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Collector’s Fact
LOT 1336
Rare and Excellent World War II Smith & Wesson Model 1940 Mark I
Semi-Automatic Light Rifle - Serial no. 731, 9 mm Luger cal., 9 1/2 inch fluted bbl.,
blue finish, synthetic stock. Developed c. 1939 by Smith & Wesson, the Model 1940 Mark I “Light
Rifle” was based on a British government request for a semi-automatic, light-weight rifle design
chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge and tested against the M1 Carbine by the U.S. as a pistol
substitute for officers and support personnel. Despite some promising features, the rifles were
passed over by the U.S. and failed in British testing due to cracked receivers caused by higher
pressures generated by British military 9 mm Luger loads. Large numbers of the Light Rifles 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, making such examples rare today. According to Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks,
a number of crated Model 1940 Light Rifles (137 Mark I rifles and 80 Mark II rifles) were found by
Smith & Wesson in 1974 and subsequently liquidated as curios with explicit instructions that they were not to be loaded or fired as detailed on page 240 of “The History of Smith & Wesson” by Jinks. Features a fixed blade front
sight, knob adjustable notch rear sight (graduated from 200 to 400 yards), a throw-lever safety behind the right side of the trigger, a right side mounted reciprocating charging handle, and novel magazine housing that holds the
magazine, provides a downward facing casing ejection chute at the rear, and acts as a fore-grip for the user. The receiver bears the two line Smith & Wesson address on the left, two patent numbers on the right, along with the Mark
designation and serial number behind the trigger guard. Fitted with a black synthetic buttstock with ribbed blued buttplate marked with a matching serial number.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 97% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear and a few minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 6,000 - 8,000
LOT 1337
Outstanding U.S. Inspected Remington Model 31 Slide Action
Shotgun - Serial no. 39554, 12 gauge, 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut
stock. “BK” January 1941 date code on the left breech area of the matching numbered barrel. This Remington Model 31
is one of a reported 8,992 total delivered on U.S. government contract between 1940-1944 in both riot and training configurations, per page 91 of “Combat Shotguns” (2007)
by Bruce Canfield. Most of the early U.S. government acquired Model 31 shotguns were of the commercial type and used for security duties and gunnery training. 2 3/4 inch
chamber and improved cylinder choke. The solid matte rib is fitted with dual bead sights. With standard commercial markings on the barrel and frame, as well as “RLB” and flaming bomb U.S.
inspection marks on the left side of the frame. Neither the barrel nor the frame features any other U.S. property markings. The stock and forearm are oil finished black walnut with checkering on the
pistol grip and bottom portions of the forearm. The buttstock has a plastic Remington buttplate and pistol grip cap. Length of pull is 14 inches.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, as issued overall with 98% bright original blue finish remaining, some slide retraction marks visible on the magazine tube and action bar, and scattered light handling marks.
The excellent wood has almost all of the original oil finish, sharp checkering, and just a few small scattered dings. Mechanically excellent. One will not find a finer example!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
According to "History of Smith &
Wesson" by Roy Jinks, only 137
Smith & Wesson Model 1940
Mk. I Light Rifles were found
in 1974