^Lot 1018 VERY RARE VIETNAM BRINGBACK HOTCHKISS UNIVERSAL

SUBMACHINE GUN. Cal. 9mm. S# 4205. Bbl. 10 3/4". Blade front sight with hood. Folding aperture rear sight. The French Hotchkiss Universal SMG is known as the "Transformer Gun" due to its ability fold into a compact package. This particular example is the only transferable curio example this cataloger is aware of. This maybe the only chance the advanced machine gun or military collector has to own such a rare piece. Very few of these SMGS were made with an estimated 7000 produced. The French military eventually rejected the Universal due to its complex nature in favor of the more common & simple MAT-49. This particular example has an interesting & documented history. The bulk of these SMGs were used by the French Foreign Legion in Indochina & Algeria. This example was picked up in a pile of captured Viet Cong weapons at Tân Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon by an Air Policeman in 1964. The Air Policeman was amazed by the weapon having never seen anything like it & brought the gun home via a B52 Bomber & later registered it during the 1968 Amnesty. This gun & the vets story is detailed in the book "War Trophies Weapons From Vietnam Volume II" by Keith Seafield. Registration paperwork lists Mfr. as France. Left side of receiver marked "CMH.2". Phosphate finish. Folding stock. Left side sling swivels with leather sling. MAGS: 7-32 rd. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: amnesty registration paperwork & letter from Veteran detailing how he got the SMG back to the USA. Also includes a copy of the book, "War Trophies Weapons From Vietnam Volume II" by Keith Seafield. CONDITION: metal retains 50% original phosphate with scattered fading, edge wear, handling marks & oxidation staining all consistent with combat usage. Action functions properly when hand cycled. Very good bright bore that shows a couple small pits but strong rifling. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT CURIO & RELIC MACHINE GUN REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-1925/MJC). CURIO CLASS III. $100,000-150,000.