Mauser Borsigwalde machine gun shoots for the top at Amoskeag firearms auction

Amoskeag always offer intriguing collectible firearms, in this case a Mauser Borsigwalde machine gun

Whilst collectors of rare and antique firearms are no doubt intrigued by the upcoming sale of guns belonging to Bonnie & Clyde, they shouldn't miss out on a sale this weekend offering an impressive number of vintage weapons.

Amoskeag are always bringing up intriguing firearms for sale, such as a matching numbers Henry Repeating Rifle by New Haven Arms Company which they offered last year.

Of the near 900 lots being offered, the top lot is likely to be a German MG.42 Machine Gun by Mauser-Borsigwalde. Bearing serial #7254a, the piece has an 8mm Mauser, 21" barrel with a very good bore that has light pitting within the grooves.

This is an "ar" coded gun that has 90% or more of an excellent, armoury quality blue finish that has some fading along the high edges and bearing surfaces as well as minute handling marks scattered about.

The well-preserved German MG 42 Mauser Borsigwalde machine gun

There is also mild plum-brown freckling in a few spots along the ventilated barrel shroud and on the legs of the folding bipod. The top cover is modern and has about 97% of the original parkerised finish remaining while the grooved brown phenolic resin grips are in fine shape with minor handling marks and a few tiny chips along the edges, mostly at the butt on the left side.

The wooden buttstock is in very good-near fine condition but does have a few small handling marks and a 2 1/2" with-the-grain crack running back from the receiver.

This is an excellent example of one of the best general purpose machine guns ever made and would make a fabulous addition to any collection. It is expected to sell for $25,000-$35,000 in the auction which concludes in New Hampshire and online on January 7^th. As always, check your local gun laws before considering purchase.

Recent and related articles

· Bonnie & Clyde's Tommy Gun and Winchester 1897 aim high in Missouri auction | 4 January 2012

· Winchester model 1897 cartridge board leads Garth's antique firearms auction | 3 January 2012

· President Teddy Roosevelt's Colt revolver hits $207,000 at Rock Island Auctions | 8 December 2011

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Images: Amoskeag