The H&K booth at SHOT had a remarkable display of the MP5 series of SMGs, from genesis to current day.

Here we see the result of “Project 64”, the very project that create the MP5. This is gun number 31, still a gun in prototype phase. It is very easy to spot the differences between this one and a current model!

Next came the K model with it’s odd front grip:

Then here is a rare full length barreled MP5. This idea didn’t pan out:

And I don’t know about you folks, but I really like cutaways!

On the flip side we have a UMP prototype (or what became the UMP):

The Legendary MP5/10. The 10mm MP5s are legendarily powerful, but when the 10mmm fad of the 90s went away, so did this gun:

And last, but certainly not least we have the latest MP5 equipped with all the bells and whistles:

Click to expand and read the placard about updates to the MP5.

For me it is hard to believe that the MP5 has been around or 50 years, an remains the gold standard when it comes to sub guns!