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December 12, 2024
Top 10 Machine Guns Ever Sold at Rock Island Auction Company
By Joel R Kolander
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Updated December 2024
At Rock Island Auction Company, we see some rare, unusual, and downright awesome machine guns that pass through our doors. Powerful, intimidating, and certainly fun to shoot, who doesn't love a machine gun? So without further ado, here are the Top 10 machine guns ever auctioned by Rock Island Auction Company.
12A: Ramo M2HB Browning Heavy Machine Gun: $94,000 (May 2023)
We'll start with a couple of noteworthy runner-ups. First, we have the M2 heavy machine gun. A descendant of Browning's 1917 HMG, the development of the M2 was first prompted by the emergence of armored aircraft among German forces in World War I. Development continued after Browning's passing in 1926, and in 1933 the M2 platform was adopted by the U.S. armed forces.
In service to this day, the air-cooled M2HB has been used in a wide spectrum of roles on sea, air and land, from as fundamental as an infantry heavy machine gun, as rarified as the main armament of top-of-the-line fighter aircraft, to as oddball as being used as a sniper rifle; the famed Carlos Hathcock used a scoped M2 to set a confirmed kill record in Vietnam that wouldn't be beaten until the War on Terror, and still holds a spot on the top 10 as of this writing. The M2 famously gained the affectionate handle “Ma Deuce” from the troops who relied on Browning’s .50 caliber behemoth to protect themselves and their company.
12B: World War II German MG34 Medium Machine Gun: $94,000 (May 2024)
The German MG34, invented by Heinrich Vollmer of Mauser, demonstrates the machine gun's status as one of the most versatile weapons of WW2. Filling the role of both a light and heavy machine gun, the MG34 allowed for rapid tactical movement from a bipod, support fire from a sturdy folding tripod, as well as providing an ideal option for vehicle use such as a coaxial weapon in German tank turrets. All told, the complete example of Germany's fearsome machine gun platform pictured below earned a noteworthy $94,000 when the dust settled.
11A. U.S. Winchester 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle: $105,750 (May 2023)
We're into the six figure price range now, but still haven't broken into the top 10 most expensive machine guns sold at RIAC, testifying to the impressive performance of the genre in recent years. The Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR, was a signature weapon for generations of American GIs, seeing action in both world wars and Korea. The gun was introduced in World War 1 too late to have a significant impact.
The BAR was John Moses Browning’s take on “walking fire,” the term given to a standard infantryman laying down covering fire as troops crossed “no man’s land.” The gun, brought to production by Colt, was chambered in the stout .30-06. Colt already had too many manufacturing contracts for World War 1 so production was passed off to Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Marlin-Rockwell Corporation. More than 50,000 were made by the end of World War 1. Thanks to its exceptional condition, the U.S. Colt Model 1918 pictured above joined the ranks of most expensive machine guns sold at RIAC.
11B. SACO-Lowell M60: $105,750 (December 2022)
The M60 is one of the most recognizable weapons to come out of the Vietnam War. Nicknamed the “pig,” it was carried by GIs, but also mounted on Huey helicopters, and gunboats. It is only fitting that it ties with the BAR since it was the gun to replace it in the Arsenal of Democracy. The M60 could throw a controllable 600 rounds per minute downrange and offer plenty of firepower against structures and vehicles.
The gun went into widespread service in Vietnam in 1965 and has developed a reputation as one of America's most famous guns. Soldiers loved it for its reliability but hated it for its bulk, and the awkward process of changing out the barrel. The M60 was usually assigned to the newest member of a unit because they were considered expendable since machine gun fire tended to draw the most attention in a firefight.
11C. Law Enforcement Shipped Colt Model 1921/1928 U.S. Navy Overstamp Thompson Submachine Gun: $105,750 (May 2024)
Thompson submachine guns, known as the Tommy gun, "Chicago typewriter," "rat-tat-tat", "trench broom," and an assortment of other colorful nicknames, are always popular items at Rock Island Auction Company.
According to Herigstad's "Colt Thompson Submachine Gun Serial Numbers and Histories," the U.S. Navy overstamp example pictured below was shipped to the Sheriff's Office of Effingham County, Illinois at an unrecorded date. The heavy-hitting SMG wowed the audience of RIAC's May 2024 Premier Auction, knocking previously sold Tommy guns off the most expensive machine gun list by breaking the six-figure barrier and achieving $105,750.
10. Early Original Colt Model R80 "Monitor" Fully Automatic Machine Gun: $115,000 (December 2018)
This is an exceptionally rare early Colt Model R80 Monitor, fully automatic, C&R registered machine gun. This was an early 1920s version of the Colt Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) that was produced and sold in very limited numbers to various law enforcement agencies, mainly out East.
It was basically an improved and slightly redesigned version of the original Browning design that incorporated a small pistol grip on the rear of the lower receiver for better handling, in lieu of a pistol grip type buttstock, a shorter forend, and a slightly shorter barrel (only 18.5 inch) making it easier to handle as well as a redesigned three position gas regulator/plug and a completely new and redesigned muzzle break/flash hider.
A worthy entry on our list of most expensive machine guns, this high condition, very rare, and early Colt Model R80/Monitor sold for $115,000 during the December Premier Firearms Auction at Rock Island Auction Company in 2018.
9. Armalite AR-18 Prototype, Serial Number "X001": $117,500 (August 2024)
Manufactured by Armalite in Costa Mesa, California, this rare AR-18 rifle shows a number of features that set it apart from the majority of AR-18 production. The receiver lacks provisions for a dust cover or scope block, the guide rod assembly terminates in a single hook instead of the spring-loaded retention mechanism seen on later production, and the bolt carrier is grooved down the right side and lacks the "keyed" charging handle slot to fit the later "bent" charging handle.
This fantastic AR-18 is featured in an article titled 'The Lost Armalites' in the July 1998 (Volume 1 Number 10) issue of Small Arms Review, where it receives a full page photo spread on page 47 detailing early features such as the aforementioned bolt carrier configuration and the weapon's mechanisms for securing the stock, which used with a spring catch on the underside of the stock to release from the "open" position, and a round stud (with no spring retention) to secure the stock in the "closed" position.
8. World War 2 German “cra” Code MG42: $129,250 (May 2022)
Known as “Hitler’s Buzzsaw” and “Hitler’s Zipper,” The German MG42 was a signature weapon of World War 2 and one of the best infantry weapons of the war, blending portability and intense firepower. The gun could spit up to 1,200 rounds per minute, giving it a distinct and intimidating sound, unlike those heard by Allied soldiers who trained to slower-firing weapons. The West German armed forces continued to use the gun after the war, in a rechambered to NATO-standard cartridges. Alongside the FG-42, It was an inspiration for the M60.
The MG42 entered production in 1942, intended to supplement and replace the more expensive to produce the earlier MG34. Made of inexpensive parts, the MG42 also proved to be more reliable and resistant to jamming than its predecessor. The gun was so fearsome that the U.S. War Department produced a film to lessen the weapon’s psychological effect on soldiers. The film’s narrator further assures his naïve audience that the MG-42 isn’t as scary as it sounds, and closes with, “Its bark is worse than its bite.”
This gun featured three extra barrels: one chambered in 7.62x51 mm, one in 8 mm, and a third welded shut at the chamber.
7. Johnson Automatics M1941 Light Machine Gun: $141,000 (December 2023)
American inventor Melvin Maynard Johnson Jr. pitched the M1941 as a squad automatic rifle that could serve in numerous battlefield roles, including being fired from the shoulder when necessary. The Johnson M1941 placed the physical characteristics of a light machine gun into a shorter frame and used a full-power rifle cartridge.
Like the German FG-42, the M1941 Johnson employed a front-mounted bipod and a side-mounted horizontal box magazine, and the FG-42 and both guns used an open-bolt system when set to automatic and a closed-bolt when switched to semi-automatic mode. The Johnson Automatic M1941 LMG was accepted as a substitute weapon by the United States Marine Corps due to a shortage of BARs in the early days of WW2. Today, the comparative rarity of the platform makes the Johnson Automatic M1941 one of the most expensive machine guns on the market.
6. World War II Haenel Manufactured M.Kb.42(H) Assault Rifle: $161,000 (April 2016)
Grandfather of the German assault rifles, which in turn gave rise to all other assault rifles, the M.Kb.42 holds a special place in the history of firearms development. Every nation in the world that currently uses a carbine length rifle with an intermediate cartridge owes it their thanks. With development beginning as far back as 1935, it was the German Army’s answer for a gun with higher capacity than their standard bolt actions, a longer range than their submachine guns such as the MP-40, but without the unnecessary long range capability as the full power 7.92x57mm rifle round.
Few battles were fought beyond 300 yards, thus the 8mm Mauser rounds, so necessary in the trench warfare of the Great War, were now not as practical, adding extra weight and reducing weapon controllability. Enter the maschinenkarabiner 1942. Firing the newly developed 7.92×33 Kurz round it was too short for bayonet fighting, lacked the required accuracy for sniping, and was too weak to fire a rifle grenade. However, it excelled at accurate, controllable fully-automatic fire for the distances most commonly found in firefights, could provide covering fire like a machine gun, and could outreach the Russian submachine guns, and thus became a favorite for front line troops to whom it was issued. Only 10,700 were made with many being lost on the Eastern front. It would go on to see further developments as the MP-43, MP-44, and eventually the StG-44.
This rifle is one of the rarest and most desirable of all the WWII MP43/44 series of fully automatic weapons we have had the opportunity to sell. The M.Kb.42(H) is truly the grandfather of the German Assault rifles, and also for any follow-on assault designs produced after WWII to include the vaunted AK47. Consequently, this would be a pivotal piece in any advanced WWII German or military assault rifle collection and is probably one of a handful of legal fully registered, and fully transferable M.Kb.42 (H) available for sale. A high-condition, extremely rare early production C. G. Haenel Mk(b) 42 (H) assault rifle, this rifle sold for $161,000 at the April Premier Firearms Auction at Rock Island Auction Company in 2016.
5. Knight's Armament Stoner 63A: $223,250 (August 2024)
One of the many notable products of American arms designer Eugene Stoner (of AR10, M16/AR15, and AR-18/180 fame, among others), the genesis of the 63 was in the early 60s, shortly after his departure from Armalite. Stoner developed a modular weapon system, intended to be capable of a radical degree of customization at the field armorer level, creating a receiver that could be reconfigured rapidly for mission and environment. While a number of modern weapons designs have touched on this sort of flexibility, this was an exceptional capability for the era.
Developed with an eye for military sales, the 63/63A was issued on a trial basis in multiple configurations to the United States Marine Corps and select elements of the Navy SEALs and U.S. Army Special Forces operating in Southeast Asia. The example above was produced by Knight's Armament Company of Titusville, Florida, a long-time manufacturer of firearms and arms accessories.
4. German Krieghoff FG-42, Type 1: $316,250 (May 2021)
The development of this German battlefield classic is a fascinating one that will be covered below, but RIAC was especially pleased to sell this machine gun for a reason not often uttered in their halls: they've never sold one before. By May 2021, RIAC had sold several of the Type 2 versions with great success, but a Type 1 had never crossed their door. These early production models have several distinct visual cues that set them apart - such as their swept pistol grip and smooth flash hiders.
However, they also differ from their later iterations by use of a forged receiver, where later examples would use stamped receivers. While the scope of this example was a reproduction, the gun was a bona fide war trophy, and had the paperwork to prove it. The Type 1 came with a 1946-dated Treasury Department Form 6 import application from a Captain John Starkweather. Quite the trophy indeed! One fortunate collector thought so as well, but as impressive as this weapon's $316,250 price was, the final two entries on our most expensive machine guns list have set an even higher bar for the genre.
3. Fabrique Nationale U.S. M240B "Bravo": $381,875 (December 2023)
A scarce few fully transferable examples of the mighty M240 are available for public sale, with the remainder being government property. The American-built version of the FN MAG, the M240 was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1977. By the 1990s, the M240B, commonly referred to as the M240 "Bravo," would go on to replace the M60 series of machine guns in their longstanding infantry role.
2. German Krieghoff FG-42, Type 1: $411,250 (May 2023)
The FG-42 (fallschirmjaegergewehr 42) is almost early enough to take the title as the “Grandfather of the Assault Rifle” away from the M.Kb.42, but its development began just several years after the legendary arm. Taking its name from the German Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers), the rifle was specially designed for the requirements of the Luftwaffe’s airborne infantry.
It is estimated that only appropriately 5,000 were ever manufactured with most being destroyed after the war. The few surviving intact examples know today demand lofty prices. The phenomenal Type 1 FG-42 rifle pictured above broke RIAC's previous record when it sold for $411,250 in May of 2023 and became the company's most expensive machine gun of all time.
1A: FN M240 GPMG: $470,000 (May 2024)
2024 was truly a groundbreaking year for machine guns at Rock Island Auction Company as evidenced by the top two entries on the list. Reportedly, there are as few as only 11 fully transferable FN M240 machine guns and approximately 17 "limited" pre-86 dealer samples in the registry, with the remainder in U.S. government property. Two of these examples have tied for first place, each drawing a staggering $470,000.
1B: FN M240 GPMG: $470,000 (December 2024)
For collectors, finding an M240 machine gun for sale is always an exciting event, but two in one year? The second example of the genre to appear in 2024, the M240 that hit the podium in December made a heavy-hitting impact and earned a stunning $470,000 once the dust settled, positioning the model as one of the most valuable pieces in the arms collecting pursuit.
Most Expensive Machine Guns
There you have it, collector friends: the Top 10 Machine Guns ever sold by Rock Island Auction Company. We’ll be sure to update this list from time to time and we shouldn’t have to wait long. With an extremely limited pool available, no hope of additional supply, and an expanding interest in the genre, machine gun values were destined to skyrocket.
Given their blistering performance in recent years, machine gun prices should be on the radar of every savvy firearms collector, and rising values assure a new crop of machine guns to stake their own claim to this list. Will they be the same models New ones? Will they overthrow the FG-42? We’ll just have to wait and see. While you’re waiting read our other article on the value of Class III firearms and machine guns, for some insight on what makes them so valuable to collectors and a very secure place to invest.
Subscribe to the Rock Island Auction newsletter to receive new blogs on the hottest collectible firearms, including our top 10 Colt Single Action Army revolvers, top 10 Colt Pythons, top selling movie guns, and more.
As always, if there are any questions regarding consignment, registration, and future auctions, please contact Rock Island Auction Company. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we constantly see exciting and amazing machine guns in each one of our auctions, Premier or not. That being said, this list is subject to change to be sure to check back here after every auction for updates.
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Edward ZemaitisJanuary 11, 2023Have you ever had for sale an " Astra Model F with stock and 10 and 20 rd magazines"?????
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