Original Item: Only One Available. This is an impressive U.S. WWII Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 display gun, assembled from genuine USGI components on a newly manufactured, non-firing cast-aluminum display dummy receiver. The receiver is completely inert and was never a functional firearm component. 

With the exception of the receiver and replica sling, the components are genuine U.S. military-issue parts. The display gun is complete with its correct adjustable bipod, barrel-mounted carrying handle, molded composition buttstock, flash hider, wooden forearm, heat shield, front sight hood, sling swivels, folding shoulder rest, and an original BAR magazine. A correct replica three-claw BAR sling is fitted to the swivels, giving the display a particularly complete appearance.

One of the most interesting features is the live Winchester barrel, which has an intact chamber and is faintly marked:

W / (Flaming Bomb) / 1-19

This indicates manufacture by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in January 1919. Winchester was one of the principal American manufacturers of the M1918 BAR during the WWI period. The bore is in excellent condition, retaining a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. It shows surprisingly little wear for a barrel more than a century old.

The rear left side of the barrel bears later British commercial proof markings:

CROWN / B N P
.30/06 2·494"
18 TONS PER □"

An additional marking appears as:

PB / 3 within a circle

The British Nitro Proof and pressure markings are consistent with the style used during the second half of the 20th century. They establish that the barrel entered the British commercial proof system at some point after its original American military service. Although a barrel of this date could potentially have remained in inventory through WWII or the Korean War period, the markings alone cannot establish when or where it was issued.

This example retains the often-missing barrel-mounted carrying handle as well as the heat shield beneath the barrel. Its correct second-pattern bipod remains fully functional. The tensioning washer is still present and helps prevent the bipod from swinging freely, although the washer shows definite wear.

The front sight hood, another component frequently missing from BAR parts sets, is also present. Both sling swivels and the folding shoulder rest on the buttstock function properly. The wooden forearm is quite attractive, with a pleasing red-brown color and only light signs of age. The molded composition buttstock, commonly called “Bakelite” by collectors, also has an attractive color and shows very little damage.

The combination of the early Winchester barrel, later British proof marks, carry handle, second-pattern bipod, front sight hood, heat shield, composition stock, original magazine, and replica three-claw sling makes this one of the most visually complete BAR display guns we have offered.

Original Browning Automatic Rifles and complete USGI parts sets have become increasingly difficult to obtain, particularly when they retain an intact original barrel and frequently missing accessories. This example provides the appearance and presence of an original M1918A2 while remaining a non-firing display. It may also appeal to a collector contemplating a future lawful semiautomatic project, subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and proper technical evaluation.

The original magazine is included and will be deactivated where required.

History of the Browning Automatic Rifle:

The Browning Automatic Rifle was a family of American automatic rifles and light machine guns used by the United States and numerous allied nations throughout much of the 20th century. The original M1918 was chambered for the .30-06 Springfield cartridge and designed by John Moses Browning in 1917 for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. It was intended to supplement and eventually replace weapons such as the French Chauchat and the U.S. Model 1909 Benét-Mercié Machine Rifle.

Final development of the improved M1918A2 was authorized on June 30, 1938. An FN-designed pistol grip and rate-reducing system was considered but not adopted. Instead, the finalized M1918A2 incorporated a Springfield Armory-designed rate reducer housed in the buttstock. The selector provided two different rates of fully automatic fire rather than conventional semiautomatic and automatic settings.

Additional M1918A2 modifications included a skid-footed bipod fitted at the muzzle end of the barrel, magazine guides ahead of the trigger guard, a shortened forearm, a metal heat shield, and provisions for a separate butt monopod. The BAR’s role also shifted toward that of a squad automatic rifle or light machine gun.

The rear sight scale was modified for the standardized M2 Ball cartridge, which used a lighter flat-base bullet than the earlier M1 Ball loading. The M1918A2 buttstock was approximately one inch longer than that of the original M1918. The improved model also received a flash suppressor and fully adjustable iron sights. A barrel-mounted carrying handle was added to many examples during late WWII production and subsequent rebuild programs.

Specifications:

Model: Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Receiver: Newly manufactured non-firing cast-aluminum display receiver
Barrel: Live Winchester barrel dated January 1919
Barrel Marking: W / Flaming Bomb / 1-19
Proof Marks: British Nitro Proof and pressure markings
Stock: Molded composition stock, commonly called Bakelite
Bipod: Functional second-pattern adjustable bipod
Sling: Replica three-claw BAR sling