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LOT 375
Scarce United Defense/Marlin M42
City of Berkeley, Missouri Marked
Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully
Transferable Machine Gun, with Extra
Magazines - Serial no. 11348, 9 mm cal., 11
inch round bbl., parkerized finish, hardwood
stock. Originally designed by Carl Swebilius
of High Standard, the M42 was intended as
a competitor for the Thompson SMG in police and military contract sales. One
of the last generation of “heavy metal” SMGs, the M42 used machined steel and
polished wood much like the Thompson, though with a more streamlined design
with easier takedown. Unable to commit to the design due to a massive orders for
M2 machine guns, the design went to the United Defense Supply Corporation, a private
outfit established and run by then-members of the British Purchasing Commission, who
went to Marlin for the actual act of manufacturing. Originally sought out by
the Dutch, a large quantity of M42s were left in the warehouse when the
Netherlands fell to the Germans. The Office of Strategic Services and the
U.S. Navy took interest in the surplus weapons, dropping them in occupied
territories (which unfortunately included a large quantity captured in
France by the Germans and handed over to the Milice), funneling them to
the Nationalist and Socialist Chinese, as well as arming their own agents.
In clandestine work, the M42 was noted as being vulnerable to sand and
mud and in need of diligent maintenance, but it was easier to clean and had a higher
potential accuracy out to 100 yards. Fitted with a fixed blade front and windage/
elevation adjustable rear sights, with a circled “P” stamped on the right side of the
chamber, the three-line address and model markings on the left side of the trigger
housing, and the three-position selector (“SEMI-AUTO”, “-SAFE-” and “AUTO”) on the right
side. Contoured front pistol grip and smooth buttstock with a checkered steel trapdoor
buttplate. The left side of the trigger housing is marked “BPDW12” in electric pencil, with
a decal on the right side of the stock identifying the item as the property of the City of
Berkeley, Missouri; it was likely acquired post-WWII for use as a police weapon. Two extra
magazines and a green nylon sling are included.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 85% plus of the original parkerized finish, showing areas of
gray and brown patina, bright edge wear and minor handling marks. The furniture is very
good, with a number of scattered dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This
weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered
with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified
as a “Curios or Relic” as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.
Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000 311