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LOT 400
Rare Factory Original Fully Transferable Heckler & Koch MP5A2 Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA Fully
Transferable Machine Gun - Serial no. C317473, 9 mm cal., 9 inch round bbl., matte black finish, synthetic stock.
Manufactured in 1984. 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 a birdcage flash hider attached to the unthreaded three-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. The forearm has been upgraded to a Knight’s Armament Rail Adapter System, with rail sections on the sides and bottom, and three rail protectors attached. 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. An A2 profile fixed 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, the bolt marked “ID 201”
and bolt carrier marked “IE” (1984); the latter has a factory original sear trip with no evidence of welding, grinding or other modification. One magazine, with AWB-era restriction markings, is included.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 95% of the original matte black finish, showing a number of light scuffs and scratches appropriate to a well maintained but actively used service weapon, in particular scuffs from installing an accessory
rail on the receiver and wear around the magazine well. The furniture is also excellent, with light scuffs 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) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.
Estimate: 60,000 - 95,000