Arms and militaria under the hammer

A number of rare collectibles, including handguns, go under the hammer on December 18.

Consigned by Maltese, German and Norwegian sellers they will be sold at the fifth Arms and Militaria auction at the Obelisk Galleries in Mdina Road, Attard from 9 a.m. onwards.

The handgun section includes a variety of early “vest pocket” pistols of various makes and military handguns, including a rare “WaA103” marked Belgian FN GP35 pistol made for the German Wehrmacht.

The earliest rifles in the auction are a French Gras and German Gew. Seventy one from the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

They are complimented by an array of rifles from World War I and World War II as well as a few interesting rifles of the immediate post-war era. The highlights of this sale are three rare World War II German MP44 rifles by Haenel, Erma and Steyr and two rare MG42 machine guns by Gustloff and Maget. All retain their original finish.

Last are two firearms of local cinematograph significance – one of the gold FN pistols used by actor Dominic Cooper in the movie The Devil’s Double as well as the AK47 rifle used in the assassination scene from the same movie that was shot in Malta last year.

Stephen Petroni is guest consultant while Pierre Grech Pillow of Obelisk Auctions will conduct the auction. Viewing opens on December 14.

www.obeliskauctions.com