This is a beautiful example of a very scarce and desirable WWII German M30 Luftwaffe survival drilling rifle manufactured by J. P. Sauer and Sohn. The M30 drilling was standard issue to Luftwaffe bomber crews in North Africa and the Mediterranean and was intended to provide a high quality survival weapon in the event of a forced landing. This wonderful drilling is accompanied by a WWII capture document (dated 4/5/1945) indicating it was the property of T/5 Walter Cunningham. The consignor also noted that this drilling was recovered from a German bomber shot down in North Africa. These are a three-barreled combination gun, double barreled 12 gauge shotgun, over a 9.3X74R rifle barrel. This Luftwaffe drilling exhibits a high quality hand fitted workmanship with some of the most beautiful, pre-war, high polish rust blued metal finish on the barrel, sling swivels and barrel release lever and a beautiful color casehardened finish on the receiver, trigger guard and forend latching mechanism. It was also fitted with a hand checkered European walnut pistol grip stock and forearm with a hand rubbed oil finish. The quality of the fit and finish on these weapons rivals anything that was produced in the U.S. The rear barrel lug has a single "stick Eagle/2" Luftwaffe acceptance mark, and the underside of each barrel has the commercial "Eagle/N" proofmarks. Each barrel is appropriately marked with the bore and gauge/caliber markings ("12/65") along with "10 42" for the month and year of proofing. Both shotgun barrels and the rifle barrel are marked: "KRUPP-LAUFSTAHL". The matching serial number, "338691", is stamped on the underside of the rifle barrel, on the left receiver rail and the rear of the lower trigger guard tang. The right rear breech area of the shotgun barrel also has the larger "Luftwaffe Eagle" mark carrying the Nazi swastika. The barrel has a matted rib with brass bead front sight. This drilling has a Greener type cross-bolt receiver/action with a side mounted safety lever. The top left edge of the receiver rail is marked with the matching serial number "338691" with the intertwined "SS" proof for Sauer & Sohn along with the "Eagle/N" commercial firing proofs. Both sides of the receiver are marked with "J.P. SAUER & SOHN, SUHL", and a larger intertwined "SS" logo is on the underside of the receiver. The stock has a small European oval cheekpiece, a casehardened pistol grip cap, and a black plastic serrated buttplate that has the intertwined Sauer & Sohn "SS" logo in the center. The right side of the buttstock is stamped with a large prominent "Luftwaffe Eagle/swastika" insignia. The forend attaching iron is stamped with the partial serial number "8691". The top of the receiver tang has a sliding barrel selector catch and is marked directly behind that with a small "W./St." When engaged, the rifle barrel selector raises a folding 100 meter rear sight on the rib and engages the forward trigger. The front trigger can be pushed forward to activate a "single set" trigger. This drilling has a diminutive high quality scroll engraving on the receiver, trigger guard, and engraved screw heads, and the forearm and pistol grip are finely checkered. The drilling is stored in an aluminum carrying case that has the dark gray/black painted exterior with a very small "Eagle/2 Luftwaffe stick Eagle" proof on the very front directly above the carrying handle. This is the only "Luftwaffe Proofed" storage case that this describer has even seen. The inside lid of the carrying case contains a black stenciled listing of the original contents of the case. The case is divided into compartments for the drilling, ammunition, cleaning equipment and sling. The lot includes the following original items: a leather sling, three section wooden cleaning rod, two shotgun bore mops, a brass rifle jag, two rifle bore mops, and an original 30 drilling manual.

Excellent with 98% plus of the original blue finish overall with minor high spot wear. The receiver and other parts also retain 95% plus of their vivid original casehardened finishes with only the back side of the trigger guard bow/rear tang and grip cap being the only areas that show any slight fading. The stock and forend are also in very fine condition with a nice original oil finish showing minor light handling marks on the sides. The checkering on the pistol grip and forend are both in excellent condition showing only minor handling marks mixed with a couple of light pressure nicks. The metal storage case shows 70% of its outer gray/green painted finish with the leather handle and locks all complete and functional. The contents are all in excellent condition. This is certainly one of the best Luftwaffe M30 drillings we have seen in a long, long time, so don't miss out on this exceptional piece.