May 18, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2022
Standard configuration MG-15 (flexible) manufactured by Heinrich Krieghoff in 1938. This example was captured by U.S.G.I.'s in Iceland from a downed German aircraft and was later brought home by Sgt. Herman L. Allen, who recorded an interview in 2009 about how he received this MG-15, which is present on a pen drive and accompanies the gun. Herman recounted that this MG-15 was liberated from a downed German aircraft (believing it to have been from a Focke-Wulf or Heinkel reconnaissance plane) that was flying over Iceland and was ordered to land, but "decided to try to go to Norway instead", and was subsequently downed by a P-38 Lightning fighter plane. One day, while Herman was working at the headquarters base, he spotted a foreign machine gun (MG-15) in one of the rooms. He asked the Master Sergeant if he could have it and much to his surprise, the Master Sergeant allowed him to take it. He kept this MG-15 under his bunk in his hut for months, and it remained there after he was furloughed and returned to the United States. While furloughed, Herman received a 15-day extension, at which point the War in the European Theater ended. In 1946, after the conclusion of the war and returning back home to civilian life, Herman contacted an enlisted man who he was friendly with at the Icelandic Headquarters and made a deal with him, offering his personal trunk containing his belongings in exchange for shipment of his MG-15. To his surprise, months later his MG-15 arrived at his home, and stayed in his and his family's possession until now. This example is stamped "MG 15/ Nr 1905-38/ FL45701" and bears the Heinrich Krieghoff "HK" anchor logo above the serial number on the top of the receiver, with additional Krieghoff proofs present on the right side just forward of the charging handle. The barrel is slightly bent and the shroud is sheered off, as a result of the German reconnaissance plane's crash. Charging handle can be pulled rearward, albeit with some difficultly. 1-piece serrated wood grip exhibits losses and some cracking on either side. Accompanying this MG-15, is capture paperwork from the Iceland Base Command Headquarters signed by Colonel Howard C. Price, as well as a Commonwealth of Virginia "Certificate of Registration of Machine Gun" card. CONDITION: Metal components exhibit a mixture of surface oxidation, scattered spots of pitting, as well as areas of blue finish overall. Barrel has some wobble but retains a near mint bore with well-defined lands and grooves throughout. Grips exhibit previously noted losses and cracks. A fresh to the market MG-15 machine gun that with its intriguing history and documentation, will make for an excellent addition for the advanced collection of battlefield acquired items. 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 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. MLW
Paperwork
Capture paperwork, Virginia registration paperwork