1044 VERY RARE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUNDESWEHR

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4,000.00USDby d*******H (50060)
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Oct 30 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
PROOFED FN FAL FROM PARKER HALE LTD. OF BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND. Cal. 308. S# 40199. Bbl. 21". 24" over 6.75" flash hider. Perhaps one of the rarest & most historically significant FAL rifles currently in the United States. This rifle, previously on loan to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, comes to us with an amazing historical record, and has even been included in the book "The METRIC FAL" by R. Blake Stevens & Jean E. Van Rutten, by serial number. While many advanced collectors are familiar with the "G-Series FALs", and their rarity & enhanced value, even being listed by serial number in the BATFE "Curios or Relics List" in Section II, This particular example was even more rare, and was the centerpiece in a Federal Trial in April of 1972. One of several rifles adopted after 1959 by the German Bundeswehr, it was owned by Parker Hale Ltd. of Birmingham, England with the idea of offering it for sale in the U.S.A. commercial market as a semiautomatic. It was modified by welding the safety sear in place, removing the upper tail piece, removing the safety sear lug on the bolt carrier & grinding off the superior hammer notch. Unlike the G Series guns, which were exempted from the normal ATF foolishness, if listed by number, this gun was confiscated by BATFE (Then known as the "ATFU" Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms Unit) and the owner charged with illegal possession of an unregistered machine gun. The owner, a California machine gun dealer, sued the government and on April 27th, 1972, The Honorable Judge Harry Pregerson ruled that after seeing the evidence, including a perfectly legal G Series gun, that the modified FAL WAS NOT a Machine Gun and ordered it returned to the owner. This whole case is spelled out in the book "THE METRIC FAL" on pages 297 & 298. Also included w/ this rifle is a 3-ring binder including several photocopies of the original court documents. This is quite an interesting rifle! It is a Metric Pattern rifle stamped "ENGLAND" on the bottom tang of the lower receiver to the rear of the pistol grip. The left side of the lower receiver is also marked w/ the serial number "40199". The upper receiver is marked "Gew. Kal. 7.62mm FN 40199" on the left, to the rear of the charging handle. The right side , on the mag-well is marked "1005-13-100-0010 / 10/57", also bearing the Bundeswehr Eagle Proof Mark. Parkerized finish on external surfaces. Steel handguard w/ integrated folding bipod, clamped below gas block on barrel. Folding carry handle above ejection port. Hardwood pistol grip & matching shoulder stock w/ trap door. Currently sporting tan canvas sling. MAGS: 1 steel 20 rd. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 3-ring binder containing court documents pertaining to California Machine Gun Case. Soft cover copy of book "The Metric FAL". CONDITION: Finish is thin, but retains complete & consistent coverage on barrel & receivers. Handguard finish has thinned to a typical light gray. Bore is clean w/ strong rifling. Fire control mechanism appears to function correctly when cycled by hand. (25-4611/JZ). CURIO. $8,000-12,000.