BAR Belt Fed Conversion Patent Documents

[mdrim13]

I came across these a while back and thought I might share them. They are scans of original patent documents that are dated 1936 that show the procedure and specs for converting the US BAR to a belt fed light machine gun vs the clip fed that it was. The files are attached as a .pdf and should open for you. I dont know about you guys, but I find these old drawings of military guns interesting to look at and to have for reference. Enjoy.

mdrim13

[RCS]

There are actual photos of the Swedish M37 BAR converted to belt fed

[mdrim13]

I dont know why they would have wanted to do it. All they are keeping the same is part ot the reciever, the wood and perhaps the trigger group? Barrel needs to be changet to allow for better cooling and the reciever has to be modified. It seems like it would have been easier to just have a dedicated belt fed design like the Browning 1919. I guess the army thought so too since the never converted on a large scale, if at all.

mdrim13

[browningautorifle]

That's exactly it. Why not a purpose built design instead of modifying something not really up to the task? It seems in all these designs, there was a full auto version somewhere along the rainbow...

[mdrim13]

Another prime example of the military spending money to try and save money, just to abandon it in the end.

mdrim13

[RCS]

Photo shows the 1918 belt to hold extra magazines and the steel cup to place the buttstock while advancing and firing the weapon, did not work out.

Also an early attempt to use a bipod for the M1918A1 around 1937, few if any were still around by WW2

[mdrim13]

Also an early attempt to use a bipod for the M1918A1 around 1937, few if any were still around by WW2

I have seen the bipods that have a curved foot instead of the spike looking one in your photo. The foot on the one Im thinking is more U shaped/ Is this more common or is it a later style or something? I know I have a picture of one of these around. My grandpa is holding it during his deployment in Korea and it was his issued weapon.

mdrim13

[RCS]

Your talking about the Model 1918A2 BAR and bipod

[mdrim13]

Your talking about the Model 1918A2 BAR and bipod

I see. That explains the confusion. Why were the bipods de before WWII? Not practical or something?

mdrim13