100% Philadelphia Ordnance M1918 Recievers?

[Bayrain]

https://philaord.com/80-machined-receivers/m1918-m1918a2-bar/

I've been working on finishing up some other projects, but I've almost finished out collecting my USGI WW2 stuff. Only thing I'm missing is a M1918 honestly.
Is there anyone that does make 100% BAR recievers from the Philly Ordnance blanks? Or am I just stuck with getting a Ohio Ordnance Works one. I'd love a M1918 and Colt Monitor if I could, but 6k just for the base Ohio Ordnance Works BAR I can't justify.

I know OOW used to make semi auto kits and offer recievers but not anymore.

Rewelding would be an option too, if any parts kits came with all the chunks.

[68coupe]

I don't think OOW sells the receivers by themselves anymore. A LOT of machining would have to be done to them as the fire control parts are dimensionally different, as well as the slide. The mounting of the trigger housing is also different, although I see that as an easier fix .

Karl, 68coupe

[StrangeRanger]

11 hours ago, Bayrain said:

Rewelding would be an option too, if any parts kits came with all the chunks.

You cannot re-weld an "Armasteel" (i.e. nodular iron) receiver

[jl7422]

To my knowledge, OOW did 2 runs of M1918 semis. One decades ago when they introduced the semi BAR (called the A1918 I believe-made from original 1918 parts kits) and the 1918A3 made from later model A2 BAR kits. The other 1918 version is their Colt 1918 reissue in the collector case. Occasionally you'll see the early M1918 versions at auction or for sale-they command a premium over the A2. The Colt commeratives are around $10K these days.

The semi kit was a great deal for builders when the parts kit could be had at a decent price. Unless you already have one of those kits, the completed 1918A3 is equal money to what you'd be into building one. 

[minimike]

I can remember when M1918a3’s were $2500. It was the late 80’s. An unobtainable amount for me back then. 
 

My NIB A1918 cost me $6k four years ago. 
 

I wonder what OOW BAR’s will be in 20 years.
 

 

Edited October 20, 2024 by minimike

[Bayrain]

12 hours ago, StrangeRanger said:

You cannot re-weld an "Armasteel" (i.e. nodular iron) receiver

AH, that makes a lot of sense. I've seen people talk about rewelding the FND recievers and cheaper kits but they were always missing the front end of the reciever.

[Bayrain]

4 hours ago, jl7422 said:

To my knowledge, OOW did 2 runs of M1918 semis. One decades ago when they introduced the semi BAR (called the A1918 I believe-made from original 1918 parts kits) and the 1918A3 made from later model A2 BAR kits. The other 1918 version is their Colt 1918 reissue in the collector case. Occasionally you'll see the early M1918 versions at auction or for sale-they command a premium over the A2. The Colt commeratives are around $10K these days.

The semi kit was a great deal for builders when the parts kit could be had at a decent price. Unless you already have one of those kits, the completed 1918A3 is equal money to what you'd be into building one. 

Thats what I figured, I can't justify the price of semi auto M1918s, most of them are around 5k-8k. If I could do payments on one I probably wouldn't hate it, but I'd rather spend that money on a car than on a gun.

 

 

3 hours ago, minimike said:

I can remember when M1918a3’s were $2500. It was the late 80’s. An unobtainable amount for me back then. 
 

My NIB A1918 cost me $6k four years ago. 
 

I wonder what OOW BAR’s will be in 20 years.
 

 

What a time to have been alive, I wasn't born until 99 though haha.

[deerslayer]

I made two of phili ordnance receivers into post sample guns.  It was a lot of work!  I don't want to do it again.  If your thinking to make a semi auto, the challenge of making something similar to Ohio function plus milling the phili receiver would most likely cost well beyond just buying a $6000 Ohio.  And, the ohio can be made into a post sample way easier than milling a phili receiver.