September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
In 1939 Britain contracted with Smith & Wesson to develop a light rifle chambered in 9mm Parabellum as an intermediary between their handguns and full size .303 arms. Trials began in 1940 with little success as after only 1,000 rounds of the hotly loaded English ammunition, stress cracks formed in some of the receivers. A Mark II was developed with a reinforced receiver and 200 were produced to little avail, with Britain ending the program and destroying their stocks of the innovative rifles. American interest also proved limited due to the nonstandard 9mm chambering. Smith & Wesson retained a small portion rifles produced but did not initially sell them on the civilian market due to their then NFA short barrel status. In 1975 the surviving 137 MK I and 80 MK II rifles were exempted from NFA regulation and sold to collectors. This very fine and scarce MK II remains in its original configuration with blued finish throughout. Standard fluted 9 - 3/4" barrel with blade front sight and adjustable square notch rear sight. Pistol grip stock is black composite with a blued serrated steel butt plate. Unlike most examples, no warning plaque appears to have been mounted on the stock. Rifle is accompanied by a Roy Jinks factory letter, manual, original leather sling, 5 total magazines 3 of which are in their original cardboard, and a barrel wrench. CONDITION: Excellent. Nearly all of the original factory blue is displayed throughout with minor handling marks. Some light oxidation spotting also present in the barrel flutes. Stock is excellent with only a few handling marks. Mirror bore. Fine mechanics. A fantastic example of a very interesting WWII experimental rifle, one of approximately 80 in collector hands.
Accessories
4 extra mags, wrench
Manufacturer
Smith & Wesson
Paperwork
Smith & Wesson Letter