The Armoury - Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills

US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in, M1918-A2 (Browning)

US  Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in, M1918-A2 (Browning)

Description

Developed by John Browning in 1917 some 85,000 weapons were made before the end of World War One. The BAR was the standard Squad light machine gun up to Korean War and used extensively in World War Two. Weighing 19.2 lb with a box magazine containing 20 rounds the BAR was effective but not as successful as the British Bren or the German light machine guns. This example has the A2 Bipod and carrying handle as used in World War Two.

Marks and Stamps: (top of barrel behind foresight) NE-7 (Grenade) 11-44 (top of receiver) BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE U.S. CAL .30 M 1918 A2 MANF'D BY NE SMALL ARMS CORP. Serial no PATENT APPLIED FOR

Specifications

Accession Number: 273 Period of Use: 1918 - 1970s
Type: Semi Automatic/automatic rifle War Zones: Spanish Civil War; Korea; Vietnam
Country of Origin: U.S.A. Type Date: 1918
Manufacturer: New England Small Arms Corporation Serial Number: 609455
Manufacture Date: 1944 Calibre/Ammunition: 0.30"
Weight: 7280g Length Overall: 1219mm
Cyclic Rate: 350/650rpm Length Barrel: 610mm
Deactivation Certificate Number: DA 43933

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