Smith & Wesson Lightrifle mod 1940
This Light Rifle was
a military semi-automatic carbine designed in preparation for World War II. Most
trials rifles sent to Great Britain were destroyed at the end of World War II.
It had a detachable
20-round magazine and was chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum.
It was a
heavy
and expensive weapon to manufacture.
Following breechblock
failures after only 1,000 rounds, the British government mandated a
modification.
The breechblock was
reinforced with an external sleeve.
Rifles with this
reinforced breechblock were designated Mark II, while those with the original
breechblock were later called Mark I.
Smith & Wesson
continued production, with serial numbers reaching up to 2,200.
These short-barreled
weapons were deemed unfit for sale to civilians under the National Firearms Act.
A stock of 217 examples therefore remained at the Smith & Wesson factory until a
dealer negotiated collector's weapon status with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 1975. Firearm collectors subsequently purchased
137 Mark I rifles and 80 Mark II rifles.
