May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
Very fine condition deactivated French Chauchat model 1915 machine marked “C.S.R.G.” with matching numbered upper and lower receivers. Firing pin shaft is serial number 147439. Includes one original magazine and desirable anti-aircraft sights, both front and back. No indication of “SA” on receiver or other parts, and no “N” on the barrel, which indicates this well could have been a doughboy bring-back gun from World War I. Other indicators are the manner in which this gun was deactivated. The barrel has been plugged with weld at the chamber. The unnumbered bolt has been slightly ground at the center of the face, the firing pin tip ground away, the extractor ground away at the tip, and one locking lug of the bolt has been shattered off. This is the only Chauchat bolt that this cataloger has seen deactivated in this manner. Good news is none of these items of deactivation are beyond the ability of the appropriate restorer to remedy. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine, especially good for a Chauchat, about 85% original smooth blue finish turning a brown patina and otherwise thinning to a gray patina. "SA" marked magazine is mostly a gray patina with very little finish remaining. Charging handle knob out of round but still serviceable. Wood furnishings have some light handling marks and are extremely fine, very nice condition and very attractive. Although chamber is welded shut, bore was observed by dropping a small light down the muzzle, and the bore is fine with some darkness in the grooves. Bolt and internals are very clean. A very nice specimen of a very widely used and historic World War I machine gun. 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 DEACTIVATED AND CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2020-05-066