Several thousand examples of this expensive and sophisticated weapon served with the Swiss military forces alongside a larger number of Suomi KP/-31 MP43/44 license production SMGs.

Due to its overtly complex design and high price, Lmg-Pist 41/44 is regarded as one of the worst service firearms of not only World War II, but in history.

It utilized Luger's toggle lock system and was equipped with a 50-round curved magazine which was inserted from the right with the bolt opened on the left side.

A variant based on the model of the Italian Villar-Perosa M1915 double submachine gun was made for aircraft armament.

The prospect of potential invasion by Nazi Germany was a real possibility and in preparation for such scenario, the Kriegstechnische Abteilung[1], sent out an ordnance survey to Swiss Army in May 1940.

Upon reviewing the results, the outfit found that the Swiss Army had less than 500 submachine guns at their disposal and the matter needed to be rectified urgently.

[4] To win the weapon trials, Adolf Furrer, who was politically connected to Swiss Army at the time, aggressively lobbied for his design to be chosen.

Furrer's toggle lock double link lever is connected to both the barrel assembly, the bolt and the receiver.

In order to meet the demand for submachine guns in World War II, the Federal Military Department, therefore, approved the application of the War Technology Department in November 1942 to acquire 5000 Suomi submachine guns from Finland; 100 of this war-tested weapon were delivered as early as December 1942.

[citation needed] An unknown number of the MPs produced were melted down in late 1960, which is why they are sought-after collector's items these days.