Lot 1584: "dot/1943" MG34 Machine Gun with Accessories

Developed prior to World War II by Heinrich Vollmer of Mauser, the MG34 machine gun was a mainstay tool of German infantry forces through the full duration of the war. A machined steel beast, the 34 was a very versatile weapon, suitable for vehicle use, support fire from a sturdy folding tripod, or in rapid tactical movement from a bipod or fired by the shoulder. While later models were more efficient, banking heavily on stamped components and simplified designs to speed production, the MG34 was never fully retired. This example was manufactured by the Waffenwerke Brunn factory in 1943 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, wartime code "dot". The top of the barrel jacket is marked "dot/1943/7244a", and it is fitted with an original folding bipod, folding blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight marked 2-20 (200-2,000 meters) and is fitted with dark red/black bakelite buttstock. The trigger assembly has a proper double trigger setup, where pulling the trigger at the top produces semi-automatic fire and pulling the bottom fires at full auto; this feature would be eliminated from later German machine guns. It has matching visible numbered "major" parts, including the barrel, with some smaller replacement parts. The underside of the receiver and barrel housing show evidence of a removed weld at the bottom seam, and a metal plug inserted into a hole on the underside of the housing and machined to match the original contours, suggesting a "DEWAT" that has been reactivated by an unknown party. A number of accessories are bundled with this MG34, including three extra barrels, an "axx/1941" folding field mount, individually cased Busch/Rathenow scope, two ammo drums in a drum carrier frame, hard rubber muzzle protector, alternate receiver cover configured for top-mounted drums, anti-aircraft spider sight, and assorted small parts and tools.

Excellent, with 90% plus of the original blue finish, showing some mild spotting, wear and handling marks. The excellent grip panels and buttstock show mild scuffs and chips. The field mount shows wear and staining consistent with field use, and some of the components may be later replacements. The scope optics are very cloudy. Mechanically excellent. 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 478.