October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
This is an amnesty registered World War I French model 1914 Hotchkiss machine gun in original 8mm Lebel on an original U.S. Standard Parts Company ground mount. Only about 2500 of these mounts were manufactured and most were scrapped many years ago. This Hotchkiss is dated “1918” on right side of receiver, and “MITRAILLEUSE AUTOMATIQUE HOTCHKISS / BREVETEE S.G.D.G. / CALIBRE 8 M/M” on left side of receiver. Receiver, barrel, and handgrip are matching numbers. Bolt is un-numbered, without extractor present, and has been drilled through and torch melted through extractor area. Probably repairable with the right amount of skill and effort. No muzzle present. No gas regulator present. No feed block present. Two non-original coil springs are within action which serve to keep the operating piston under tension in a rudimentary way. This gun's rear sight is marked for "D" ammunition which indicates it was probably a WW1 bring-back gun and was never retrofitted for the later "N" Type ammunition. Chamber was at one time welded shut but has been opened up. Weighty Standard Products tripod retains both traverse stops yet is missing one of the locking wedges which retains the guns trunnion in place. Attachment pin between tripod head and gun is a contemporary standard bolt. Traverse lock lever is bent. The French Model 1914 Hotchkiss machine gun is an extremely durable design and was used by both the French and U.S. forces during World War I. The heavy cooling rings on the barrel are an instantly recognizable trademark. This gun is a reactivated amnesty registered gun with appropriate markings and remains Curio and Relic eligible. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is a fine thick coverage of added black enamel paint on gun and an especially thick coat on the tripod over pitting and scale. Rear sight ladder escaped the paint, but is missing the ladder lock and took a blow, which bent it in a curve and made it non-functional. Operating piston looks serviceable with some brown patina. Mechanics need attention as noted above. Bore of gun is actually fine with strong rifling, dark in the grooves. This would be a full-auto only machine gun if functional. There is no doubt in this cataloger’s mind that many will see this as an attractive project to take on. Hotchkiss guns are popular machine guns! THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 5 DEACTIVATED YET REMAINS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2019-10-222
Accessories
Heavy Ground Tripod