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LOT 1380
Pearl Manufacturing M37 Light Machine Gun, Class III/NFA Fully
Transferable Machine Gun, with Tripod - Serial no. 1055, 30-06
Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, metal grips.
This is a very fine example of a desirable, late production M37 light
machine gun as manufactured by the Pearl Manufacturing Company
in Grants, New Mexico. The M37, was originally developed in the
late 1940s/early 1950s by SACO-Lowell Division that was basically
an updated/improved Browning 1919. Improvements were made
to the bolt and feed mechanism that allowed it to be switched from
a left to right hand feed. This mechanical change made it a perfect
candidate for use as a coaxially mounted tank machine gun. In that
configuration they were primarily used on the M48 and M60 Patton
medium tanks. It was also still employed in a flex-mounted version
as a fixed infantry weapon when equipped with the receiver
mounted front and rear sight and a tripod of some type or
as noted could be switched back to the coaxially mounted
gun. It has the standard air-cooled medium weight barrel
with a perforated barrel jacket. This example is configured
as an infantry version, so it is equipped with the tangent rear sight
and a folding front sight. The rear sight slide is graduated from 2-24
(200-2400) yards. It still retains its coaxially configured rear cocking
lever and link ejection chute. The side of the receiver is marked: “NO.
1055/GUN. MACHINE CAL .30 M37/PEARL MFG CORP GRANTS, NM”.
This rare machine gun was manufactured with a combined set of U.S.
surplus/commercial parts with the newly manufactured side plate.
This desirable machine gun includes an original GI M2 tripod that is
marked “U.S.-M2-L[circled]- C659331”
with its pintle and T & E mechanism.
CONDITION: Excellent with 95% plus parkerized finish overall
with edge and high spot wear with minimal signs of use. The side
plate markings are clear and distinct on the receiver. Mechanically
excellent. The tripod is in fine condition with 80% original parkerized
finish overall with the remainder having browned out. 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 478.
Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000