Offered here is an iconic legend in the world of machine guns, an immensely desirable and scarce fully transferable Vietnam War era Stoner 63 modular machine gun, as manufactured between September 1964-1971 at the Cadillac Gage plant in Warren, Michigan, after production was moved from the Costa Mesa, California facility where production of the first batch of approximately 230 was commenced in February 1963. According to "Weapons of the Navy SEALs" by Dockery, there were approximately 4,000 Stoner 63 and 63A machine gun units in total manufactured by the Cadillac Gage company, with only an extremely small percentage of those surviving today as the majority were destroyed after military service. Reportedly, all of the Cadillac Gage 63A type receivers (all marked 63, having 63A features) except 002834, 002851, 003037, 003051 and 003052 (this gun) were shipped to government entities or to NWM in the Netherlands. These five guns are believed to be the only transferable 63A type Cadillac Gage guns that exist, based on shipping records listed in Cadillac Gage Company manufacturer's log. This lot is accompanied by a large array of accessories that enable this machine gun to be assembled in a wide variety of configurations. It is currently fitted with a quick release 20 inch light machine gun type heavy profile barrel, with 63A features including a commando type bottom located charging handle, ejection port dust cover, a stainless steel gas cylinder, and a two-position fire selector with separate safety located ahead of the trigger. It also features an elevation adjustable post front and adjustable peep and ladder rear sight, a birdcage flash hider and bayonet lug on the LMG barrel with adjustable gas block, synthetic commando type forearm, ventilated receiver, right-handed "SEMI"/"AUTO" selector markings on the 63A LMG/commando type lower trigger housing assembly, firing from an open bolt, with a safety located ahead of the trigger, 63A LMG/commando type left-feed top cover fitted with a drum magazine, checkered black synthetic pistol grip and fixed steel wire buttstock with flip-up wire shoulder rest. The barrel, forearm, buttstock, rear sight base and trigger housing can all be easily disassembled by hand and reassembled/reconfigured without dedicated tools. One of the many notable products of famed American arms designer Eugene Stoner (of AR-10, M16/AR-15, and AR-18/180 fame, among others), the genesis of the 63 was in the early 60s, shortly after his departure from Armalite. Working with Cadillac Gage's west coast establishment in Costa Mesa, California, Stoner developed a modular weapon system, intended to be capable of a radical degree of customization at the field armorer level, creating a receiver that could be reconfigured rapidly for mission and environment; while a number of modern weapons designs have touched on this sort of flexibility, this was an exceptional capability for the era. Developed with an eye for military sales, the Stoner 63/63A machine guns were issued on a limited basis in a variety of configurations to the U.S. Marine Corps and select elements of the U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Army Special Forces operating in Southeast Asia, where they found fans among the elite units who effectively used them in the jungles, solidifying their place in history as one of the most legendary machine gun platforms of all time. The system was not adopted for widespread general use; while it had many virtues, and was considerably refined with user feedback, it was more complex and maintenance intensive than the M16 rifle. While production ended in 1971, the 63 and 63A were retained by the U.S. Navy SEALs well into the 1980s, only being fully retired with the adoption of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon; the bulk of the Stoners still in inventory are believed to have been destroyed. The receiver bears the "STONER 63.223 CAL." model and caliber markings along with the serial number, Cadillac Gage Company manufacturer marking and Warren, Michigan address markings. Included with the lot is an Eickhorn Stoner 63/M16 bayonet marked with the squirrel logo on the ricasso and "1005–9110" and "AT 789452" on the crosspiece, scabbard, a spring-loaded clip-on bipod with telescoping legs, green canvas bipod case containing a bottle of bore cleaner, an extra 63A rifle type lower trigger housing assembly, extra 63A fixed MG type lower trigger housing assembly with trigger solenoid, extra LMG type right-feed top cover, extra "Bren" automatic rifle type top mount magazine adapter assembly, extra medium MG type cradle mount adapter, two extra 63A rifle type charging handles, four extra synthetic buttstock assemblies (two rifle types, carbine type, and commando type), extra rifle type synthetic forearm/magwell assembly, four extra barrel assemblies (20 inch "Bren" automatic rifle type, 20 inch rifle type, 16 inch Commando LMG type, and 16 inch carbine type), eleven 30-round rifle type magazines, five green canvas double magazine pouches, seven synthetic 100-round LMG type ammunition boxes, two Stoner 63 weapons system manuals, a scanned copy of a Stoner 63A maintenance manual, and a modern Pelican hardcase with fitted foam interior.

Excellent, retains 97% plus original black and gray parkerized finishes with a few light handling marks. One small patch of minor pitting visible on the charging handle catch piece. The furniture is also excellent with a few light handling marks. Mechanically functions excellent in full auto only, as the semi-automatic position does not reset the trigger. Included accessories are fine to excellent. One of the extra rifle type buttstocks has a crack visible in the wrist area as well as the extra commando type buttstock. This iconic fully transferable Cadillac Gage Stoner 63 machine gun, with a large array of accessories, would make an outstanding addition to any advanced machine gun collection. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.