know it's a long shot, but does anyone here have an extra?

 

[ghoulardi]

I believe the case would be just about impossible to find, compared to the drum..........but you never know, keep hunting

 

[AGG]

Ok, I actually received an email back from C&S! They confirmed that the drum I posted is in fact one their first drums they made! They confirmed that it is a PPsH drum, and that they switched to Suomi drums afterwards. They estimated its production between 1992-1995. Now all I need is that Eagle case it should have come with. I know it's a long shot, but does anyone here have an extra?

Thanks for the confirmation.

Tony

 

[Darth2a]

Thanks for the confirmation.

Tony

My pleasure. I figure that someone else might benefit from the info as well. Open-ended threads that don't come to some kind of resolution are kind of a bummer.