October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
One of the rarest and most sought of the German World War II machine guns is the dual magazine housing MP-40. Fielded as a trial in response to army requests for a machine pistol with a higher magazine capacity as was encountered when fighting troops carrying the Russian PPSh-41, the MP-40 / II weapon incorporated a special magazine housing which allowed two standard 32 round MP-40 magazines to be attached to the lower housing which would slide from side to side when a simple release catch was pressed. This meant that when one magazine was empty the other could be immediately slid into place and firing continue within seconds. Much faster than removing an empty magazine and employing another from a belt pouch. Marked with both “ayf” (Erma) and Eagle over 280 (Erma) and eagle over 254 (Krupp) proofs on the receiver tube with numerous Nazi proofs on other parts, this is the only opportunity this cataloger has had to closely examine one of only three reported registered specimens in the United States. Close examination reveals no markings on the magazine housing assembly other than the gun serial number "6081 i", this number is on both the upper and lower magazine housing parts as well as on the receiver tube, bolt, lower assembly (which is also Krupp manufacture with Erma final assembly dated “42”), and grip frame. Abbreviated “081” serial number is on the swing out shoulder loop and rear sight. Barrel is unnumbered but bears “ayf” eagle over 280 and eagle over Swastika markings on left side. Barrel hook, barrel nut, and sling ring also exhibit eagle over 280. Bakelite barrel resting bar has clear casting number on flat. Two original Nazi marked magazines are included with this gun. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine to near excellent; deep lustrous blue finish on barrel, barrel nut, and sling ring, turning to more faded and thinning finish at the magazine housing and to the rear where there is some grey and light brown patina, more so at the high edges. Finish is thinner at the high edges of the front sight hood as well. And at the high edges of the magazine housing and latches just as one would expect. Lower assembly parts also exhibit a some thinning to the finish to very attractive and pleasing grey patina. Make no mistake, this is a VERY attractive looking firearm indeed. Bakelite furnishings have some very light handling marks. Mechanics are crisp to include magazine housing mechanics which function well. Bore had a coating of preservative grease inside which was removed to observe bore and then re-emplaced. Bore is stunning, near excellent shiny and bright. Bolt face near excellent with preservative grease. This is a fully automatic only machine gun. It is one of the rarest, most highly sought and interesting machine guns the German fielded. The high command obviously decided that despite the clever way this variant was designed to utilize existing magazines and parts exclusive of the magazine housing, which would allow for ready retrofit of existing weapons in the field by Waffenmeisters, this variant was not adopted for use beyond trials. So few survived and found their way west to Americans and even then, were registered for private ownership, that this gun might well be viewed as the “Holy Grail” by German World War II gun collectors. Far, far rarer than even the FG-42. The importance of the public offering of this firearm cannot be overstated. 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 2019-10-77
Manufacturer
Erfurter Maschinenfabrik