The Rheinmetall FG 42 Type I (Early) Ser. 23663 is a Rifle first produced in 1943. It carries a scarcity score of 99/100 based on tracked survey data, with 12 active listings currently on the secondary market and a global benchmark price of $268,562.
The FG 42 (Fallschirmjägergewehr 42) was developed by Rheinmetall for the Luftwaffe's paratroopers in response to the need for a single, versatile weapon that could replace the bolt-action rifle, submachine gun, and light machine gun. Introduced in 1943, its innovative design was a direct result of the lessons learned during the often under-armed airborne assaults of the early war, most notably the Battle of Crete.