m1918 BAR markings

[GaryWKeim]

I have a Winchester m1918 BAR that was said to have been built in March 1918, making it fairly early. The story I bought was that it was part of the Winchester Reference Library acquired by a big collector in Chicago. It has no military markings at all, which would make sense if it was taken off the line for reference purposes.

The weapon has some markings that I cannot understand: M.A.

See pics.


My guess is that it means, "Marlin Arms" but I have nothing to back that up.

[browningautorifle]

The weapon has some markings that I cannot understand: M.A.

As in Marlin Rockwell? Perhaps, the production date would be about right. This is after all, a nice early gun. Very nice indeed. I had three, a Marlin-Rockwell, a Royal Typewriter and a NESA but failed to take even one picture over the years to prove anything let alone record markings. I would have thought Marlin Rockwell would have been marked "MR" but don't remember. Marlin Rockwell took over I think in 1915 and traded off about 1926(?) Your gas piston slide is marked with a "W" so I'd make that a Winchester part. Likewise the hammer. Maybe the MA is just an inspection mark after all?

[GaryWKeim]

I've seen it (M.A.) on a few other examples, but not many.

[browningautorifle]

Others will be along, I just wonder if it's an inspection mark and the parts are "W"...Winchester.