September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
The Italian Breda Model 37 is a very sought after machine gun among the collector community. They are an interesting, well-designed, and fun gun to load and shoot. In Italian service they were chambered in 8x59mm Italian, but these are almost always found in the popular 8x57mm Mauser as they came from Portugal to the U.S. as surplus, or were otherwise taken into WWII service with German forces in Italy in 8mm Mauser. The top cover of this gun matches the receiver, has the Portuguese crest, and is marked 1938 (Portuguese model designation). The receiver markings indicate the gun was manufactured in Rome in 1939. There are four original Breda proofed non-matching barrels included with this gun; all are in 8x57mm Mauser. Other accessories include the tripod, loading/unloading machine, clamp-on AA spider sight, and slide-on shoulder loop, as well as four feed strip boxes with a total of 45 feed strips. One feed strip box has a Nazi Eagle stenciled on it. The potential buyer will be interested to know that this gun removes, chambers, and fires each round, and, as part of the cycle of the action, then emplaces the empty cartridge case back into the feed strip. This design and function was intended to keep troublesome brass out of sensitive areas of vehicles or aircraft. The loading/unloading machine is a requirement to remove the spent cases from the feed strips and then insert new live rounds. The consignor of this gun states that this gun runs well. Electronic NFA registry indicates “IMPORTED NFA FIREARM” as the manufacturer. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is an extremely fine combination of original blue and black enamel finish, thinning to a gray patina at the high edges with much less finish on the barrels. One unnumbered barrel has a matte gray refinish, and one of the other barrels has no front sight blade present. Rear spade handles are slightly misshaped on the flat pieces that attach the handgrips to the receiver. Likely, the gun was dropped at some point and the metal bent. All serviceable as is, or it can be straightened with appropriate effort. The bores of all the barrels are extremely fine, shiny, and bright; one barrel has firing residue. Bolt face is extremely fine to near excellent. Tripod and boxes are serviceable and in original green paint. Gun mechanics are crisp. The potential buyer should review the video on YouTube of another Breda that we sold in 2023 by searching "Italian Breda M37 HMG". This is a full-auto-only (nice slow firing) machine gun. Discerning collectors have approached this cataloger over the years asking to "Find a transferable Breda Model 37 HMG for me." There are likely not more than 5 or perhaps 6 fully transferable specimens in the NFA registry, and not more than 10-12 registered as Pre-86 dealer samples. If you are an active FFL/SOT dealer or have one as a close friend who can hold this for you, this is a very rare opportunity to acquire one of these very fine guns. Both a WWII collectible and fun recreational shooter. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS TRANSFERABLE ONLY TO ACTIVE FFL/SOT DEALERS ON AN ATF FORM 3 BUT MAY BE RETAINED BY SOLE PROPRIETOR FFL/SOT HOLDERS WHEN THEY RELINQUISH THEIR LICENSES UPON BATF APPROVAL. JWK 2024-09-083.
Accessories
Tripod, 4 boxes with feed strips, strip loader, and 4 barrels
Caliber/Bore
(ALL) 7.92mm Mauser