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Although a few examples are known in prominent museums, Nordenfelt guns never gained widespread success, and any surviving example today is considered extremely rare and desirable as an evolutionary piece in the story of “machine gun” development. The weapon basically functions by simply moving the side mounted crank handle backwards and forwards. The initial operation of the weapon is by retracting the crank handle to the rear, this movement retracts the breech bolts rearward, which in turn allows ten rounds to drop from the gravity feed hopper magazine located on top of the weapon through the cutouts on top of the receiver/top cover. Upon pushing the crank handle forward, this advances the breech
bolts forward, while simultaneously positioning the rounds in line with the chambers in which the ten rounds fire at the end of travel. The operation is repeated with the addition of the extraction and ejection function for each cartridge, in which the empty shells drop out the bottom. The speed or cyclic rate of firing is determined by how fast the operator can move
the crank handle forward and backwards. The weapon itself is all machined steel with a “U” shaped frame in which the
ten barrels are mounted in parallel, with a brass breechblock, dual blade and notch sights on the left and right with elevation adjustable rear sights. The gun is mounted on a museum quality professionally made reproduction carriage with a single large elevation knob mechanism for the gun on the left side and a large hand-cranked, worm-gear driven traverse mechanism on the bottom of the gun. The matching serial number “163” is marked on the frame and on some of the components. A small circled “RA” logo is stamped in a few spots. Museum quality professionally made reproduction crank firing handle and right rear sight elevation dial, with the originals of each included (the included original sight dial is cracked/partially absent). The gun is chambered in a necked .43 centerfire caliber and includes some dummy cartridges.
CONDITION: Fine with a mix of gray and brown patina on the iron with some scattered patches of light surface pitting. Professionally made museum quality reproduction firing handle, sight elevation adjustment knob, magazine and some small screws as mentioned above. The professionally made reproduction iron carriage is very fine, retains 97% green painted finish with a few scattered small chips, and the wheels are sturdy with some mild paint wear on the outer bands. Mechanically excellent. Surviving examples of Nordenfelt Volley “Machine” guns are extremely
rare in any form, with the limited remaining examples residing in museums.
Opportunities to acquire one are next to nonexistent!
Estimate: 65,000 - 110,000
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