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Winchester 1918 Browning Machine Rifle

Winchester started manufacturing the BAR with serial number 64001.  So, this example, serial number 101417, is one of the first forty thousand Browning Automatic Rifles made by Winchester! Note in the photo that the receiver is marked “Browning Machine Rifle,” the early designation for John Browning’s invention before this weapon became officially known as the “Browning Automatic Rifle.” This machine gun has an original Winchester barrel, dated December, 1918. Also note, although this BAR has received some of the early 1918A2 parts, the receiver was never marked “1918A2.” Note the absence of magazine guides, common to the A2 version. It has the early style rear sight and gas port regulator, and the earlier military wood buttstock with the cocking handle groove, in use before the plastic stock came into production.

Although little is known about this BAR’s history, the bottom of the trigger guard is marked with a large script “S” and the number 144.  See photo.  Someone in the firearms field knows what this early designation discloses.

The most important quality of this early Winchester BAR is its condition.  As the photos show, this BAR still has its ORIGINAL Blued finish! This is an exceptional example of an early Browning Automatic Rifle.  It is a hybrid version, created from a straight 1918 model, before the 1918A2 had been put into production. Similar examples are shown on page 141 of the late James L. Ballou’s fine work on the BAR: Rock in a Hard Place – The Browning Automatic Rifle. This Browning has been test fired and functioned 100 percent perfect.  It is a true joy to operate. $60,000 plus HIS. Fully Transferable, Curio & Relic and extremely hard to duplicate in this condition.  For questions, please call (575) 405-0911.  Quickly transfers to your dealer by eFile.