Page 362 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 598
Hotchkiss Mark I* Portable Machine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Transferable, with Cavalry Tripod
and Extra Barrel - Serial no. E38701, 303
cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, metal
stock, hard rubber grips. Developed by
the British during WWI, the Hotchkiss Portable Machine Gun was produced in two
models with two versions; a Tank and Calvary version. The Tank version was produced without a buttstock and instead has a small brass pistol grip. These were
intended to be mounted either as a coaxial gun or on top in a pedestal mount. The Calvary version actually used a short buttstock and was mounted on the “tripod” that is included with this lot. The two models that were produced was the MKI and the MKI*. The first model could only use feed strips with the cartridges loaded in the strips, while the second model, the MKI* could use either the feed strips or a belt of ammunition. The side of the receiver is marked: “HOTCHKISS PORTABLE MACHINE GUN. MKI*/ PATENTED CALIBER .303/No E.38701”. The top cover is correctly marked “BELT OR STRIP/FEED”. The rear of the receiver is also stamped with the matching serial number on the bolt cover and the barrel is marked “B/21477”. An offset inverted “v” front sight is installed on the barrel, no rear sight present, and a second brass tripod lug is installed ahead of the gas port. The buttstock is steel construction. The tripod is marked “TYERS”. Also included is an extra barrel.
CONDITION: Fine, with 85% of the professionally refinished blue, showing areas of covered pitting, dents and small holes in the gas piston cover, and scattered handling marks. The grip panels show mild scuffs and flat spots. Mechanically needs adjustment. 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.
Estimate: 13,000 - 19,000
360
LOT 599
Hotchkiss Model 1914 Medium Machine Gun with Tripod, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable - Serial no. 32235, 8 mm cal., 31 inch round bbl., blue finish, brass grips. An evolution of an Austrian design, the French-made Hotchkiss gun was a significant deviation from the Maxim and its copies and imitators, using a quick-detachable air-cooled barrel, a piston-driven gas operation and firing from an open bolt, all of which would go on to be common features in medium and light machine guns. Additionally, the feed mechanism used rigid brass plates instead of the canvas belts that became the de-facto standard until the disintegrating belt was introduced; a lone operator could feed in these plates on their own, with the bolt locking back automatically when the plate was empty, a loading team could link plates together as they were fired for continuous discharge, or a series of hinged, linked plates could be used for vehicle gunners. The Hotchkiss Mle 1914 officially became the standard French infantry machine gun in late 1917, and 7,000 of these chambered in 8mm Lebel were also used by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) overseas in France during World War I. As well as being an inspiration for the next wave of machine guns, the Hotchkiss itself would be licensed or copied by the Americans, Chinese and Japanese. Blade front and tangent rear sights, with the latter marked as being for the Model “1886D” cartridge. The barrel is fitted with a set of 5 thick cooling fins at the breech and a hand-adjustable gas port assembly at the underside. The right side of the frame bears the serial number and “1918” production date, and the left is marked with the French nomenclature and patent markings. A brass pistol grip is fitted to the underside and a steel maneuvering spade grip on the rear. Crudely stamped with a backwards “C” ahead of “CAL. .30” and a “1” on top of the barrel and on top of the ejection cover. Currently fitted with a detachable threaded blank firing adapter. Absent firing pin. Includes a black painted “1915” dated steel tripod, and an extra unidentified small part. CONDITION: Good, retaining traces of original blue finish in protected areas with smooth brown patina overall, stampings as mentioned above, and sharp markings. Mechanically needs work, absent firing pin as mentioned above. Included tripod is fine with applied black paint and some light chips. 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. Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000