[Douglas_Jr]

Hi folks,

I´ve been away for a while, mainly because of work duties ... but I´d like to show you my birthday gift that arrived a little bit delayed. But it is in such nice shape that I have to wait and wait until I could grab it...

Ok, I konw that it isn´t a pistol or revolver, but I would to share with you guys.

Now, here it is: a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918 (later modified to the M1918A2). It was originally made by Winchester back in 1918-19 and, after, updated to use during the WWII.It is chambered to the original .30-06 ammo and is still alive! It is complete with bipod and some field stripping and cleaning gear.

Hope you enjoy it (as much as I)!

Regards,

Douglas.

 

[Douglas_Jr]

Download Attachment: BAR01.JPG
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(I know that it isn´t a USMC or Infantary tunic, but it worked well for the picture!)


Download Attachment: BAR05.JPG
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Download Attachment: BAR06.JPG
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Download Attachment: BAR07.JPG
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[Douglas_Jr]

Download Attachment: BAR09.JPG
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Download Attachment: BAR10.JPG
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Download Attachment: BAR11.JPG
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[Edward Tinker]

Cool Douglas.

Have you shot it yet?

Ed

 

[Douglas_Jr]

Thanks Weimar!
Not fired it yet and possibly won´t. I do not live in US and its ammo it is pretty hard to find around here. Besides that, it cost me some good bucks and I wouldn´t like to risk... but who knows?

Douglas.

 

[Jan C Still]

Douglas
I wish that someone would find a gift like this for my birthday. Beautiful photographs and presentation of your BAR.
Thanks
Jan

 

[wterrell]

That is a wonderful BAR. Glad to see that you also received the barrel support (bipod?).
Was this rifle a two man weapon or is it light enough that one very strong man can carry and set it up?
Is it full automatic?

Regards,
wes

 

[Guest]

Boy, you're going to have to cough up big time when the giver's birthday rolls around next time. Beautiful!

 

[Douglas_Jr]

quote:Originally posted by wterrell

That is a wonderful BAR. Glad to see that you also received the barrel support (bipod?).
Was this rifle a two man weapon or is it light enough that one very strong man can carry and set it up?
Is it full automatic?

Regards,
wes

Wes,

The BAR was originally designed to be used as a Automatic Rifle - hence its name - to be fired while the troops were advancing against trenched enemy positions in WWI. So it was a kind of "Assault Rifle" but with the standard rifle ammo (and not an intermediate ammo, as the German Sturmgewehr 44 from the WWII).

The M1918 could fire in semi-auto or full-auto, but, for the WWII, most of the older guns (like mine) were modified to fire only full-auto. This version - that also was equiped with the bipod - was named M1918A2.

By then (1941) the idea was to fire the BAR as a light machine gun - which it was not! However most of the soldiers - mainly the Marines -didn´t follow this idea and simply threw away the bipop (that weights about 2 lb.) and other unnecessary gears. Even so, the BAR weights around 17 lb. But one man in good shape can carry iy. Without the bipop it is well balanced. Check here -

WWII - ETO - Normandy, 1944
Download Attachment: foto-BAR 03.jpg
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Korea, 1951
Download Attachment: foto-BAR 01.jpg
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My BAR is still alive and can fire in full auto. Where I live (South America) it is allowed to a collector with more than 10 years of "Certified Authorization" (which is granted by the Army) to own one of these. Not that bad, isn´t it?

Max,

I´m not that worried since I gave myself this present! But you made a good point!

Regards,

Douglas.

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

Douglas;

Thanks for opening this door!!!

I also have a Winchester 1918A2 converted (this means it only shoots in semi-auto mode - but it shoots! - to conform to Canadian law) & I'll post pictures & history tomorrow under a new posting.

Mine went to Britain as it has British proof marks & it's condition shows that it probably did not see combat. It's in really good shape.

I love this forum, as I'm getting to show off a heck of a lot of my toys!

If anyone's interested I also have A 1928 Thompson SMG, with 50 round drum, & a MIAI Thompson SMG that I could post if it won't be too much out of line.

Let me know.

 

[Douglas_Jr]

Walter,

Personally I´d love to see your toys! I also have a couple more of "heavy stuff" around here, but let´s see if Mr. Still allows us to show them to the other boys!

I don´t want to sart a revolt, you know...

Wishes,

Douglas.

 

[Edward Tinker]

If it is a military gun, place it into the Discussions area, I am sure it is acceptable, But we can go by what Jan says,

Ed

 

[Pancho]

where can I get one of these, semi auto, in US?