April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
This extremely interesting single-shot rifle was used at Springfield as an .50 caliber accuracy test rifle during World War II. Marked "SA 9-42" on the barrel with initials "JM" and nomenclature numbers. Barrel is hand inscribed at top right, "Rifle Accuracy Cal 50 D-45968". Breech is a rectangular steel block which would have been securely fastened into a solid fixture such as a vice. The side of the breech exhibits a hand inscribed, "SA NO 130". A simple double lugged bolt fits into the breech and locks by rotating clockwise. The firing pin within the bolt utilizes a spring to hold the pin in the rear position. The hammer is a straightforward spring and plunger arrangement which causes the hammer to swing downward under spring pressure when pulled by a lanyard. Overall appearance and finish very fine with about 80% of dark green paint remaining on the barrel with loss to bare metal turning to a grey-brown patina. Breech retains about 95% original battleship grey paint with loss to bare metal at high edges. Bolt, chamber and bore extremely fine, clean and bright. A very interesting piece which the consignor states he has fired and is a lot of fun to shoot!