Page 342 - 4094-BOOK1

340
LOT 402
Factory Original Fully Transferable Heckler & Koch MP5A3 Submachine Gun,
Class III/NFA Fully Transferable Machine Gun with Extra Magazines - Serial
no. C317212, 9 mm cal., 9 1/4 inch round bbl., matte black finish, metal stock. One
of the definitive close combat weapons of the late 20th century, the Heckler &
Koch MP5 is the pistol caliber iteration of H&Ks closely interlinked family of
roller-delay operated weaponry, and was a go-to weapon for a laundry list
of military, police, and protective units, including a veritable who’s-who of the
“operator” community. Released in 1966, the MP5 was more intricate in design
than the “tube” SMG that became the de facto standard during World War II,
but brought closed-bolt accuracy, an ergonomic layout, selective fire flexibility
and relative ease of maintenance; with practice, mere seconds gives you
the bolt assembly in hand and breech open for cleaning, and the entire
trigger pack doesn’t take much longer. Accepted by a number of outfits in
the 60s and 70s, the MP5 gained celebrity status in 1980 when the Special
Air Service (famed for World War II exploits, but then publicly overlooked
due to their relatively secretive operations during the Cold War) breeched
the Iranian Embassy to end a hostage situation on live, national
television putting themselves and their MP5’s on the map
and in the public eye. The MP5 would then go to Hollywood,
becoming a signature piece of 1980s and 1990s pop culture in films,
television and video games, typically serving as a sort of visual shorthand for a
well-armed, well-trained fighting force; whether it be military or SWAT units in countless films or exceptional
criminals such as Hans Gruber’s team from Die Hard, the MP5 was a mark of distinction and professionalism (even if the dictates of
fiction meant they only hit what they aimed at when the plot allowed). Fiction aside, the career of the MP5 continues up to (and likely
well beyond) the time of this writing; while in theory the MP5’s niche is starting to be eroded by modern handgun-sized personal defense
weapons on one end and compact rifles (in both traditional calibers like 5.56mm or specialized rounds like 300 Blackout) on the other, the
MP5 is still regarded as a fine blend of accuracy, firepower, reliability and portability by many end-users, and the sun is unlikely to set on
it anytime soon.
Due to a recent shift in interpretation of relevant laws, in 2024 the BATFE made a determination that a number of NFA items imported
explicitly for use by authorized agencies between 1968 and 1986, which were originally treated as limited sales samples, should be
considered fully transferable firearms. It is estimated that 1,200 items are affected by this new understanding and recently clarified
transferability status, with an unknown number being MP5s.
In configuration, the MP5 has the traditional hooded post front and four-position drum rear sights, with the classic unthreaded
triple-lug muzzle on the “IE LD” and “eagle/N” marked barrel, “HK MP5” model nomenclature (with no evidence of a “HK94”
marking being scrubbed and replaced), serial number, “Ulm antler” and date code on top of the receiver, and the HK of
Chantilly, Virginia address on the right side of the magazine well, and “40523868” on the left side beneath the triangular
plastic forearm. The forearm has a small section of “loop” Velcro added, likely for a momentary switch or similar now-absent
accessory. The receiver is the traditional “pin” pattern with a functional paddle release, showing no evidence of a “shelf”
block being removed or a pin hole being added later, as well as no SOT manufacturer marks in the traditional hiding
spaces. A two-position telescoping buttstock is installed, with an ambidextrous trigger housing with pictographic “full
auto/three-round burst/semi-auto/safe” markings. Internally, the pin-pattern trigger pack is configured to match the markings
and fitted with an ambidextrous switch, and both the bolt and bolt carrier bearing “IE” (1984) date codes; the latter has a factory original sear trip with no evidence of welding, grinding or other modification. Included with the lot
are a commercial soft case, five extra magazines, a green canvas German military pattern sling, English language manual, spare extractor springs, and copies of 1993-vintage transfer paperwork for a (not included)
silencer and the MP5.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% plus original matte black finish, with minor scratches and handling marks on the metal and plastic. 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) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479. This item was previously identified as a pre-1986 “limited sales sample”,
but per a reevaluation of the relevant laws in 2024 the BATFE concluded that this designation was in error, and that the item should be transferable without restriction.
Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000