The Rheinmetall FG 42 Type I (Early) Ser. 21654 is a WW2 first produced in 1944. It carries a scarcity score of 98/100 based on tracked survey data, with 9 active listings currently on the secondary market and a global benchmark price of $277,717.
The FG 42 (Fallschirmjägergewehr 42) was developed by Rheinmetall for the German Luftwaffe in 1942, in response to the need for a selective-fire, standard-issue rifle for paratroopers, capable of both semi-automatic and automatic fire. Its creation was inspired by observations from the Battle of Crete, highlighting the paratroopers' need for a single, versatile weapon to replace their array of rifles, submachine guns, and machine guns dropped separately. The FG 42 aimed to combine the firepower of a light machine gun with the portability of a rifle, revolutionizing infantry firearm concepts.