*USA, Dated May 1953, M1918 A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) with Bipod, Made by New England Small Arms Corps, Old Spec Deactivated*
Serial number: “634315”
Marked: “Browning Automatic Rifle, US. Cal 30 M1918 A2, Man’F’D by N.E Small Arms Corp., 634325 BA FD, – Patent Applied For -”
Barrel Marked: “6508769”
End of Barrel marked: “USA, Flaming Bomb, 5-53”
Sight Marked: “YDS”, “G556 268, DOK”
LHS of receiver marked: “BA4 9-68”
Bipod marked: “C56564177, IPKO”
Magazine Marked: “5564076 Shelby Corp.”
30/06″ Calibre. 595mm Barrel Length.
The M1918 BAR, designed by John Browning in 1917, was created for the American Expeditionary Forces to replace the Chauchat and M1909 Benét–Mercié machine guns. Chambered for the .30-06 Springfield cartridge, it provided “walking fire” capabilities in trench warfare. Though it saw limited action in WWI, it became standard issue in 1938.
With the threat of World War II, the U.S. Army adopted the M1918A2 on June 30, 1938, as the squad’s primary automatic fire support weapon. By 1944, each squad carried nine BARs. The M1918A2 featured two firing modes, a flash suppressor, fully adjustable iron sights, a removable bipod, and a hinged buttplate to aid in controlling automatic fire. It remained in use through the Korean War and by Special Forces in Vietnam, valued for its reliability despite a small 20-round magazine.
Dated May 1953 (5,53), with US army flaming grenade, this M1918A2 is likely to have seen service in the Korean War (1950-1953) and again in the Vietnam War. The M1918A2 was praised for its ability to sustain high rates of fire in all conditions. However, its 20-round magazine could be emptied in less than four seconds, a notable drawback. Despite this, it was favored over early M-16 versions due to its reliability.
During World War II, the demand for BARs exceeded the capacity of major arms makers, leading to the formation of the “New England Small Arms Corporation,” a consortium of companies like A.G. Spalding & Brothers, Blake Manufacturing, National Blank Book, Elliot Addressing Machine Company, International Silver, and Boston Wire Stitcher Company. They undertook the entire production process, producing 180,380 BARs, or 90% of the wartime total of 208,380 weapons.
*Condition*
This Browning looks very good for its age without any rust or pitting. This gun has been deactivated to old spec, bolt moves and cocks and dryfires. The magazine can be removed. Please see the pictures as they form part of the condition report.
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