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LOT 359
Excellent and Desirable Smith & Wesson Model 1940 Mk. II Semi-
Automatic Light Rifle - Serial no. 2112, 9 mm Luger cal., 12 1/2 inch fluted
bbl., blue finish, composite stock. Developed in the 1940s, the Smith
& Wesson Light Rifle was a contender for military contracts with both
the British and the Americans and squared off against the M1 Carbine
as a pistol substitute for officers and support personnel. While it had
some novel features, such as the dual-purpose magazine well/ejector
port, it failed at trials. Large numbers of the Light Rifle were destroyed,
both during testing and afterwards, including a reported incident of the
British cutting their Light Rifle samples up with a blowtorch and tossing
the resulting scrap into the English Channel. According to the Smith &
Wesson historian, in 1974 Smith & Wesson found a limited number of
unfired 1940 light rifles packed in crates. These were classified as Curio
& Relic items and sold as collector’s pieces. According to Jinks on page
240 of “History of Smith & Wesson,” 137 Mark I rifles were found along with only
80 Mark II rifles. The front sight is a fixed blade, and the rear sight is an
adjustable notch. The wide magazine housing serves a dual purpose. The
front section holds the actual magazine, and the rear portion is actually
the ejection port, so the fired cartridges are ejected directly to the ground
instead of into the air. The action operates from an open bolt, with the
cocking handle on the right side. The receiver is fitted with a corrugated
steel sleeve that doubles as a safety and as reinforcement for the receiver.
The rifle is marked with the Smith & Wesson trademark on the left side
of the receiver at the wrist and the serial number on the underside with
the “MK2” designation. The pistol grip stock is made of a black plastic/composite
material and is fitted with a serrated metal buttplate that is marked with the serial number. Includes an original MKI manual.
CONDITION: Excellent with 98% plus bright original blue finish and some scattered small handling marks and surface nicks. Mechanically excellent. Manual is excellent.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "History of Smith
& Wesson" by Roy Jinks, only 80
Smith & Wesson Model 1940
Mk. II Light Rifles were found
in 1974.
LOT 358
Very Fine World War II
U.S. Stevens Model 520-30
Slide Action Trench Shotgun - Serial no.
63574, 12 gauge, 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is a very fine example of a World War II U.S. contract Stevens Model 520-30
trench shotgun with the bayonet lug adapter and ventilated six-hole handguard. A martial variant of a John Browning designed sporting gun, the 520 trench
gun was originally developed in response to a World War I request for new fighting shotguns for the American Expeditionary Force. It made a strong impression on the
evaluators but did not make it into the field before the armistice was signed. Seeing potential for the gun on the police market, Stevens kept production going until 1932, and
at the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. government bought every 520 that was still in the warehouse. Checked back into the arsenals at the end of the war, many were sent back into the
field for the Korean War and Vietnam War. The right of the barrel has the three-line Stevens/Savage company Chicopee Falls address, and the left has the two-line gauge markings. Choke
gauges at cylinder. The left of the receiver is stamped “MOD.520-30” ahead of “U.S.”, and the correct “P” above a flaming bomb proof is on the right of the barrel at the breech and left front
edge of the receiver. The stock and bayonet lug are correctly fitted with sling swivels. Length of pull is 14 inches.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% original blue finish, showing a proper plum hue on the bayonet lug adapter, moderate light cycling wear on the magazine tube, areas of smooth brown
and gray patina on the balance, minor spotting and light handling marks. Wood is also very fine with some scattered light handling marks and defined edges. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000