Page 251 - 4093-BOOK3

LOT 3357
Grouping of Items from Staff Sergeant Arthur E. Duebner of the First Special Service Force and
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Born in Wisconsin in 1924, Arthur Duebner entered
military service in February of 1943, initially training with the 86th Infantry Division before
volunteering for “hazardous duty” and being selected for the First Special Service Force during
its initial formation. Duebner’s service would run the entire lifespan of the First SSF, from initial
training to their breakup in December of 1944; per an included narrative (originally supplied by
Duebner to an newspaper in 1994), Duebner was one of only two enlisted men still left from their
initial deployment. His service would include several major milestones, including the SSF’s first
deployment to the Aleutian Islands, the assault on La Difensia, the Anzio beachhead, the landing
on Ile du Levant for Operation Dragoon, and finally participating in action on the French/Italian
border. After the SSF was disbanded, Duebner transferred to E Company, 504th Parachute Infantry
Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, where he would participate in the assault on the Siegfried Line,
the crossing of the Elbe River (where his narrative claims he was the first man across the pontoon
bridge on April 30th, 1945), the liberation of the Woebbelin Concentration Camp, and the final
advance towards Berlin at the close of the war. Occupation duty was relatively brief, and he was
on his way home in September of 1945. The included book “A Commemorative History”
includes Duebner in the listings and verifies his anecdote about the Elbe crossing,
further stating that in civilian life he was a self-employed carpenter, semi-retired at
the time of publishing. Included in the grouping are five SSF “Arrowhead” patches
(four standard, one with gold bullion border accents), three “bowie knife” patches (two
printed, one embroidered), two “arrowhead with Viking longboat” patches, “AA” patch
and “AIRBORNE” rocker, silver jump wings, six medals (Silver Star, Purple Heart, Good
Conduct x2, WWII Victory, and American Defense), and an assortment of ribbon bars
and small insignia.
CONDITION: Good overall, with mild wear and staining appropriate to age, heavier
staining/discoloration on the ribbon bars, creasing and flaking of one of the “Bowie”
patches, and an absent ribbon from one of the Good Conduct medals.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3354
World War II U.S. Inland M1A1 Paratrooper Semi-
Automatic Carbine with Jump Case - Serial no. 676163,
30 cal., 18 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured as part of the first serial number
block in October 1942 - December 1943. Unmarked
blade front and “S” marked two-leaf rear sights, with an
Inland “8-43” barrel, “A.I.” blued flat top bolt, smooth button
safety, “EI” magazine catch, “K.I.” magazine, milled “INLAND” trigger housing, “IN” hammer, “R.I.” sear and “PI”
slide. The low wood stock is fitted with a “IO” 2-rivet handguard, unmarked Type I barrel band, and stamped with
a circled “P” proof on the rear surface, with “slim jim” pistol grip stamped “IO” on bottom, and the
folding buttstock fitted with a leather pad, brass rivets, and a checkered steel butt marked on the
underside with drawing number “B257614” next to a circled asterisk logo and a “6”. A green canvas
paratrooper-style carrier pouch is included.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 95% of the original parkerized finish, showing mild cycling wear,
handling marks and areas of brown patina on the metal stock. The stock is fine, with scuffing on
the left side from contact with the buttplate, and mild scuffs and scratches overall.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3355
U.S. Property Marked Harrington & Richardson M4 Bolt Action
Survival Rifle - Serial no. 28170, 22 hornet cal., 17 3/4 inch round
bbl., parkerized finish, metal stock. This is an example of a “U.S. Air Force” M4 bolt
action survival rifle. These rifles were developed after World War II for use by fighter pilots
and bomber crews. They were stored under the seats in aircraft, and not intended as a defensive weapon,
but more for hunting and survival in the event of a downed aircraft. They saw service well into the late 1950s and early 1960s with B-52 bomber
crews. Manufactured by H&R at the Worcester, Massachusetts plant, the rifle has a blade front sight and Lyman 55-H adjustable rear peep sight, matching
numbers on the barrel and receiver, two-line manufacturer address on the left side of the receiver, “RIFLE, SURVIVAL, CAL .22, M4 (HORNET CARTRIDGE)/U.S.
PROPERTY” on the left side of the lower frame, and telescoping wire buttstock. Modern welded fixed flash hider bringing the barrel length to 17 3/4 inches from its
original 14 inches, which removes this item from the provisions of the NFA.
CONDITION: Very fine as modified with a pinned/welded fixed flash hider on the barrel, retains 98% original parkerized finish with some light freckling. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Jon M. Maxwell Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3356
Historic World War II Wilkinson Sword Fairbairn-Sykes Second Pattern Dagger
with Special Order Etching Attributed to a Sergeant with the 507th Parachute
Infantry Regiment - Manufactured by Wilkinson Sword Company, this Second
Pattern F-S Dagger measures 11 1/4 inches overall with a 6 3/8 inch blade, steel
flat oval guard, knurled and blackened brass grip, and a brown leather sheath with
blackened brass tip, leather “mounting tabs” and an elastic retention strap. The blade
is etched with the traditional Wilkinson trade mark and “THE/F-S/FIGHTING/KNIFE”
on the ricasso, with “JOHN W. EARLY” in a scroll panel further up the blade. While the
option faded in popularity as the war went on, Wilkinson Sword is known to have
etched and decorated F-S blades on special order for both personal marking and
presentation purposes. Information supplied by the consignor identifies Early as a
Sergeant with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Exact
details of his service are unknown, but newspaper records suggest he was originally
from Indiana and was killed in action around February 1945.
CONDITION: Very fine, with crisp etched panel, minor spotting and wear on the
otherwise fine blade, and some cracking and scuffing on the very good sheath.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500 249