Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
VERY CLEAN DEWAT JAPANESE TYPE 11 LMG
03-1632
Cal. 6.5mm
S# 35231
Bbl. 20″
Mfg. Nov. 1939. First brought into service in 1922, this was the first light machine gun that Japan had designed for themselves. As odd as it may appear compared to other guns of the period, it had some equally unusual features specific to Japan. The left-side mounted feed hopper utilizes clips originally intended for the standard Arisaka rifle. This allowed any Rifleman to feed it, in case of an unexpected shortage. Another unique feature was their interesting oiling station as they were being loaded. While it had the ability to run their standard 6.5mm ammo, a slightly reduced load was designed for daily use.
The Type 11 utilizes a gas operated, open bolt system w/ an adjustable gas port. The barrel incorporates enormous circular cooling fins as evidence of being heavily inspired in design by the early French Hotchkiss heavy machine gun. These heavy fins measure almost 2″ in diameter for the first 12″ of barrel, beyond the chamber, and are reduced to .86″ in the last 3″ to the muzzle. Aside from the unique, heavily finned barrel, the Type 11 may be easiest identified by its right side, angular stock, which protrudes from the bottom of the rear facing pistol grip in a tubular manner before returning to a more traditional shoulder stock shape.
The front 7″ is steel, integral w/ the trigger group, before utilizing wood construction, ending w/ a heavy steel buttplate. This offset design allows for both right & left hand operation & allows an easier disassembly without having to remove the stock. Just rear of the front sight is a rear folding bipod w/ 17″ legs. Front sight is a protected blade, offset to the right side of the action, to coincide w/ the rear sight, adjustable from 200 to 1500 meters. Receiver markings include the Japanese characters “Ju Ichi Nen Shiki” translating to “11th Year Type” above the serial number, “35231”on top, as well as “14.11” on right, indicating Showa Era year 14, 11th month translating to the manufacturing date of November, 1939 & the Kokura Arsenal manufacture symbol. Numbers matching the receiver on several parts including receiver rear block which also holds the op rod spring guide, rear sight, op rod, barrel, & gas system. Several smaller parts have different numbers which isn’t unusual. Brown leather sling which spans from the right side of the shoulder stock to the barrel, just rear of the front sight. One interesting piece that is seldom retained is the leather heat shield, constructed of leather & wire screen, swen together & retained w/ a small metal chain.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Leather heat shield, photo copied operation manual in Japanese.
NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT DEWAT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE
STATUS: CURIO CLASS III
