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LOT 1540
World War II Steyr “bnz/41” Code World War II MG34 Medium Machine Gun, Class III/NFA DEWAT, with Accessories - Serial no. 4837, 8 mm cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, wood stock. 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 has a receiver and barrel housing manufactured by Steyr in 1941, wartime code “bnz”, with mismatched number parts from multiple sources. Folding blade front and ladder rear sights, with an adjustable flash hider at the muzzle, a folding bipod, and “bnz/41/4837” on the rear of the barrel housing. A pair of ribbed grip panels are installed on the grip, which is fitted with a safety switch and a dual-mode trigger unit. The buttstock is wood, and a leather sling is attached. Also included with the grouping is a double drum “saddle” magazine (note: not compatible with the installed top cover), a pair of side-mount belt carrier drums with transport frame, and a length of canvas feed belt, along with a 1943 dated German language manual, a set of 1968-vintage sales/shipping paperwork from noted NFA dealer J. Curtis Earl, and 1968 vintage transfer papers. CONDITION: Very good as deactivated, with 60% of the dull arsenal refurbished blue finish, showing areas of gray and brown patina and scattered handling marks. The grips and stock show some scuffing and dents, with the latter showing some chips and light cracks. The deactivation consists of the barrel being welded closed and welded to the barrel housing, the barrel housing being braised to the receiver, and some of the internal components removed; the bolt has not been welded closed/welded over. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), Class 3 DEWAT that is fully transferable, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478. Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LOT 1541
World War I 1918 Production M.A.N. Model 08/15 Maxim Heavy Machine Gun with Bipod and Belt Drum, Class III/NFA DEWAT - Serial no. 1540a, 8 mm cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock. Known today mostly for heavy trucks and diesel engines, Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg was a German military supplier in both World Wars, being a chief producer of the Panther Tank in the latter. Originally developed by Hiram Maxim in the 1880s, the Maxim Gun is credited as the first true automatic weapon, using the energy generated by firing the round to cycle the weapon. Predating the idea of the air-cooled quick-change barrel, Maxim dealt with the technical challenge of the massive heat generated by automatic fire by installing a water-filled jacket around the barrel, an innovation that would continue to be used for decades afterwards. Fitted with a blade front sight on the water jacket and a tangent rear sight on the top cover, which also bears the model markings, manufacturer name and address, and the “1918” production date. Many of the
parts are mismatched numbers. The accessories are representative of the Imperial Maxim, with the recoil boosting muzzle device, water cooling jacket, crank-adjusted spring tension regulator on the left side of the frame, pistol grip mounted safety, detachable steel bipod and belt carrier, and a solid hardwood buttstock. Also included is a 1935 dated German language manual for the 08/15 and 08/18 machine guns, a set of 1968-vintage sales/ shipping paperwork (copies) from noted NFA dealer J. Curtis Earl and a copy of the 1968 dated transfer paperwork. CONDITION: Very good as deactivated, with 70% of the blue finish, showing areas of brown and gray patina, edge wear and spotting. Traces of green and yellow paint are present on the water jacket. Heavier pitting is present on the recoil booster, and the tension mechanism shows a number of dents and areas of oxidization. The wood shows a number of scratches and dents overall, and some forming chips at the butt. Mixed numbers on a number of internal parts. The deactivation was performed by discarding some of the belt feed hardware and welding the barrel closed; the bolt still operates and has not been welded over or welded closed. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), Class 3 DEWAT that is fully transferable, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
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