AUCTIONS Poulin Premier Firearms Auction WONDERFULLY RARE EARLY PRODUCTION SERIAL #25 MODEL

1058 WONDERFULLY RARE EARLY PRODUCTION SERIAL #25 MODEL

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 12 @ 11:21UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 6,000.00 USD
Estimated at 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
1918 TANKGEWEHR BOLT ACTION SINGLE SHOT ANTI TANK RIFLE WITH EXTREMELY SCARCE AMMUNITION POUCH AND ORIGINAL AMMUNITION. Cal. 13X92SR. S# 25. Bbl. 35 1/4". Tangent rear sight marked with numerals to 500 meters and graduated with lines to 2,000 meters in 50 meter increments. Nicknamed “elefantenbuchse” by the German soldiers, these massive anti-tank rifles were the first weapons designed specifically to combat the increasing use of tanks by the allied forces. The new anti-tank rifle allowed a much surer penetration of the relatively thinly armored early tanks than was possible w/ the steel cored “K” ammunition used in rifles and machine guns. Even if penetration with the powerful 13mm cartridge was not achieved, spalling and loose rivets could still cause lethal threat to tank crewmen. Mauser Werke was tasked in Nov. 1917 to produce an anti-tank weapon & developed in a remarkably short time. The rifles were issued starting in June of 1918. The ammunition had been already under development by the Polte Ammunition Factory in Magdeburg. This ammunition used a semi-rimmed case 92mm long and had a steel cored bullet 13mm in diameter. The bullet weighed approximately 795 grains with a muzzle velocity of 2560’ per sec. this would allow a penetration of approximately 1 inch of armor at 100 meters. The original intent was to develop a “Tank und Flieger (TuF)” machine gun using this cartridge but the machine gun never reached front line service. The “Kurz” marked rifles are extremely scarce variations of an already rare rifle. The barrels were manufactured 3 3/4" shorter than the later versions of the Model 1918 leaving the barrels notably larger at the muzzle end. There is some question that there were Kurz rifles made with a shorter version of the standard 13X92SR cartridge. This rifle is however chambered for the full length cartridge. The rifle has a huge breech bolt with a straight handle and 4 locking lugs, 2 each at front and rear. This rifle has a 1 piece walnut stock which is rarely seen as most had 2 piece Elm stocks making this rifle a truly unique piece. The receiver is marked on top with a crisp legible Mauser banner and dated “1918”. Barrel marked on the left side over the chamber “KURZ”, “25” and the Prussian eagle proof. The right side of the barrel marked with “18”, oriented to be read from the top. S# 25 appears on the left side of the receiver ring, barrel, bolt handle, bolt shroud, cocking piece and trigger guard. The bolt release is unnumbered. Non rotating extractor. Standard Mauser type flag safety. Walnut stock is not equipped with a buttplate as these were not used on the Model 1918s. There is a separate walnut pistol grip located behind the trigger guard. Stock marked on the right side of the butt with 2 royal monograms and marked underneath behind pistol grip w/ royal monogram. Barrel band marked on the right side with the “BATF” registration numbers. Band has flanges to accept the “MG08/15” light machine gun bipod. The bipod has the later tubular leg construction with stamped and riveted feet. The right foot marked “M.O.” Imperial Crown. These bipods replaced the sheet metal models made for light machine guns which did not prove durable enough. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: included in this grouping is an extremely rare example of a heavy green canvas like ammunition carrier. The unmarked carrier has internal loops for 20 cartridges and is supported by a woven shoulder strap with an over center buckle. Flap is closed by two leather tabs held by steel buttons (one tab is not present). Carrier contains 19 loaded original cartridges including an example headstamped “P”, “T67”, “18”, “4” (indicating manufactured date of April 1918 which dates before the gun was issued for general service) plus 2 misfires and 1 cartridge which has had the bullet pulled, the powder removed and the bullet replaced in the unfired case. They all have Polte (P) headstamps, are all marked T67 and date from June to November of 1918. The ammunition carrier has light wear & staining. Stitching is generally tight. Carrier strap ends are slightly frayed but have threaded serving. The missing retainer strap leaves a small amount of original attaching thread. The cartridges have varying states of oxidation from long storage but are in generally good condition with legible headstamps. there are copies of a handwritten letter dated April 6, 1977 from Frederick A. Morgan to his son Thomas H. Morgan regarding the circumstance and location in France where he obtained the gun and the details of how it was shipped home. Also included is the ATF paperwork from the registration of this rifle in Oxnard, California. The group additonally includes a book entitled, “Das Tankgewehr Mauser M 1918” by Wolfgang Kern which features this Kurz rifle serial #25 in chapter 5 with considerable photographic detail between pages 57-59. The book although written with German text shows a number of the Mauser Antitank rifles & early tanks, and also a nice view of the TUF 13mm machine gun mounted on a wheeled carriage. The grouping includes a book authored and signed by Jeff Noll titled The Imperial German Regimental Marking. There are a number of copied photographs showing the Model 1918 in the hands of German troops including the rifles and cloth ammunition pouches. The pouches pictured show two different types of shoulder straps. One of the photos shows two soldiers each holding “bundled” stick type antitank grenades. In another there are 2 Model 1918 rifles resting on a bench with a British Whippet tank in the background, likely a captured example used for training. A letter to Glen E. Mattox from the former owner of this rifle, Jeffery R. Noll, dated November 11, 2018, in which he states that the family of Frederick Morgan was not able to supply an original photograph of Frederick, however there is a 3.5"X5" photocopy of 3 American officers who are identified on the back as Frederick, Albert and Charles. The letter from Glen Mattox is a summarized history of the rifle S# 25. The letter details how the rifle was purchased from Frederick for $130 by his son, Thomas who delivered the rifle to Jeffrey Noll in California. Mr. Noll expressed concern that the rifle was still designated a destructive device and took it to the BATF office in Oxnard CA. where it was duly registered and the transfer tax paid. The provenance includes the original paperwork including ATF form 4 dated 7/26/77. We have included a copy of section 3 of the BATF Curios And Relics List – Section 3 “Firearms Removed from the Provisions of The National Firearms Act And The Classified As Curios And Relics, Still Subject To The Provisions Of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, The Gun Control Act of 1968”. As indicated in this section even though the bore diameter is over 1/2" and would typically be categorized as a destructive device, the German Model 1918 in caliber 13.25mm is exempt from those provisions and treated as any traditional long gun. There is a letter from W.H. Woodin of the Woodin Laboratory to Mr. Noll dated April 5, 1983 inquiring if the KURZ stamping referred to a shorter version of the normal cartridge (rifle is chambered for the standard cartridge) and 2 more letters from A.W.Gibbs in the United Kingdom concerning the possibility of the rifle being chambered for a shorter cartridge. The family of Fred Morgan provided copies of his letters written to his sister, Natalie Morgan, in 1918 and 1919. Mr. Morgan was a member of the 524th Engineers AEF. There are photocopies of original German antitank warfare pamphlets which mention the Renault F T 17 light tank and the English Whippet light tank. Included are a number of reprinted magazine articles detailing the German antitank rifles one of which is from “The Gun Report” December 1939. CONDITION: the stock has the expected moderate wear and handling marks commensurate with service in a harsh environment but leaving a visually appealing appearance. There is a very slight chipping at the end of the receiver tang and a tiny 1" crack at the forward end of the trigger guard. The bright receiver and bolt are turning overall gray with peppery oxidation throughout. The balance of the metal parts are turning an overall dark patina with light wear and scattered handling marks. There are slight abrasions on both sides of the barrel behind the front sight. The receiver ring has a shallow dent approx. 1/2" by 1/8" by the left edge of the banner. The bipod has a worn patina finish with light oxidation and scattered fine pitting. The bore is shiny but shows light wear to the lands and a slight hint of darkening in the corners of the grooves. PROVENANCE: This unique rifle was brought back from France in 1919 and has a provenance with a detailed chain of ownership from Kaiser Wilhelm (1918) to Frederick A. Morgan (1918-1977) who picked up the rifle in France, to Jeffrey Noll (1977-2018) to Glen E. Mattox (2018-). From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox. (23-120/RW). CURIO. $12,000-18,000.
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