ERMA-Werke

Post WWII Commercially Manufactured M1 Carbines

ERMA-Werke
Dachau, Bavaria


.22 long rifle
.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire

The ERMA-Werke Model E M1 .22 LR Self-Loading Rimfire Rifle


Directory of Pages
(with links)

History, Importers, Markings Function Animations Cleaning & Disassembly
Part I: 1945-1990    
Part II: 1990-2000+ Parts & Diagrams Reassembly









 



The web pages you see here are devoted to the Erma Werke Model EM1 and it's variations. Individuals seeking or having information on the history of the other weapons manufactured by Erma Werke, may wish to contact Holger Schlemeier, a dedicated German researcher (not a retailer or source for parts) who specializes in everything Erma Werke.

Warning: The web pages that follow are graphics intensive and designed for a broadband internet connection.


Parts & Diagrams

Overview

The most common question regarding these rifles is where to get replacement parts. If this is your question, this page is devoted to you.

The only company who made parts was the company who made the rifles, Erma Werke. They have been out of business approximately 8-12 years. From the beginning of production through the end of production the parts remained the same. You do not need to be concerned with compatibility, all of the parts made are interchangeable regardless of when they were made.

Certain parts are in higher demand than others. As a result some parts are more difficult to find and more expensive. This page is organized based on the parts most people are in need of and if known, alternatives if the part cannot be found or is too expensive. Please keep in mind every part and every gun has a limited lifespan. Do not ignore or sidestep safety, and be aware there are those will do so and sell it to you. A few dollars to have a gun safety inspected by a qualified gunsmith is a lot cheaper than a hospital emergency room visit, and a lot less painful than losing your eyesight for the rest of your lifespan.

This page is divided into the following sections.
  • Parts Diagram
  • Sources for Replacement Parts
  • Magazines
  • Rear Sight Assembly & Rear Sight Base Screw
  • Operating Slide
  • Stock and Handguard


For an Enlarged Parts Diagram click on the image or this link
. To print the enlarged image, see below.

Printing the Enlarged Image
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  • For best results, do not use your web browser to print the enlarged image. Right click on the image and save it to your computer.

  • You can open the image in your word processor program, but your computer's photo view program is more suitable. Select FILE, select PRINT. Do not print yet.

  • Select PROPERTIES in the print window. Set the orientation to "Landscape" and the print quality to the highest available. Use of a high quality paper or glossy photographic paper is highly recommended.

  • Before you print, set the print margins to the lowest possible setting and/or select the FIT TO PAGE option if it's available. Word processor programs require margins be set before printing.

Sources for Replacement Parts

A few replacement parts are in higher demand than others so are more difficult to find. The rear sight, rear sight base screw, slide, and magazines are an example. See further information and other options below.

Magazines

!Read this First!

If your EM1 is misfeeding, jamming, or having other functional problems, before you buy a replacement magazine you should know that the primary cause of EM1 malfunctions
is lack of, or improper, cleaning. For further information on this subject and a reliable cleaning procedure refer to the page on Cleaning, Disassembly & Reassembly.



The EM1 uses a 5 round, 10 round, or 15 round magazine. The lower half of the magazine fits inside a sleave that makes the exposed part of the magazine look like the .30 caliber carbine magazine. The magazine is retained within the sleeve by a pin.


5 Round Magazine

10 Round Magazine

15 Round Magazine



Replacement Magazines

Newly manufactured magazines (sleeve attached) are available from:

There are people who sell these magazines on auction websites for upwards of $75.



Alternative Magazines

If you decide to try this, you're on your own. The modification shown below was done by an owner with an engineering background. The information offered here is informational only, though not difficult to do. He and his wife have been using these magazines in their Erma EM1's for practice and in rifle competitions. His conversions work reliably with no malfunctions.

The magazine this works with is sold in the USA as a replacement magazine for the Mossberg Model 702 rifle. The same magazine is sold in the UK as a replacement for the Magtech Model 7022 rifle. The magazine you want has a RED/ORANGE follower. In the USA the Magtech Model 7022 is the same rifle as the Mossberg 702 and they use the same magazine. In the UK the Mossberg 702 bolt action rifle is a different rifle than the Magtech Model 702 semi-auto rifle, the Mossberg uses a magazine that has a GREEN follower and will not work.

USA: Mossberg Model 702 replacement magazine with RED/ORANGE follower
UK: Magtech Model 7022 replacement magazine with RED/ORANGE follower

These magazines are readily available due to the number of these rifles that have been sold. The magazine is less than $20.

The lug on the right side of the magazine (right mag) needs to be removed In this case a grinder was used (left mag)..

The dimensions of the EM1 receiver's magazine well can vary a little inside to side and front to back. The magazine may fit snugly, tightly, or barely not. Before resizing the magazine, check the fit. It might not need resizing.

The magazine (left) is slightly wider than the EM1 magazine (right). If the magazine needs to be resized, the upper half of the magazine is placed in a vise with wood inserted between the vise teeth and magazine. The sides of the magazine should be against the wood. The vise is slightly tightened a little at a time, removing the magazine and checking it's width every time until it fits the EM1's magazine well.

Caution should be used with this step as the magazine has a seam running lengthwise down the rear of the magazine. Too much pressure will split the seam and render the magazine useless.

The magazine is repositioned in the vise with the front facing up. A piece of wood is placed over the first 1.5" of the front of the magazine at the top. The wood is VERY LIGHTLY tapped with a hammer until the magazine fits in the Erma EM1 magazine well. Too little pressure is preferable to too much pressure. It doesn't take much. Tap lightly then check for fit in the EM1 magazine well.

Two lugs on the back of the EM1's magazine tube align with the two channels in the magazine catch and trigger housing. The magazine is held in place by the magazine catch sliding under these two lugs.
The EM1 magazine tube extends from the rear of the EM1 magazine back to the face of the magazine catch. The replacement magazine will require an attachment that fills the gap between the magazine and magazine catch with the ability to engage the slide channel grooves and be held in place on top of the magazine catch.

To determine the position of the attachment, close the bolt and insert the magazine as far as it will go. Mark the rear of the magazine where it enters the magazine well. Mark the magazine at the point where it is even with the bottom of the trigger housing.

Roughen the surface of the magazine between the two lines for better bonding.
In this example, a length of U shaped metal 10mm wide x 10mm deep (3/8" x 3/8") x 1mm thick was obtained from a hardware store. The size and shape will fit the width of the rear of the magazine and align with the two grooves in the magazine catch and trigger housing. Cut to length then cut to width. Mark the piece to engage the magazine catch then cut to fit. The metal attachment was then soldered to the magazine.
When finished it should fit like this.
Finished magazines

Disclaimer: Please do not ask for directions on how to do this or measurements. Each magazine and attachment needs to be hand fitted to each other, and the particular EM1.
This information is provided should you wish to give it a go. It will work and is a lot less expensive than the EM1 magazines.

Rear Sight Assembly & Rear Sight Base Screw

It is highly recommended you not remove the Rear Sight Assembly and/or Rear Sight Base Screw as they are often lost and reinstalling them is usually not as simple as it appears.
If you are going to install a scope it is recommended you find a mount that installs without having to remove the EM1 rear sight and raises the height of the scope so it will clear the rear sight.


Sportsmatch Model ETO9C scope mount with 3/8" vertical rise and offset 1" ring mount
for proper eye relief distance. Shown with Hawke RD25 Red Dot Scope
(USA distributor doesn't carry them, may need to order from UK)

The EM1 receiver has a dovetail that runs the length of the top of the receiver. The dovetail is a standard .22 dovetail mount, present on many different .22 rifles. The EM1 Rear Sight Assembly is mounted on this dovetail and held in place by the Rear Sight Base Screw.

The Erma Model EM1 has proven itself as an accurate rifle. Adding a scope or other optics takes advantage of this accuracy. Most scope mounts require the EM1 Rear Sight Assembly be removed to attach the mount. Most mounts do not leave enough vertical space for the Rear Sight Assembly to be reattached to the rifle (exceptions noted above). It's not uncommon to find an Erma EM1 that does not have the Rear Sight Assembly and/or the Rear Sight Base Screw because someone mounted a scope and forgot to save the Rear Sight Assembly and it's Base Screw.

While attempting to reinstall the Rear Sight Assembly it is not uncommon for the threads in the top of the receiver to be stripped.

The Rear Sight Base Screw is made from a stronger metal than the alloy receiver. The amount of receiver that engages the threads of the Rear Sight Set Screw are fairly small.

If the receiver hole is stripped out, retapping and threading the hole in the receiver for a larger screw is one option, for those who have the tools and knowledge. There are several other options (see below).

The hole for the Rear Sight Base Screw goes all the way through the top of the receiver and into the path of the bolt. A replacement screw may make a bad situation far worse if it protrudes into the path of the bolt.



Rear Sight Assembly and/or Rear Sight Base Screw Replacements

Because of the high demand for these two parts, used parts dealers normally do not have them. Occasionally an owner will list one for sale on an auction website, but don't be surprised if the bidding exceeds $100 (U.S.) for the Rear Sight Assembly and $50 (U.S.) for the Rear Sight Base Screw.

New replacement rear sights are available from ITL Shooting Supplies in the U.K. These are much more expensive to manufacture than they were when Erma Werke was is business, and their price reflects it.



Alternative Rear Sight

Option #1

The adjustable rear sights made for the M1 Carbine will not mount on the Erma Werke rifles. The dovetail for the M1 Carbine rear sight is cut through the receiver from side to side. The EM1 dovetail is cut into the rear sight and runs lengthwise.


GI Milled Adjustable Rear Sight - EM1 Rear Sight - GI Stamped Adjustable Rear Sight
 
 
 

GI Milled Adjustable Rear Sight - EM1 Rear Sight - GI Stamped Adjustable Rear Sight
GI sights slide from right to left into dovetail on GI Carbine Receiver
Dovetail in EM1 sight slides forward onto EM1 Receiver
 

GI Milled Adjustable Rear Sight - EM1 Rear Sight - GI Stamped Adjustable Rear Sight
 

GI Milled Adjustable Rear Sight with dovetail machined to slide forward onto EM1 Receiver
The EM1 peephole and peephole base have replaced the GI parts.
If you decide to attempt to cut the EM1 rear sight dovetail into a GI Milled Adjustable Rear Sight, notice how critical the depth of the cut is to keep from destroying the GI sight.

Option #2

Tech Sights Precision Shooting Industries manufactures a military style peephole rear sight that slides onto the standard .22 dovetail. This rear sight fits onto the dovetail of the Erma rifles and aligns correctly with the Erma front sight. On the Tech Sights website this rear sight is shown for the Mossberg Model 702 "Plinkster" rifles and the Marlin Models 60 & 795 rifles. The sight is sold paired with a front sight that differs with the model of rifle, but the rear sight alone can be ordered by calling Tech Sights (1-843-332-8222).

The sight clamps onto the dovetail without the need for the Rear Sight Base Screw. The sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. Quality and function of the Tech Sights rear sight is far superior to the rear sight made by Erma Werke. It does not look like the Erma EM1 rear sight, but it does look like a military peephole rear sight.

Operating Slide

Every gun part has a life expectancy. With prolonged repeated use the small slide rails that engage the EM1 receiver may eventually reach their life expectancy and snap off. Various repairs have been attempted, including Loctite, welding, and various adhesives. We know of no one who has found a fix for this. It requires replacing the slide (see Replacement Slides below).

When the bolt slams closed the shockwave is transferred to the slide.
View of the receiver side of the slide.

When the EM1 is fully assembled the slide does not move forward enough to expose the beginning of the rails that engage the slot in the receiver.

Cracks and/or breaks in the slide where these rails start are caused by shockwaves from the impact of the bolt when it closes. The side to side movement of the rails against the receiver slot eventually weakens them.


Slide intact

Broken Slides

Replacement Slides

I.T.L. Shooting Supplies in the U.K. is manufacturing new slides for the Erma EM1. They are made from aircraft quality aluminum and CNC Machined one at a time. From personal experience having examined and tried this slide, and with a much closer evaluation by a competitive shooter in the U.K. that uses EM1's in competition, it is our opinion this slide is far superior to the one made by Erma Werke. This aluminum and CNC machining were not available to Erma Werke when they made the EM1's.

The quality of this slide, and it's functioning, are top notch. The slide should outlast the lifetime of many of it's owners.

A note about cost. No company currently makes the EM1 as it would be cost prohibitive to do so in today's .22 rifle market. Amongst others, Anthony Imperato, owner of Henry Repeating Arms in New York, has researched the possibility and came to this conclusion. Anthony is the "A" in LA Distributors, the first U.S. company to import the EM1.

I.T.L. cannot afford to buy 1000 at a time, so they have them manufactured in small numbers each time. The low quanity ordered, grade of aluminum, and CNC machining make them expensive to manufacture. However, if you have a fully functional EM1 that will not work because of a broken slide, these slides are cheaper and more reliable than buying another Erma EM1, and better than letting that EM1 sit useless.

UK users have also recommended the I.T.L. replacement recoil spring for the EM1.

Stock and Handguard

Advertisements for the EM1 indicate the wood used for the stocks was Northern European beech or oiled walnut. In reality, very few were real walnut. Most "oiled walnut" were actually stained dark to look like walnut.

Some stocks had a high gloss finish, some stocks had a dull finish. The Erma EM1 will not fit into a U.S. M1 Carbine stock or handguard without major wood modifications.


Northern European Beech


Dark Stained Walnut (very few were real walnut, most were stained to look like walnut)


A variety of aftermarket stocks have been manufactured in Europe. Over time these are becoming more difficult to find. Especially the M1A1 stock.


M1A1 stock manufactured by Sile of Italy.

Directory of Pages
(with links)

History, Importers, Markings Function Animations Cleaning & Disassembly
Part I: 1945-1990    
Part II: 1990-2000+ Parts & Diagrams Reassembly