Product Description

An original inert German 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge bearing the wa St 15 1943 headstamp. This is a genuine Second World War military cartridge manufactured for the Wehrmacht during 1943, one of the peak years of German wartime ammunition production.

The wa manufacturer code identifies HASAG (Hugo Schneider AG), Abteilung Lampenfabrik, Leipzig, Germany. Although best known for producing lighting equipment before the war, HASAG became one of Germany's largest armaments manufacturers, producing vast quantities of small arms ammunition and cartridge cases for the Wehrmacht. The wa code was allocated to the Leipzig Lampenfabrik division and appears on both 9mm cartridges and larger calibre ammunition.

Headstamp Breakdown

• wa – HASAG (Hugo Schneider AG), Abteilung Lampenfabrik, Leipzig
• St – Steel cartridge case
• 15 – Production Lot 15
• 1943 – Year of manufacture

The St marking denotes a steel cartridge case, introduced to conserve brass as wartime demand increased. By 1943, steel-cased 9mm ammunition had become standard across much of German ammunition production.

This cartridge would have been issued for use in many of Germany's standard 9mm service weapons, including:

• P08 Luger
• Walther P38
• MP38
• MP40
• Other German weapons chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum

Features

• Original German Wehrmacht issue
• Inert 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge
• wa manufacturer code
• Manufactured by HASAG, Abteilung Lampenfabrik, Leipzig
• St steel case
• Production Lot 15
• Clearly dated 1943
• Original projectile fitted
• Genuine WWII military ammunition
• Excellent collector's display item
• UK legal inert collectible (where applicable)

The wa factory code is particularly sought after by headstamp collectors, as HASAG was one of Germany's largest wartime ammunition producers. Its cartridges are closely associated with the extensive expansion of German ammunition manufacture during the middle years of the war.