December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
This is a very rare and desirable gun. Marked MKb.42(H) on left side of the receiver, and includes a sling and one “fxo” manufactured “MKb 42 / MP43” marked magazine. The Mkb-42(H) machine gun is the pre-cursor to the MP-43/1, MP-43, MP-44, STG-44 family of weapons. Superficially, it looks like the models that came later, but it is a very different gun when one takes a closer look. The concept was to design a select-fire rifle using an intermediate sized cartridge that would be able to fulfill many roles required in combat. To this end, the muzzle is threaded and the gas cylinder incorporates hardware and a lug to take a grenade launcher attachment, or curved “bullet chute” if needed. The extended gas cylinder, enlarged long muzzle nut, and lack of familiar safety on the grip housing are immediate giveaways that this is not one of the models which came later. One can spot several features familiar in the MP-40, such as the safety is a cut-out in the top of the receiver, and the charging handle itself has a bolt lock in the same manner as the MP-40 which locks the bolt in the forward position by depressing it so that locks into a recess into the receiver. One also notices that this machine gun fires from an open bolt, and that although the selector is a button that pushes to either the right or left in the grip frame in the manner of the MP-43/44, the contour of the pistol grip is different. Between 8,000 to 12,000 of this model were produced between early 1942 and mid-1943. Nearly all were fielded into Russia, which accounts for the rarity of this model to be found in the United States. Like the troops that carried them, once they went into the fighting in Russia, very few ever returned to the West. This is a Haenel (fxo) manufactured gun with “fxo” and eagle over “37” in several places, including the underside of the receiver forward of the magazine housing and left side of the barrel. The buttstock hardware is matching and was manufactured by Mertzwerke (cos) with eagle over “44” proof. Mertzwerke was a sheet metal subcontractor for many pieces of German equipment, but particularly machine guns. The number on the left side of the receiver is lined-out and replaced with "STG 5266" on the left upper side on the receiver. This is the registered serial number. Electronic NFA Registry indicates, “GERMANY” as the manufacturer. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine to near excellent original finish with small scattered areas of loss of finish to a gray patina at the high edges. very clean and attractive wood, unsanded and original finish. Action is very smooth. Bore is near excellent, shiny and bright. Bolt face is also near excellent. Mechanics are crisp. Wood is extremely fine with typical handling marks. Leather sling is in good, strong serviceable condition. Magazine retains lustrous blue finish commensurate with the gun, and has a lightly scratched number, “7775” on the left side. This is a select-fire machine gun. This model was the first assault rifle design that used an intermediate-sized cartridge; the 7.92x33mm cartridge was not so powerful as the 8x57mm full power rifle round but significantly more powerful than the 9mm Parabellum pistol round. This rifle was a highly effective improvement over the standard bolt action rifle as not only was it semi-automatic with a large magazine capacity, but it also could provide automatic fire fulfilling a soldier's needs in many situations. The fact that the cartridge was smaller in both length and weight meant that the soldiers could carry more ammunition readily available. This was an important historical development in the field of military weapons and this fact elevates this model to among the most desirable of its kind. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 OR 4 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2024-12-91.
Accessories
1 magazine total
Caliber/Bore
7.92x33mm Kurz