Developed c. 1939 by Smith & Wesson, the Model 1940 "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 was tested against the M1 Carbine by the U.S. as a pistol substitute for officers and support personnel. Despite some promising features, the Mark I versions of the rifle 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. Smith & Wesson revised the Mark I design, resulting in the Mark II that integrated a machined ribbed steel collar mounted around the receiver, which acted as a reinforcement as well as a positive bolt-blocking safety. This was not enough to save the project, and the British shelved the Light Rifle, demanded a refund on their advance and, once the pressing matter of World War II was resolved, cut up their stock of unwanted Light Rifles with a blowtorch and tossed 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), ribbed safety collar around the receiver, 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. Fitted with a black synthetic buttstock with ribbed blued buttplate marked with a matching serial number. Includes a leather sling. 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, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear, a few light scrapes on the left of the magazine housing, and a few light handling marks. The stock is very fine with a crack running through the wrist. Mechanically excellent.