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LOT 378
Douglas L. Oefinger Model 1917 Medium Machine Gun, Class III/NFA Fully Transferable Machine Gun, with Tripod and Accessories - Serial no. 159150, 30-06 , 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, plastic grips. Originally developed by John Browning, the water cooled Model 1917 machine gun was in many ways the American answer to, and improvement on, the 1908 Maxim Gun deployed by the Germans. Variations of the
1917, especially the air-cooled 1919 Model, would serve as the go-to medium machine gun of America’s armed forces through
the bulk of the 20th century,
and the basic structure would be developed and refined to create the M2 heavy machine gun, which stands to this very day as one of the best weapons in its class. This example was remanufactured
by the firm of Douglas L. Oefinger of Stamford,
Connecticut, using a combination of new-made
and military surplus components. Blade front and
folding ladder rear sights, with a set of Westinghouse-
style nomenclature on the right side plate above the
DLO address, a brass-capped steel water jacket, and a rear pistol grip. Threaded water plugs on barrel jacket are present and functional, with the drain cork absent. Included with the lot is a 1917A1 pattern tripod with integral traverse and elevation adjustment, steam hose, canvas belt, a threaded flash hider assembly, and some small tools.
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CONDITION: Fine as remanufactured, with 60% of
the refinished blue, showing areas of brown patina, spotting concentrated on the water jacket, and mild handling marks. The flash hider shows heavy corrosion, and the grips are loose with mild chips and dents. Mechanically needs adjustment. 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: 18,000 - 25,000