May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
This is a fine high condition example of Marlin Rockwell’s further development and improvement of the earlier "digger" machine gun to make it more versatile and appropriate to specialized applications such as in the Navy, as well as on tanks and aircraft. The signature reciprocating arm under the barrel gas block has been replaced with an in-line gas piston system. I called this gun a “digger” in the title, but this is an intentional misnomer. Soldiers under field conditions immediately recognized this as an improvement which allowed the gun to be employed lower to the ground providing less of a target silhouette. Cooling fins on the barrel were also a welcome feature which enabled longer periods of sustained fire before “cooldown” breaks. This gun is marked on top of receiver as well as on non-matching barrel “MARLIN ARMS CORPORATION NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT CAL-30 U.S.A.”. Marked on upper trigger bar, “USN 7947”. Marlin Rockwell took over the manufacturing rights to the Colt Model 1914 digger from Colt in 1916, and began producing this improved design in 1917. The sliding door on the right side gives easier access to the action and is an immediate telltale sign of a Marlin digger. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is extremely fine deep lustrous blue finish thinning to gray patina at the high edges with a bit of pitting at the front lower right edge of the receiver plate and a bit of brown pitting on the barrel. Mechanics are crisp and positive. Bore is extremely fine, shiny and bright with strong rifling. Bolt face is extremely fine. Wood hand grip is extremely fine with light handling marks. This is a scarce model of a very popular machine gun design and will no doubt find a deserving place in the collection of a World War I enthusiast who wants to shoot their guns as well as display them. An extremely attractive and very “modern looking” for its day 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 3 OR 4 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2020-05-083
Caliber/Bore
.30-06 Springfield
Paperwork
Marlin Model 1917 Handbook