VERY RARE UNITED DEFENSE MARLIN UD M42 SUBMACHINE GUN. PRE 86 DEALER SAMPLE (KEEPER)

VERY RARE UNITED DEFENSE MARLIN UD M42 SUBMACHINE GUN. PRE 86 DEALER SAMPLE (KEEPER)

03-1843
Cal. 9mm
S# 11356.

Bbl. 11″. The United Defense U.D. M42 was designed by Carl Swebilius of High Standard prior to the United States involvement in WWII. Some early prototypes were made by High Standard between 1941-1942 but it was Marlin Firearms Company that took it into full production, manufacturing around 15,000 units before the entire run was purchased by the United States government. All examples were rumored to have been sold off to Allied Nations for use in defense w/ some tied to American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operations. The 9mm Parabellum cartridge was chosen since it was in use at the time by so many allied nations, making ammunition availability easy. Some were purchased by the Dutch Government and others were reported to have been air dropped to friendly underground organizations. In the UK, they were simply known as “The Marlin”. Construction was more complicated than period typical submachine guns, manufactured from steel w/ several necessary machining operations, it was robust & functioned well in adverse conditions. It is an open bolt, blowback operated mechanism with a floating firing pin that is struck by a hammer upon the closing of the bolt. It utilizes a non-reciprocating charging handle, located on the right side of the receiver w/ a secondary function of clearing the bolt path of debris. The overall length is 32.5″. It has a unique tubular receiver that steps down in diameter closer to the muzzle, w/ a barrel diameter even smaller than the last receiver section, giving the appearance of a telescopic tube. The extractor is pressed into the left side of the receiver, directly across from the right side ejection port. It is fed from a 20 rd. detachable magazine located directly below the ejection port. The front sight is a ramped blade located at the muzzle of the barrel. The rear sight is a windage & elevation adjustable peep sight located at the rear of the receiver. The safety / selector is located on the right side of the receiver, just forward, & above the trigger. Hardwood furniture, including a vertical pistol grip below the barrel, & fixed shoulder stock w/ steel butt plate & trap door. Left side front sling swivel & rear swivel below stock, currently sporting tan canvas sling. Left side of receiver marked” UNITED DEFENSE SUPPLY CORP. / NEW HAVEN CONN. / UD M42 / PAT. APPLIED FOR”. MAGS: 3 original 20 rd.

PRE-86 DEALER SAMPLE (KEEPER). NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. YOU MUST BE A CURRENT NFA/SOT DEALER IN ORDER TO TAKE POSESSION OF THIS FIREARM.

PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Brian Linde

STATUS: CLASS III