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EXTREMELY RARE MUSEUM GRADE, HEINRICH KRIEGHOFF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:150,000.00 USD Estimated At:300,000.00 - 500,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE MUSEUM GRADE, HEINRICH KRIEGHOFF

ALL ORIGINAL, FULLY TRANSFERABLE, SECOND MODEL GERMAN FG42. Cal. 7.92 (8MM). S# 01683. Bbl. 20”. Manufactured by Heinrich Krieghoff. There are very few military arms that garner the interest of the German FG42 (Fallschirmjagergewehr 42) Paratroop Rifle. It was designed during WWII to function much in the same capacity as the US BAR. It was more portable than the crew served heavy machine guns, while being chambered in the same round, which performed terrific and was already in great supply in the government inventory. It was believed to have been fielded by the German Luftwaffe in the rescue of Mussolini and is a direct decedent of the wildly popular class of modern Assault Rifles. Although it may not have been optimal in every area, it could perform tasks previously reserved for specific systems such as the submachine gun, heavy machine guns and even rifles. The FG42 was developed by Rheinmettal-Borsig for the German Airforce (Luftwaffe) and utilized an ingenious fire control mechanism where it fired from a closed bolt for accurate semiautomatic fire and fired from an open bolt while fully automatic is selected, to run cooler, and help to avoid cookoffs under heavy fire. That was accomplished by use of a swivel mounted sear which was moved left or right to engage the proper sear notch for the preferred function. The bolt design was heavily influenced by the Lewis Gun and lived on for many more years where its similarities were shared in the US M60 machine gun. The FG42 is gas operated & the reciprocating charging handle is affixed to the piston on the right side of the rifle. It used the now common strait line stock configuration where the recoil system continued into the sliding, detachable shoulder stock. The barrel is terminated w/ a course thread that hosts a unique & effective muzzle brake consisting of 10 fins & 103 ports. The ports were staggered, each fin hosting 11 ports & 10 ports w/ the final fin holding 8. The brake measures 3.53” in length and is secured w/ a spring loaded arm on top of the barrel, forward of the front sight assembly. Mounted to the rear of the muzzle brake below the barrel is a stamped, folding bipod that folds rearward, completely encompassing the unique spike bayonet, which carried facing rearward when not in use, with its tip captured and protected by the forward section of the gas system. The bayonet measures approximately 10.75” and is retained by a spring-loaded locking mechanism. It has 4 deep grooves and a very pointed tip. The front sight measures 2.06” in length when unfolded for use and consists of a hooded post. The rear sight is a folding, spring loaded peep sight, adjustable from 100 meters to 1200 meters and is adjusted by depressing it and turning a barrel below the aperture. It measures approximately 2.25” when presented for use and fully extended. The magazine holds 20rds. & presents from the left side of the receiver. In typical German fashion, even the magazine well is over engineered, boasting 2 dust covers, one on the top and another on the bottom of the feed section. They are spring loaded and disengage w/ a press of single button. The ejection port is on the right, directly above the pistol grip. The brass deflector at the rear of the port consists of a bent & riveted metal piece of steel. Fire controls are on the left side, above the pistol grip, both the safety & selector. The stock & forend are hardwood, while the pistol grip is a brown bakelite in a much more traditional angle compared to the first model which had a sharp angle, facing rearward. This example appears to have the original spike bayonet and retains the correct leather sling. Visible markings include; (on top of receiver) 2 Krieghoff proof marks above “FZS” (Heinrich Krieghoff factory code) “FG 42 / 01683”. Left side of trigger has Krieghoff parts qualification proof code. Left side of trigger group marked “E – D” to switch function from semiautomatic, closed bolt operation to open bolt fully automatic operation. The translation is “Einzelfeuer” (Semiautomatic) & “Dauerfeuer” (Fully Automatic). Shoulder stock marked “1683” matching the receiver number. Several small parts, such as front & rear sights, bipod legs, muzzle brake retaining lever, spike bayonet, etc contain small stampings of “1” or “2”. Several other areas such as gas assembly & trigger group include the “FZS” Heinrich Krieghoff factory code. The FG42 was designed in a few different configurations, this being the second model. These guns were extremely time consuming and expensive to produce and therefore not given a high priority to continue manufacture, and combined w/ the declining priority given the paratroop division of the Luftwaffe, it quickly faded away in favor of other weapon systems. MAGS: 1 original factory NOS 20rd w/ 1942 Krieghoff parts qualification proof on front locking lug, still wearing cosmoline, inside & out. CONDITION: This is the finest example of an FG42 that this cataloger has yet to encounter. The dark black finish is complete & consistent w/ very little wear for a gun from this period. The receiver, trigger group & bipod still wear the correct dark, black paint, while the barrel & original spike bayonet are blued. Some thinning focused primarily in areas of mechanical intervention such as where the bipod closes against the gas block below the barrel. Pistol grip is in beautiful condition w/ only a few light impressions, retaining strong checkering on both panels. Wooden shoulder stock is free of any obvious blemishing aside from natural wood defects. The takedown button to remove the stock functions smoothly and works correctly. The rear of the stock is serrated & also in beautiful condition. Unique wooden forend, possesses serrations around the front circumference extending to the rear hand shelf on the bottom & top. There are 8 ventilation slots on the top. The condition is beautiful, matching the shoulder stock in color & finish & has only a few small hairline cracks on the right side that appear not to have any structural significance. There appears to be a small wood repair on the right side, forward of the charging handle measuring approximately 1” x 0.25”. Bipod locks as intended on both open & closed positions. Bore is bright w/ descent rifling. Fire control mechanism appears to function correctly when cycled by hand. NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-1590/JZ) CURIO CLASS III $300,000-500,000.