^Lot 1203 ASI/RETRO CHINA LAKE 4-SHOT PUMP GRENADE LAUNCHER.

Cal. 40MM. S# 40MMPGL32. Bbl. 14". The mythical "Pumper Thumper" 40mm grenade launcher as designed by the Special Operations Branch at China Lake Navel Weapons Center. China Lake was a facility that was designed to address the needs of SEALs and UDTs in real time, when traditional solutions were not otherwise available. When a request for special weaponry would come in, items to suit their needs would be modified or designed for the task at hand and shipped right out to the end users as fast as possible. They were set up to modify, design and develop limited production runs of such items as they became necessary. According to Kevin Dockery, in the 3 years they were in business, China Lake was able to facilitate in the area of 375 rapid response orders. One such task was to increase he firepower of the standard 40mm grenade launchers available at the time. Many were single-shot devices such as the stand alone M79 and the under barrel M203. Their approach was to build a 40mm, much like the M79, but to utilize a familiar pump action, like the numerous sporting shotguns that had been in use for decades. They quickly created a tool room prototype for evaluation, and upon approval they initiated a small production run. It turned out to be one of the most significant small arms produced in conjunction with the Naval Special Warfare Projects at China Lake, as it was ready for issue to SEAL teams in Vietnam in mid-1968. It was well received by some of the SEALs in the teams. Actual numbers of those produced is difficult to estimate. Between 20 and 30 units were issued to SEALs in Vietnam with only a few single examples distributed to Marine Force Recon units and the Army 5th Special Forces Group. The total numbers were extremely small. Only a handful of the original units are known to exist today, with one example residing at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, and another at the Navy UDT/SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida. This example is an exact reproduction built from blueprints reversed engineered from the example in the Washington Navy Yard Museum. Only a small number of the new production, hand built units were completed before the project was abandoned before being restarted again by ASI. This example was manufactured by Armament Services International in Pennsylvania. The manufacturing processes were highly upgraded with CNC machining and advanced heat treating for a superior product. Still only available in very small numbers, each unit was shipped w/ a new fitted London Bridge Trading (LBT) Mil-Spec Contract built green nylon transport case. The 14" rifled barrel sports a protected blade front sight as well as a folding sight marked out to 375 yards. The pump portion is a 5.5" ribbed section w/ dual action bars. It has a dark, hardwood shoulder stock w/ red Boyd's recoil pad. Matte black finish on all exposed metal surfaces. Top mounted tang safety. Folding trigger guard for winter use. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: LBT Fitted nylon case, Owner's manual, patent application & drawings. CONDITION: This gun was received in the fitted case, wrapped in plastic. Barrel has matching serial number in yellow paint pen inside bore, demonstrating very few rounds fired, if any. No indication of prior use beyond test firing. Finish complete & consistent w/ no obvious blemishing. Shoulder stock has a single visible imperfection in the form of a small, repaired chip on the left side, forward of the trigger. Fire control mechanism appears to function correctly when cycled by hand. PROVENANCE: Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost, Hooksett NH. NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-2285/JZ). MODERN CLASS III. $16,000-20,000.