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LOT 1401
Rare North Vietnamese 1965 Production SKS-45 Semi-Automatic Rifle with
Bayonet - Serial no. 653805, 7.62x39 mm cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, birch stock. Starting work in 1959, the North Vietnamese constructed a factory for the production and overhaul of small arms north of Hanoi, with assistance provided from the Chinese No. 296 arms factory, which began operation in 1962. From then to 1965 the factory produced roughly 6,000 SKS-45 pattern semi-automatic rifles for the North Vietnamese Army, before the facility was destroyed by U.S.A.F. strategic bombing. The small production numbers during that period make North Vietnamese produced SKS rifles the rarest variant of the classic Soviet design, made even more so by the fact that the only examples in the United States made their way in as war trophies. This example was manufactured before the factory’s destruction in 1965, as indicated by the first two digits of the serial number. Features hooded post front and adjustable tangent rear sights, “star 1” mark on the left of the receiver, and folding knife bayonet. Witch matching serial numbers on the bolt carrier and dust cover, with the bolt and trigger housing numbered to different rifles. Fitted with smooth oiled birch handguard and stock, with the butt numbered to a different rifle and a trapdoor metal buttplate. Includes a web sling with leather keepers. CONDITION: Very good as a North Vietnamese produced copy of the SKS-45, with scattered light pitting over dull arsenal blue, minor spotting, and minor handling marks. Replacement stock is fine as sanded and re-oiled. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1402
Historic Vietnam Bring Back Chinese Type 56 SKS Semi-Automatic Carbine with Bayonet - Serial no. 11342378, 7.62x39 mm cal., 20 inch round bbl., gray paint finish, hardwood stock. Manufactured in China at Factory 26, this Type 56 Carbine was one of many to be sent south during the Vietnam war by the Chinese as aid to the communist North Vietnamese, and such carbines were used extensively throughout the conflict. Two
documents are included. One is a reduced photocopy of Form 603-1 which records a Chinese SKS serial number “42376” (two digits off from this example, as marked on the bolt and dust cover; client notes state this is a typo) claimed as a war trophy by a David Roy Haglund of Company B, 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Battalion (sic), dated 15 September 1970. The second is an attached handwritten tag that states that David Roy was a Major in the 158th Battalion and received this carbine as a token of appreciation from a SOG (Studies and Operations Group, a multi-service special operations/unconventional warfare unit active in Vietnam and surrounding countries) unit he helped extract under fire from “Mia Loc” (sic, possibly meaning Firebase Mai Loc, a joint U.S. Army/ARVN base in Central Vietnam) in 1970. Hooded post front and tangent rear sights, “26 in triangle” marking on the left side of the receiver, and matching numbers on the dust cover, bolt, bolt carrier and magazine. A hinged “pigsticker” style bayonet is attached to the barrel. Smooth hardwood stock with a tan canvas sling. CONDITION: Fair, with 50% of an applied paint finish present on the carbine, showing areas of exposed metal with gray and brown patina, dents on the magazine and mild spotting and handling marks overall. Stock is fair as sanded and cleaned, with holes and pinned repairs in the forearm and ink staining on the right side of the buttstock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1403
Two Captured War Trophy Bolt Action Military Rifles of Major General John C. Bennett with Documentation -A) “ce/41” Code J.P. Sauer &
346
Son K98k Rifle with Presentation Plaque to “Lt. Col. John Bennett” - Serial no. 5269c, 7.92 mm Mauser cal., 23 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, laminate stock. These two captured rifles offered are accompanied by numerous documents related to the service of Major General John Charles Bennett, who they belonged to. An included January 22nd, 2024, dated provenance letter states, “My father, Major General John Charles Bennett brought back from Vietnam the Mauser K98 No. 5209 which was presented to him (then a Lt. Col.) as 2nd in command of the 5th Special Forces Group. He also brought back the ChiCom carbine, no. 14020.” A rectangular brass plaque on the right of the buttstock of this rifle is inscribed “TO: LT. COL. JOHN BENNETT/’THE ROAD RUNNER’/FROM: The Officers and Men of Det C-2/5th SFG (ABN)/ Thanks, God Speed and Good Luck to a/Magnificent Soldier”. John Bennett was a highly decorated individual who had multiple important assignments, active with the U.S. Army/ Special Forces between June 5th, 1945, to August 31st, 1972, and, after retiring from service as a Major General, he joined the White House staff as an assistant to General Alexander Haig, the President’s chief of staff, and was the official custodian of the Nixon tapes during the final year of the Watergate scandal. The lot includes papers related to Bennett’s testimony during court proceedings. During his active military service, Bennett was awarded numerous medals, among them notably the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with first and eighth oak leaf clusters. “ce” manufacturer code above “41” date on top of the receiver, with “X” Russian capture marking. Mixed numbers visible on components. CONDITION: Good, with half of the darkened refinished blue finish and a mix of brown and gray patina on the balance with some patches of light pitting. Refinished stock is very good with some scattered light scratches and dents, and a few small cracks and chips. Absent cleaning rod. Mechanically excellent. B) Chinese Type 53 Mosin-Nagant Carbine with Bayonet - Serial no. I4020, 7.62x54 R cal., 20 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock. Reference “A” description. Manufactured at Factory 26 in China in 1960. Matching numbered bolt, with non-matching replacement stock. CONDITION: Fair with brown patina, dings and pitting on the metal, and a replacement front screw on the trigger guard/magazine housing. Refinished stock is good with numerous scattered scratches and dents and a crack visible on top of the tip of the handguard. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,250