Smith Mfg. Group FG42 Type 1 8mm Mauser 19.65” Semi-Auto Rifle, Circa 2012
SOLD FOR: $9,575.00
LSB#: LSB250809NF004
Make: Smith Manufacturing Group (SMG)
Model: FG42 Type 1 (Semi-Automatic Reproduction)
Serial Number: 61
Year of Manufacture: Circa 2012 / ATF Classification: Modern
Caliber/Gauge: 8mm Mauser (7.92×57mm Mauser)
Action Type: Long-stroke gas piston operated, rotating bolt system
Barrel Length: 19.65”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a folding post with a blade dovetailed on top. The rear sight is a folding adjustable elevation aperture. The receiver is grooved for an optic.
Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The pistol grip is metal with serrations, and is integral to the lower. The metal buttstock is integral to the recoil system and shows some infrequent light scuffs. The one-piece wooden forend shows some scuffs and drag lines as well. There are no chips or cracks. All of the furniture is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Black
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its original metal finish. The balance of finish shows light surface wear from handling and operation throughout. There is some wear around the charging handle and action. In sum, this rifle shows strictly light cosmetic wear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good to Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety also functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. We have cleaned this firearm and performed a mechanic’s check but expect many will want to clean the firearm again depending on their standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: One 20rd magazine
Our Assessment: A very interesting, painstakingly engineered reproduction of one of World War II’s most iconic and technically ambitious infantry rifles: the German Fallschirmjägergewehr 42. The Type 1 styling — with its sharply raked pistol grip, slim profile, integral folding bipod, side-fed magazine well, and unique inline stock geometry — gives this rifle an unmistakable silhouette that mirrors the early-pattern Luftwaffe paratrooper guns. The ~19.65? barrel maintains the FG42’s characteristic length and balance, producing a rifle that feels long, lean, and mechanically intense in the hands.
Historically, the FG42 is one of the rarest and most mechanically innovative rifles of the Second World War — combining features of machine guns, self-loading rifles, and marksman weapons into a single paratrooper platform. The original guns were produced in extremely small numbers, making genuine examples virtually unobtainable. Smith Manufacturing Group’s early-2010s reproductions allowed collectors and historians to experience the form, handling, and presence of the FG42 without the unreachable wartime price and fragility. Chambering the rifle in full-power 8mm Mauser preserves the authentic recoil impulse and ballistic personality of the original, further anchoring this reproduction in the historical lineage of one of Germany’s most advanced small-arms designs. Be sure to check our detailed pictures for a better understanding of the firearm. -C.R.
