October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Robert Mainhardt and Art Biehl joined forces to form MBAssociates, or MBA, in order to develop Biehl's armor-piercing rocket rounds. Originally developed in a .51 caliber, the cartridges were self-contained self-propelled rockets with calibers ranging from .49 and 6mm to 20mm. Of an entire family of firearms, including machine guns and special purpose weapons, only the pistol and carbine were actually completed. The carbines and an assault rifle variant with a removable grip-inserted magazine were tested by the US Army, where they proved to have problems with reliability. About 1,000 of the "Rocketeer" model pistols were produced; a few saw service in the Vietnam War, and were featured in the James Bond book and movie You Only Live Twice, the Matt Helm film Murderers' Row, as well as one of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. novels. After the military passed on the pistols, the majority were sold to the civilian market in the mid 1960's. These were Mark I Gyrojets, which launched a .51 caliber rocket, and ammunition was costly to produce and buy. In 1968, the advent of the National Firearms Act and the designation of the pistols as Destructive Desvices necessecitated the revelopment of the pistol into the Mark II, which fired a .49 caliber rocket. This is a scarce nickel version with faux black pearlite grips that comes in a walnut display case with plaque on inside lid. There is a walnut dinner display of 10 rounds of ammunition with bronze coin honoring Robert Hutchings Goddard 1882-1945. Goddard was an American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which he launced in March of 1926. CONDITION: Aside from a few handling marks and some light frosting of nickel finish, retains a solid 98%. Along with the ten rounds displayed within the case, there is a partial box of 16 additional rounds. One of the best examples of this rare space age weapon extant. DB
Accessories
Display Box, Paperwork, Ammo
Manufacturer
MBA Associates
Paperwork
Certificate of Authenticity