It is complete with one 20 round magazine. This wonderful example has the standard 1917 pattern adjustable rear sight. The top front end of the barrel is also stamped with 'M/Ordnance Proof/7-18' indicating manufacture by the Marlin company in 1918. The breech end of the barrel has a small 'Shell and Flame' Ordnance proof with the British acceptance proof on the right side as noted above. BY MARLIN ROCKWELL/ 35828/-PATENT APPLIED FOR-'. The top of the receiver is stamped with a Cross-Cannon Ordnance proof followed by 'BROWNING MACHINE RIFLE/- U.S. It still retains its original earlier fire control mechanism marked 'F (semi-automatic), A (full-automatic) and S (safe)' with no magazine protection wings on the sides of the trigger housing and the original cross-hatched/checkered forend with a smooth semi-grip walnut stock, no bipod, and the very early small cylindrical flash hider. It has its original early parts and has not been converted into the later 1918A2 model. It is fitted with the original oil finish walnut stock and forend with the bolt mechanism still in the white. This beautiful example retains its original brush blued receiver and trigger assembly with the bright blue the barrel and gas tube assembly. The right side of the receiver has a distinct British 'Crown/GP' proof. Based on the serial number and barrel date, it was manufactured in July 1918 and was probably sent to Britain fairly early on. They were extremely reliable and very accurate fully automatic rifles/light machine guns. Several thousand were also provided to Great Britain during WWII under the Lend-Lease program. They were originally issued to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France during WWI and later reissued during WWII and Korea to both the Army and USMC. Originally developed in late 1917, and manufactured by Colt, Winchester and Marlin-Rockwell, this one being from the latter, it was designated the Model 1918 automatic rifle. Instead of supporting the M1 riflemen in the attack, Marine tactical doctrine was focused around the BAR, with riflemen supporting and protecting the BAR gunner.This is an excellent example of a WWI-era original Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) as originally manufactured by the Marlin-Rockwell Corp. Marine Corps began to increase the number of BARs in its combat divisions, from 513 per division in 1943 to 867 per division in 1945. In the Pacific, the BAR was often employed at the point or tail of a patrol or infantry column, where its firepower could help break contact on a jungle trail in the event of ambush.Īfter combat experience showed the benefits of maximizing portable automatic firepower in squad-size formations, the U.S. One team would typically provide covering fire until a magazine was empty, whereupon the second team would open fire, thus allowing the first team to reload. Army combat divisions increasingly began to specify two BAR fire teams per squad, following the practice of the U.S. In an attempt to overcome the BAR's limited continuous-fire capability, U.S. In some cases, particularly in the attack, every fourth German infantryman was equipped with an automatic weapon, either a submachine gun or a full-power machine gun. ground forces encountered German troops well-armed with automatic weapons, including fast-firing, portable machine guns.

This doctrine received a setback early in the war after U.S. Army tactical doctrine called for one M1918A2 per squad, using either one or two men to support and carry ammunition for the gun.

M1918 browning automatic rifle value