 Furniture Maker, 1918 Colt |
MachineGunBoards.com Forums > The Browning Machine Gun and Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) > Browning Message Board (Full Auto Only)  |
 Jul 25 2010, 07:05 PM
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RKI Member  Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091  |
I cleaned up a Colt 1918 BAR parts kit today and noticed the nice NOS like front grip was stamped with the letter E inside the grip.
Who were the makers of Colt wood on the early BARs and what manufacturer used the letter "E". Thanks, Darryl This post has been edited by darrylta: Jul 28 2010, 05:26 AM |
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Aug 9 2010, 06:42 PM
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Member Group: Donation Made Posts: 20 Joined: 27-June 04 Member No.: 1,115 |
QUOTE (darrylta @ Jul 25 2010, 08:05 PM)  I cleaned up a Colt 1918 BAR parts kit today and noticed the nice NOS like front grip was stamped with the letter E inside the grip. Who were the makers of Colt wood on the early BARs and what manufacturer used the letter "E". Thanks, Darryl Darryl, I looked at my Swedish BAR handguards and found one that has an"E" stamped inside like yours. I bought a total of 5 handguards from Ohio Ordnance in 2001. 2 had the royal crown stamped on the lower outside front of the handguard, 2 had no markings, and the 5th one has the "E" inside. Looking at the finish and metal I would say all of them were made at the same place. I bought an M1921 gastube/handguard assembly on ebay back in 2003. The handguard on that assembly looks to be from a rifle that was actually used. It has a capitol "N 3" stamped on the inside at the front right up against the end of the flat surface milled for the handguard bracket, as well as the royal crown on the outside lower front. Doug |
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Aug 10 2010, 06:10 AM
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RKI Member Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091 |
WinBar, I know that Colt made the first batch of kg m/1921 BAR's shipped to Europe. I guess it's still a mystery if Colt stamped their furniture and if they did, did they use the C and arrow stamping. I checked with the WWIIBARMAN guys and did not receive a definitive from them either.
Thanks for the input, Darryl This post has been edited by darrylta: Aug 10 2010, 07:03 AM |
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Aug 10 2010, 05:59 PM
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Member Group: Donation Made Posts: 20 Joined: 27-June 04 Member No.: 1,115 |
QUOTE (darrylta @ Aug 10 2010, 07:10 AM) WinBar, I know that Colt made the first batch of kg m/1921 BAR's shipped to Europe. I guess it's still a mystery if Colt stamped their furniture and if they did, did they use the C and arrow stamping. I checked with the WWIIBARMAN guys and did not receive a definitive from them either. Thanks for the input, Darryl Darryl, I have what is probably a Colt 1919 commercial handguard that I bought from J Curtis Earl back in 1996. It has the "C" with arrow on the front face of the handguard. I took some pictures of my early handguards for George (Junkyardslug) Knott but I don't think they are in the photo album on WWIIBARMAN any more. I'll look to see if I have any pics with the cartouche. Doug |
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Aug 11 2010, 01:19 PM
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RKI Member Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091 |
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Aug 11 2010, 08:02 PM
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Member Group: Donation Made Posts: 20 Joined: 27-June 04 Member No.: 1,115 |
QUOTE (darrylta @ Aug 11 2010, 01:19 PM) WinBar, My hand protector has aluminum liners, I've heard that the Colt liners were steel. Is that correct? Thanks, Darryl Darryl, My "1919" handguard looks like a 1918 handguard (no heat shields). If you look in Jim Ballou's book on page 66 there is a schematic showing a Colt 1919. The only difference from a 1918 I see is that the recoil spring has been moved to the rear. Doug |
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Aug 12 2010, 09:30 AM
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RKI Member Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091 |
WinBar, Attached is a photo of some Swedish MGs, the bottom one is an early Colt m21 with heat protection liners in the hand guard?
Food for thought, Darryl
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Aug 14 2010, 10:53 AM
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Member Group: Donation Made Posts: 20 Joined: 27-June 04 Member No.: 1,115 |
QUOTE (darrylta @ Aug 12 2010, 10:30 AM) WinBar, Attached is a photo of some Swedish MGs, the bottom one is an early Colt m21 with heat protection liners in the hand guard? Food for thought, Darryl Darryl, I noticed in your picture of Swedish BARs that the third one down has a " Chilean" style buttstock but no pistol grip. Jim Ballou's write-up on the M21's mentions several parts being ordered specifically by the Swedes. He doesn't mention the handguard though. I have never seen a picture of a "Swedish" handguard on any other original Colt contract gun. Have you? Doug Oops! Looks like there is a pistol grip behind the gun rack peg but no checkering on the buttstock. Doug This post has been edited by winbar: Aug 14 2010, 11:43 AM |
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Aug 14 2010, 12:28 PM
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RKI Member Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091 |
No I haven't. The linered handguard may be a Swedish mod of a later date on the Colt m21.
Thanks for the help, Darryl |
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Aug 14 2010, 01:25 PM
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#10
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Member Group: Donation Made Posts: 20 Joined: 27-June 04 Member No.: 1,115 |
QUOTE (darrylta @ Aug 14 2010, 12:28 PM) No I haven't. The linered handguard may be a Swedish mod of a later date on the Colt m21. Thanks for the help, Darryl Darryl, I looked at all my M21 handguards (6 total) again with a magnifying glass to see if there was a Colt "<-C" anywhere. The first time I was just looking for an "E" like yours. 2 of them have a"V" in the same area as the ones that have an "E", so maybe the single letter is just an inspector's initial. The M21 handguard is taller than a 1918, ( you have to try really hard to burn your hand on the barrel) it is also convex on the outside grip area as opposed to the concave shape of a 1918 handguard on the outside grip area. I would say the M21 handguard was designed specifically to allow the addition of the aluminum heat shields and the steel "horseshoe" on the front was to take the wear and tear of the swivel assembly moving against it. I put an FND trigger group, M21 gastube, bipod and handguard, M21/37 slide, drive rod, and buffer/recoil assembly, M37 buttstock, and last but not least a modified to fit FND monopod on my rewatted Winchester BMR last spring. I still haven't shot it with this setup though. Doug |
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Aug 14 2010, 08:13 PM
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RKI Member Group: Board Benefactor Posts: 607 Joined: 12-February 09 From: Maryland Member No.: 12,091 |
Doug, I appreciate your help and research on the subject. I expect to receive my Marlin Rockwell BAR in early October.
I'm seeing that with the many BAR configurations both military and commercial, the options to outfit a receiver is huge. Good luck on your build, Darryl |
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| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 9th September 2010 - 05:50 AM |