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SMITH & WESSON MKI LIGHT RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
SMITH & WESSON MKI LIGHT RIFLE.
Cal. 9mm. S# 1564. Bbl. 10". Smith & Wesson began its journey in the light rifle business in 1939 when they were contacted by the British Gov't. searching for a light weight military carbine. A very short blowback operated open bolt system was chambered in 9mm Luger which was already common in the British arsenal & prototypes submitted for consideration. Without extensive testing the British Gov't. placed an order for the new model 1940 rifle, transferring $1,000,000.00 to Smith & Wesson. Shortly after receiving them, problems relating to the more powerful loaded British 9mm ammo started to arise & Smith & Wesson made some immediate design changes. They included the addition of a sleeve over the center of the receiver, both to add strength & dbl. as a safety by blocking the firing mechanism & redesignating the model as the MKII, retroactively designating the previous offering as the MKI. Great Britain cancelled the order a short while later & just over 1,000 total firearms were sold & shipped. At Smith & Wesson just over 200 receivers had been completed & placed into storage & where they sat until the mid 1970s when these rifles were classified by BATFE as Curios & Relics. Just under 150 MKI variants & just under 100 MKII variants were finished & sold in the United States sporting market. Bbl. is fluted & tapered w/ a non adj. front blade sight. Rear sight is adj. for windage plus elevation. Firing from an open bolt, the reciprocating cocking handle is on the right side at approx. 1 o"clock. Serrated band encompasses receiver behind rear sight acting as a safety when rotated counter clockwise. The unique mag. well loads from the top rear, first is brought downward into place where it is protected by a massive mag. well that dbls. as a bottom dumping ejection port. The stock measures 11 1/2" at its longest point & is capped w/ a metal buttplate serial number to match the rifle. Markings include "Smith & Wesson" trademark logo on rear left side of receiver & serial number on bottom of receiver just to the rear of the trigger guard. Thin leather sling, attached on factory swivel. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 1 bbl. spanner wrench. MAGS: 2 steel factory 20 rd.; (often loaded w/ ease to 21 rds.). CONDITION: bluing is dark, deep & rich, consistent throughout the entirety of exposed metal surfaces, there are very few light handling marks & appears to have seen very little use, the stock exhibits a crack that encompasses the majority of the circumference but does not travel all the way around below the top receiver tang screw & possibly continues under the lower tang, the action moves freely & appears to function correctly when cycled by hand, good bore w/ strong rifling. (20-906/JZ). CURIO. $3,500-5,000.