October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
Standard model 30 Luftwaffe drilling, featuring the large Luftwaffe eagle on the right side of the stock. "J.P. SAUER & SOHN, SUHL" on either side of the receiver. Stylized Sauer & Sohn marking on bottom of receiver and buttplate. "KRUPP- LAUFSTAHL" marked barrels. "9.3x74.R." caliber marking in panel on rib, also caliber marked on bottom of barrel under forend. Luftwaffe eagle over swastika on the right barrel. Eagle/N proofs on barrels under forend. Luftwaffe "stick eagle L2" proof on rear barrel lug. 25 5/8 inch barrels. All matching numbers. The gun is housed in the original aluminum case with nice clear markings. Included in the case is the original proper cleaning kit which has the often missing original glass oil bottle. Original leather sling. There is a more modern full box of RWS commercial 9.3x74R ammunition as well as a partial box of DWM ammunition, also of later production. Most importantly, there is a notarized letter dated May 13, 2013 which states that this particular gun, by serial number, was brought back from WWII by U.S. Army Lieutenant General Hobart R. "Hap" Gay. General Gay was awarded the Silver Star in December 1942 for gallantry in action on November 8, 1942, at Casablanca. He was chief of staff of the I Armored Corps, commanded by General George S. Patton, in North Africa at the time. Gay would continue to serve as Patton's chief of staff until Patton's death in December 1945. Gay was promoted to Brigadier General on June 24, 1943. In the Sicily campaign he was assigned to the U.S. Seventh Army as chief of staff. He became chief of staff, Third Army, in February 1944. In this capacity, Gay was a key member of Patton's command staff during the Third Army's drive into Germany following the Normandy invasion. When Patton took command of the U.S. Fifteenth Army in October 1945, Gay was again his chief of staff. He and Patton went pheasant hunting on December 9, 1945. Patton and Gay were seated in the back seat of the staff car, en route to the hunting lodge. There was a traffic accident, during which Patton sustained spinal injuries which later cost him his life. General Gay was uninjured. Hobart R. Gay's career in the U.S. Army ended in 1955 as the Commanding General, Anti-aircraft and Guided Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. The letter accompanying this gun details the chain of custody, through both marriage and friendship from General Gay following the war through to the gentleman who wrote the letter. PROVENANCE: The Renowned Collection of Howard Resnick. CONDITION: Receiver retains 70% original vibrant case colors with some light frosting on the lower edges of the receiver. All markings are sharp and clear. Barrels retain 90% original blue. Bores are fine and clean. Wood is very good, with nice sharp checkering in the grip and a sharp Luftwaffe/swastika marking on right side. Forend has some dings and handling marks, with some dents. Buttplate has some light scratches. Fine mechanical function. Case retains 80% original painted finish with the majority of finish loss on the bottom. Markings are clear. Leather carry handle is in solid condition showing scuff marks. Accessories in like condition.
Accessories
Ammo, Case, Accessories
Caliber/Bore
9.3x74mmR/12ga