U.S. Marlin-Rockwell Model 1918 Browning Machine Rifle with British Proofs and an Extensive Amount of Accessories, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun

A historically significant World War I-era Marlin-Rockwell 1918 Browning Machine Rifle, this licensed Browning Automatic Rifle design is a highly desirable collector piece with strong U.S. military, Lend-Lease, and British proof connections. Its retained pre-1918A2 configuration, extensive markings, included accessories, and possible Great Britain Lend-Lease history make it especially appealing to advanced military arms collectors.

• Original 1918 Browning Machine Rifle, manufactured by Marlin-Rockwell as its World War I light machine gun offering
• Licensed copy of the famed Browning Automatic Rifle, better known as the BAR
• Designed to give infantry an unusually advanced combination of:
  • Automatic firepower
  • Portability
  • Battlefield maneuverability
• Important historical context:
  • Introduced late in World War I on the Western Front
  • Quickly earned a reputation as a robust, practical infantry automatic weapon
  • Helped establish the “squad automatic rifle” concept in American tactical doctrine
  • Influenced the integration of automatic weapons into standard U.S. infantry formations through World War II and beyond
• Notable post-World War I historical significance:
  • Many World War I BARs remained in U.S. military or National Guard inventory through Prohibition
  • Some became infamous after being stolen from armories during the “Public Enemy” era
  • Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame was a noted BAR user
  • Others were upgraded to 1918A2 specifications for World War II service
  • Some, typically retaining original configuration, were supplied to overseas allies through Lend-Lease
• Service history:
  • The specific service history of this weapon is unrecorded
  • British proofs on the barrel, receiver, and bolt, combined with retention of the original pre-A2 pattern trigger housing, suggest this Machine Rifle was released from U.S. inventory as Lend-Lease aid to Great Britain
• Sights:
  • Blade front sight
  • Folding ladder rear sight
• Barrel and front-end features:
  • “W/6-18” marked barrel
  • Fitted with a combination flash hider and bayonet mount
  • Hinged carry handle
  • Right side of chamber bears both:
    • U.S. “flaming bomb” markings
    • British nitro proof and tonnage markings
• Receiver and bolt markings:
  • Additional “crown/GP” proofs on the right side of the receiver and bolt
  • Receiver top bears five-line nomenclature markings
  • Receiver also marked “PATENT APPLIED FOR”
• Fire-control details:
  • Three-position selector marked “F A S”
  • Markings correspond to:
    • Semi-automatic fire
    • Full-automatic fire
    • Safe
  • Spring-loaded plunger located between the full-auto and safe selector positions
• Stock and furniture:
  • Checkered forearm
  • Smooth pistol grip stock
• Included accessories and extras:
  • Exceptional extra barrel marked “W/8-18”
  • Six-cell magazine carrier belt
  • Photocopied training manual excerpts
  • Thirty-two extra magazines
• Collector appeal:
  • Desirable World War I BAR-pattern automatic rifle with major historical importance
  • Marlin-Rockwell production adds manufacturer-specific collectibility
  • British proofs and likely Lend-Lease association create strong provenance interest
  • Retention of the original pre-A2 pattern trigger housing enhances desirability for collectors seeking early-configuration examples
  • Broad historical relevance spanning World War I, Prohibition-era armory history, Lend-Lease, and World War II-era military doctrine
  • Substantial accessory package, including extra barrel, carrier belt, manual excerpts, and 32 magazines, adds significant collector value and display appeal