**RUSSIAN AK-47 WITH SECRET SERVICE PROVENANCE TO TET OFFENSIVE BATTLE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, SAIGON (FULLY TRANSFERABLE).

**RUSSIAN AK-47 WITH SECRET SERVICE PROVENANCE TO TET OFFENSIVE BATTLE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, SAIGON (FULLY TRANSFERABLE). SN EB6467N. Cal. 7.62×39. 16-1/4″ bbl, manufactured by Ishverk. Accessories include sling and magazine as captured during the Tet Offensive battle on the grounds the American Embassy, Saigon, in January 1968. This gun is the feature of a detailed article in Small Arms Review October 2009 issue. Firing mechanism operates smoothly when operated by hand, this weapon appears fully functional and passes function check. This weapon is the earlier version AK-47 with milled steel receiver and laminated stock, pistol grip and forearm. Orig Russian, as issued, throughout. SN match between receiver, top cover, and apparently the wooden forestock although there has been some rubbing which has nearly obliterated the number. This weapon was recovered by the Senior U.S. Dept of State Security Officer for Vietnam on the Embassy grounds and later given to the consignor as a gift while serving as Agent in Charge of the Protective Detail for Gen. Curtis LeMay(USAF Ret)during Lemay’s trip through Vietnam during the 1968 Presidential campaign. Accompanied by documentation of the gun’s capture on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy, several photos, and a rare VHS tape of genuine unedited CBS news footage of the Embassy attack. PROVENANCE: Leo E. Crampsey; Paul S. Rundle CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is 85%+ with some gray patina along the lower left edge of receiver but the overall impression is outstanding. Bore is excellent, shiny and bright. There is a slight (1/8″) gouge out of the metal where the center of the bolt meets the receiver as if someone had hit it right at that junction with a hardened icepick and hammer or a bit of heat, but this in no way effects the functionality of the weapon. The gouge does not reach half way through the thickness of the receiver, so the internals are completely unaffected. On the laminated buttstock at the very rear top just forward of the buttplate there is a 1-3/4″ crack running just along the very top of the stock. Otherwise the stock shows a very smooth finish. On the left hand side of the buttstock there are 3 metal pins where the stock meets the receiver and 2 metal pins at the rear of the stock about 1″ from the buttplate. Sling is of the web type with leather at the forward end where it snaps onto the bbl ring. There is a slight one inch frayed slot in the center of the sling but it is still serviceable. There is the usual scoring of the finish were the safety lever rides along the receiver. Russian Cyrillic letters are crisp and clear as are all Russian proof marks, making this an outstanding example of its kind, not only because of the provenance but also the fact of the high quality Russian workmanship of a scarce specimen in the United States. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to acquire a historic weapon from this era with such significance. 4-37492 JWK15 (30,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1002	$92,000.00	RUSSIAN AK-47 WITH SECRET SERVICE PROVENANCE TO TET OFFENSIVE BATTLE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, SAIGON (FULLY TRANSFERABLE). SN EB6467N. Cal. 7.62×39. 16-1/4″ bbl, manufactured by Ishverk. Accessories include sling and magazine as captured during the Tet Offensive battle on the grounds the American Embassy, Saigon, in January 1968. This gun is the feature of a detailed article in Small Arms Review October 2009 issue. Firing mechanism operates smoothly when operated by hand, this weapon appears fully functional and passes function check. This weapon is the earlier version AK-47 with milled steel receiver and laminated stock, pistol grip and forearm. Orig Russian, as issued, throughout. SN match between receiver, top cover, and apparently the wooden forestock although there has been some rubbing which has nearly obliterated the number. This weapon was recovered by the Senior U.S. Dept of State Security Officer for Vietnam on the Embassy grounds and later given to the consignor as a gift while serving as Agent in Charge of the Protective Detail for Gen. Curtis LeMay(USAF Ret)during Lemay’s trip through Vietnam during the 1968 Presidential campaign. Accompanied by documentation of the gun’s capture on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy, several photos, and a rare VHS tape of genuine unedited CBS news footage of the Embassy attack. PROVENANCE: Leo E. Crampsey; Paul S. Rundle CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is 85%+ with some gray patina along the lower left edge of receiver but the overall impression is outstanding. Bore is excellent, shiny and bright. There is a slight (1/8″) gouge out of the metal where the center of the bolt meets the receiver as if someone had hit it right at that junction with a hardened icepick and hammer or a bit of heat, but this in no way effects the functionality of the weapon. The gouge does not reach half way through the thickness of the receiver, so the internals are completely unaffected. On the laminated buttstock at the very rear top just forward of the buttplate there is a 1-3/4″ crack running just along the very top of the stock. Otherwise the stock shows a very smooth finish. On the left hand side of the buttstock there are 3 metal pins where the stock meets the receiver and 2 metal pins at the rear of the stock about 1″ from the buttplate. Sling is of the web type with leather at the forward end where it snaps onto the bbl ring. There is a slight one inch frayed slot in the center of the sling but it is still serviceable. There is the usual scoring of the finish were the safety lever rides along the receiver. Russian Cyrillic letters are crisp and clear as are all Russian proof marks, making this an outstanding example of its kind, not only because of the provenance but also the fact of the high quality Russian workmanship of a scarce specimen in the United States. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to acquire a historic weapon from this era with such significance. 4-37492 JWK15 (30,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium**, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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