{"product_id":"original-turkish-contract-hotchkiss-m1922-strip-fed-8mm-mauser-non-firing-display-machine-gun-with-live-barrel-bipod-and-fore-grip-serial-2938","title":"Original Turkish Contract Hotchkiss M1922 Strip-Fed 8mm Mauser Non-Firing Display Machine Gun with Live Barrel, Bipod and Fore Grip - Serial 2938","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic \u003cstrong\u003einert non-firing \u003c\/strong\u003eTurkish contract Hotchkiss M1922 light machine gun display, only the second example we have ever had! It was assembled using numerous original components on a new made BATF compliant 3D printed resin non-firing display receiver.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe resin receiver was manufactured as a permanently nonfunctional display component and cannot serve as the receiver of an operational firearm. Under current federal standards, this configuration is sold as a non-firing display gun and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany original Hotchkiss components were used in its construction, including some internal parts. Most notably, it retains a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLIVE original 8mm Mauser barrel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that has not been deactivated. The chamber remains intact, and the bore is in excellent condition with a bright finish and clearly defined lands and grooves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe feed tray and feed pawl remain movable and function within the limitations of the display receiver. However, the operating components cannot be racked or cycled. The feed tray can be opened, but care must be taken when doing so because the front mounting point has cracked due to the brittle nature of the printed resin. The feed tray can fall out of the receiver if opened or handled without support.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe display receiver has replicated Ottoman Turkish style markings on its left side and replicated French manufacturer markings on the right. These markings are molded or applied to the modern resin receiver and should not be confused with original factory markings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe front of the original feed tray, beneath the hinged top cover, is marked with the Eastern Arabic numerals:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e٢٩٣٨\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese translate to serial number \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2938\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The original numerals on the rear sight are also still present and clearly visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original metal components are in excellent overall condition and retain a very attractive dark finish. This example is particularly complete externally, retaining the correct folding bipod, barrel mounted carrying handle, and the rarely encountered vertical fore grip beneath the front of the receiver. These fore grips are often missing or broken on surviving examples.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of its excellent original metal components, live barrel, functional feed tray and pawl, matching Turkish configuration, complete bipod, carry handle, and scarce fore grip gives this display an especially convincing appearance. The cracked resin mounting point at the front of the feed tray is the principal condition issue and should be kept in mind whenever the top cover or feed mechanism is opened.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Hotchkiss M1922 was developed in France as a gas operated, air cooled light machine gun. Although evaluated by the French military, it was passed over for large scale domestic adoption in favor of the later Châtellerault Model 1924\/29. Hotchkiss had considerable experience marketing weapons internationally, however, and the company adapted the M1922 to meet the requirements of numerous foreign customers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe weapon is also encountered under the M1924 and M1926 designations. It was offered in numerous rifle calibers, including 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schönauer, 7mm Mauser, 7.5mm French, 7.92mm Mauser, .303 British, and 8mm Lebel. Hotchkiss also provided different barrel profiles, handguards, fore grips, bipods, and feed systems depending upon the purchaser’s requirements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome versions were fed from box magazines mounted above the receiver, while others retained the traditional Hotchkiss rigid metal feed strip. The Turkish contract guns were chambered for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and used the strip-feed system.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe rigid feed strip was already becoming outdated by the 1920s, but it remained a proven and familiar system. Hotchkiss had previously used it successfully with the Model 1914 heavy machine gun and the Model 1909 Portative. Continuing with the same basic system simplified production and appealed to countries already familiar with Hotchkiss weapons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePurpose-made M1922 feed strips generally held 15 cartridges. The mechanism could also accept longer Hotchkiss strips holding approximately 24 or 30 rounds, depending upon the cartridge and the pattern of strip. Rimmed, heavily tapered cartridges such as the 8mm Lebel required more space and were generally limited to 24 rounds, while rimless cartridges such as the 7mm and 8mm Mauser could be used with longer 30-round strips.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe loaded strip was inserted into the right side of the receiver with the cartridges facing downward. As the weapon operated, a feed arm connected to the moving action advanced the strip one position at a time. The empty portion of the strip gradually emerged from the left side of the receiver. This arrangement functioned on the same general principle as the feed mechanism of a belt-fed weapon, but employed a rigid strip rather than a flexible ammunition belt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrip-fed versions have a hinged top cover that provides access to the feed mechanism. This is the configuration represented by the present Turkish display gun, and its original top cover, feed tray, and feed pawl remain present.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Hotchkiss M1922 family was acquired by several nations in a variety of configurations:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreece used strip-fed examples in 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schönauer and 7.92mm Mauser.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChina and Czechoslovakia acquired strip-fed guns chambered in 7.92mm Mauser.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpain used magazine-fed versions chambered for the 7mm Mauser cartridge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTurkey adopted strip-fed examples chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe United Kingdom evaluated both strip-fed and magazine-fed examples in .303 British.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrance used relatively small numbers of Hotchkiss light machine guns in 7.5mm French.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe design saw service in several major and regional conflicts, including the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Greco-Italian War, WWII, and the First Indochina War. Its international distribution resulted in considerable variation among surviving examples, making complete contract-specific configurations particularly interesting to advanced machine gun collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Turkish contract display is an excellent representation of one of the most distinctive interwar light machine gun designs. The original live barrel, Turkish numbered feed tray, correct bipod, carry handle, and scarce vertical fore grip give it significantly more collector appeal than a display assembled from incomplete or heavily worn components.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry of Manufacture: France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContract Country: Turkey\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModel: Hotchkiss M1922\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSerial Number: 2938\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Action Type: Gas Operated, Fully Automatic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Rigid Metal Feed Strip\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel: Live Original Barrel with Intact Chamber\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReceiver: New Made 3D Printed Resin Display Receiver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurrent Status: Permanently Non-Firing Display Gun\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964986159173,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS024","price":1395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/C743D27D-4CB4-4B6A-8865-A4C24054E007.jpg?v=1777923324","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-turkish-contract-hotchkiss-m1922-strip-fed-8mm-mauser-non-firing-display-machine-gun-with-live-barrel-bipod-and-fore-grip-serial-2938","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}