RARE Smith & Wesson, Model MKII 1940 Light Rifle, 9mm

[THREEDFLYER]

Hello all,

I know nothing about the MKII light rifle.....

Anyone know current values or seen one sell recently??

 

[AlanDavid]

The rifle in the photo is a Mark 1, not a Mark 2.

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

 

[thadheth]

Wards auctions just sold one for $2500 plus buyer's premium, shipping, and transfer. Not sure if Mark 1 or Mark 2. Only one bid, and estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 by the auction house, if I recall correctly.

 

[HardToHandle]

I believe most of them are the bottom of the North Sea. The Brits found them so terrible that they actually threw them in the ocean.

Forgotten Weapons would be my first stop -
Smith & Wesson Light Rifle, Model 1940 – Forgotten Weapons
S&W 1940 Light Rifles: Receiver Breakage is a Problem – Forgotten Weapons

At the end of the war, all but 5 of the 1,010 guns delivered were destroyed.

In 1974, crates of leftover Light Rifles were discovered in the basement of S&W – 137 MkI types and 80 MkII types. These were sold as a batch to Bill Orr of GT Distributors, who then sold them on the commercial market. Orr also petitioned ATF to exempt the guns from NFA short-barreled rifle classification (the guns have 9.75" barrels), and was successful – so these transfer as ordinary rifles despite their short barrels.

 

[Valmet]

I've always thought they were neat old guns and if one is willing to spend the money, they seem to pop up from time to time.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Wards auctions just sold one for $2500 plus buyer's premium, shipping, and transfer. Not sure if Mark 1 or Mark 2. Only one bid, and estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 by the auction house, if I recall correctly.

The one on Ward's is the one in the photos that I posted in Post #1.......I was thinking of putting a bid on it with the starting bid being $2,500 but the broken stock (at the wrist) caused me loose interest due to the fact that I would never realistically find a replacement and a repair is nearly impossible.

The gun sold at the very ending of the auction for $2,500 plus the 15% premium as you mentioned.

Figured even as a wall hanger that price was a bit steep.

 

[Steve912]

That's an awfully large magazine, for 9mm!

Disregard, got the info on combined mag well/ejection port.



S&W must have had primary enginerding staff on something
important--and assigned this project to the guy in the mailroom.

 

[JSR III]

IIRC, Bill Orr's son listed them on GB asking $1,950. I was trying to get one using my C&R and Bill's son agreed to accept it. Don't remember why I never went through with the deal but most likely something else came along that I wanted more.

I would like to have one but now that I'm semi retired funds are more scarce.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Too bad I didn't see this auction. I would have bought it at that price. I have access to two stocks, one metal one wood.

 

[yellolab]

Never knew this, thanks for sharing!

 

[AlanDavid]

I believe most of them are the bottom of the North Sea. The Brits found them so terrible that they actually threw them in the ocean.

Forgotten Weapons would be my first stop -
Smith & Wesson Light Rifle, Model 1940 – Forgotten Weapons
S&W 1940 Light Rifles: Receiver Breakage is a Problem – Forgotten Weapons

At the end of the war, all but 5 of the 1,010 guns delivered were destroyed.

In 1974, crates of leftover Light Rifles were discovered in the basement of S&W – 137 MkI types and 80 MkII types. These were sold as a batch to Bill Orr of GT Distributors, who then sold them on the commercial market. Orr also petitioned ATF to exempt the guns from NFA short-barreled rifle classification (the guns have 9.75" barrels), and was successful – so these transfer as ordinary rifles despite their short barrels.

Just over 500 of them saw service with the Royal Navy during the war. Used mainly for guarding naval dockyards. 200 went to Canada, I have no idea what happened to those rifles.
After the war the UK rifles were scrapped by melting down, steel was in short supply.
Regards
AlanD

 

[sw1834]

parts for 1940 light rifle

Too bad I didn't see this auction. I would have bought it at that price. I have access to two stocks, one metal one wood.

Don,
Do you still have access to these stocks from this post? I am looking to add to my display in Tulsa, and would be looking to buy or borrow if they could add to my display.
Sincerely, Jerry Fisher
SWCA #1834

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Don,
Do you still have access to these stocks from this post? I am looking to add to my display in Tulsa, and would be looking to buy or borrow if they could add to my display.
Sincerely, Jerry Fisher
SWCA #1834

All the experimental pieces for the Light Rifle are now in a private collection.