November 18, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2020
Really nice original German MP-40 manufactured by “bnz” (Steyr) in 1943. Visible numbers are matching throughout including barrel, which also has original and rare eagle over 623 (Steyr) with “ar” over “bnz” shield logo. Other parts noteworthy of being matching include sight hood, receiver tube, bolt, rear sight, lower receiver cup, grip frame and swing-out shoulder loop. This gun exhibits the later manufacturing technique of having trunnion retained by indentation on top and bottom of receiver tube. Barrel resting bar not present, but these are readily available. Other specimens of guns made at Steyr during this same serial number range have had bakelite barrel resting bars. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is fine to extremely fine, original finish with a soft brown patina on exposed sheet metal parts with more of a grey-brown patina on the grip frame. Upon disassembly and examining the inside of the receiver tube one finds far nicer finish remaining. Just as one would expect a combat field-used machine gun to be. Mechanics are crisp. Bore rifling is extremely fine, shiny and bright. Bolt face is very fine. There is a small spot of weld just at lower edge of the ejector port which no doubt was where this gun was deactivated at one point. This is a full-auto only machine gun. Please take note that although in a deactivated legal status there does not appear to be any damage to the chamber whatsoever. Apparently, the bolt was just welded closed by touching weld at the ejection port. The MP-40 needs no introduction to the World War II collector or recreational machine gun enthusiast. Considered by many to be one of the best entry-level historical machine guns, it is slow firing, from an open bolt, with parts, magazines and ammunition readily available. In the interest of retaining this guns attractiveness as a matching combat used gun, this gun has no been altered from as found. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 5 AS CURIO & RELIC ELIGIBLE DEACTIVATED MACHINE GUN. THIS GUN MAY BE REACTIVATED UPON APPROVAL OF APPLICATION TO THE BATF. Morphy’s can facilitate legal re-activation through a local FFL/SOT manufacturer we work closely with should the buyer desire quick and legal activation after winning this gun at auction, but prior to transfer. JWK 2020-11-003