In early WW2 the Germans were developing the first true assault rifles, the MP-43/STG-43/STG-44 family for the Heer while the Luftwaffe wanted another weapon for themselves using the Mauser 7.92x57mm full cartridge round instead of the intermediate round that the MP-43 took. Eight companies were asked to submit designs but Rheinmetall-Borsig was chosen. This was the first version of the rifle with a fixed pistol grip and different butt and flash suppressor. Because Rheinmetall-Borsig was overloaded, however, Krieghoff made a second version with several design changes for ease of manufacture. Only 7000 were made and its first use was in the rescue of Mussolini from Gran Sasso in September 1943. The new weapon has synthetic furniture, multiple railings for optics and lasers, a new pistol grip, new butt, and new flash suppressor. It is meant for the civilian market; hence, it is semi-automatic only and costs a whopping $5000 each!

New version: http://www.arrse.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=73775&d=1335795261 Old versions: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/FG42.jpg/300px-FG42.jpg At Gran Sasso: http://www.combatreform.org/Image1059.jpg