Developed c. 1939 by Smith & Wesson, the Model 1940 Mark I "Light Rifle" was based on a British government request for a semi-automatic, light-weight rifle design chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge and tested against the M1 Carbine by the U.S. as a pistol substitute for officers and support personnel. Despite some promising features, the rifles were passed over by the U.S. and failed in British testing due to cracked receivers caused by higher pressures generated by British military 9 mm Luger loads. Large numbers of the Light Rifles were destroyed, both during testing and afterwards, including a reported incident of the British cutting their Light Rifle samples up with a blowtorch and tossing the resulting scrap into the English Channel, making such examples rare today. According to Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks, a number of crated Model 1940 Light Rifles (137 Mark I rifles and 80 Mark II rifles) were found by Smith & Wesson in 1974 and subsequently liquidated as curios with explicit instructions that they were not to be loaded or fired as detailed on page 240 of "The History of Smith & Wesson" by Jinks. Features a fixed blade front sight, knob adjustable notch rear sight (graduated from 200 to 400 yards), a throw-lever safety behind the right side of the trigger, a right side mounted reciprocating charging handle, and novel magazine housing that holds the magazine, provides a downward facing casing ejection chute at the rear, and acts as a fore-grip for the user. The receiver bears the two line Smith & Wesson address on the left, two patent numbers on the right, along with the Mark designation and serial number behind the trigger guard. Fitted with a black synthetic buttstock with ribbed blued buttplate marked with a matching serial number. Note: This item features a high-capacity magazine which has a capacity above 10 rounds and cannot be sold or transferred to residents in states where long gun magazine capacity is limited to no more than 10 rounds. Please check your local laws and regulations prior to bidding.

Excellent overall, retaining 97% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear and a few minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.