| UNITED STATES WWII .30 CALIBER MACHINE-GUN ACCESSORIES |
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| The Browning .30 caliber machine-gun was first patented in 1900 by John M. Browning. The M-1917 and M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun would start service during WWI and would see service through WWII and the Korean Conflict. The M-1919A4 .30 caliber air-cooled machine-gun would be used in WWII, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. The M-1919A6 .30 caliber machine-gun would be fielded with a bipod and shoulder stock. The M-1917A1 and M-1919A4 could be used in a ground role or mounted on vehicles and tanks. The AN-M2 .30 caliber machine-gun would be used during WWII in aircraft. Shown below are some of the accessories used with the M-1917 and M-1919 machine-guns. |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 67255, inspected by HMR with crossed cannon inspection stamp, manufactured by THE ACKLIN STAMPING COMPANY 1942, above left photo. The top, rear of the mount is stamped C59336 E.P. MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 67255, manufactured by THE ACKLIN STAMPING COMPANY 1942. The side of the front leg has been re-marked: RE-MANUFACTURED 1945 THE APPLIANCE MFG. CO. ALLIANCE OHIO, above right photo. |
| 1942 Browning M2 .30 caliber machine-gun tripod, above photo. This M2 tripod was restored by QuestMasters in 2019. The entire tripod was sandblasted to bare metal and finished in Brownells Baking Lacquer #083-037-024, Dark Parkerizing Gray. The transverse bar was re-blued with increment marks added in white paint. WWII tripods originally were delivered from the factory in a gray parkerized finish. The pintle socket on this example is steel, fitted during rebuilding in 1945. Most WWII M2 tripods have a brass pintle socket. |
| M2 TRIPOD AND ACCESSORIES: |
| M2 TRIPOD MANUFACTURERS: |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 117683, inspected by HMR with flaming bomb inspection stamp, manufactured by LOVELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1942, left photo. The top, rear of the mount is stamped C59336 LMC |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 61609, inspected by HMR with crossed cannon inspection stamp, manufactured by BINGHAM STAMPING COMPANY 1942, left photo. The top, rear of the mount is marked with a B and the flaming bomb ordnance stamp |
| COVER, TRIPOD, MOUNT, M2 This canvas bag, Drawing D30653, was produced by CRAWFORD MFG. CO. INC. in 1943. The bag was made to go over the front of the M2 Tripod to protect the brass pintle socket. The pouch on the front was designed to hold the Transverse and Elevation (T&E) mechanism when not in use. The Pintle remained attached to the M-1919A4 Machine-gun when being stored. The example, shown in the left photo, is constructed from khaki canvas with a draw string closure. |
| WWII Browning M-1919A4 .30 caliber air-cooled machine-gun with M2 Tripod, shown above. |
| M1917A1 TRIPOD AND ACCESSORIES: |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun with M-1917A1 Tripod, shown above. |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun cover, above photo. This example was produced by BOYT in 1942. The case was produced in khaki canvas with leather fittings. The leather protrusion on the side is for the bolt handle on the receiver. |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun steam condensing hose, left photo. This example was produced UCHTORFF COMPANY, DAVENPORT IOWA The hose is Drawing Number D-35394 Revision Number 5, December 30th 1942 and packaged July 1944 |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun steam condensing hose case, left photo. This example is marked on the front: STEAM CONDENSING DEVISE CASE |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun tripod socket cover, left photo. This example is marked on the front: COVER, TRIPOD SOCKET C67345 This cover protected the brass azimuth ring and pintle socket on the M-1917A1 Tripod |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber, water-cooled, Machine Gun M-1 Water Chest, left and above photo. This example is marked on the front: CHEST, WATER, M1. The M1 Water Chest was used to collect the steam produced from the M-1917A1 to collect it back into water and pour it back into the water jacket. Water was used to cool the barrel during firing. The example shown left and above is the second model of this can. |
| COVER, GUN, M13 This canvas bag, used to store the M1919A4 Machine-gun when not in use. This bag was produced in olive canvas with a leather fitting that covered the bolt on the receiver. This example is marked: COVER, GUN M13 8531749 MRT and was produced in December 1952. WWII examples should be marked D31749 |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 caliber machine-gun tripod, above photo. This M-1917A1 tripod was restored by QuestMasters. The entire tripod was sandblasted to bare metal and finished in olive drab paint. The transverse and elevation mechanism, pintle block, adjustment handles and bolts and nut have been parkerized finished. The azimuth and elevation increment marks have been re-painted in white. |
| WWI Browning M-1917 .30 caliber water-cooled machine-gun M-1 Water Chest, left photo. This example is marked on the front: CHEST, WATER, M1. The M1 Water Chest was used to collect the steam produced from the M-1917 to collect it back into water and pour it back into the water jacket. Water was used to cool the barrel during firing. The example shown left and above is the first model of this can. The three examples in the QuestMasters Museum collection were found in England in 2012. These cans were scrapped after WWII and were found in horrible condition at the scrap yard. They have been restored by QuestMasters. |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 61132, inspected by HMR with crossed cannon inspection stamp, manufactured by BINGHAM STAMPING COMPANY 1942, left photo. The top, rear of the mount is marked with a B and the flaming bomb ordnance stamp |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 52416, inspected by HMR, manufactured by APPLIANCE MFG. CO. 1942, left photo. The top, rear of the mount is marked US-M2-L-C59331 (the L is in a C circle) |
| 1942 Browning M2 .30 caliber machine-gun tripod, above photo. This M2 tripod was restored by QuestMasters in 2019. The entire tripod was sandblasted to bare metal and finished in Brownells Baking Lacquer #083-037-024, Dark Parkerizing Gray. The transverse bar was re-blued with increment marks added in white paint. WWII tripods originally were delivered from the factory in a gray parkerized finish. This tripod was produced by LAMSON in 1942, and has a variation of cupped feet on all three tripod legs. LAMSON was the only manufacturer to produce tripods with this style of feet. |
| MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 97546, inspected by RLB, manufactured by LAMSON 1942, above left photo. MOUNT, TRIPOD, CAL. .30 M2, Serial Number 97546, manufactured by LAMSON 1942. The side of the front leg has been re-marked: REMFG. 1945 AMC (THE APPLIANCE MFG. CO. ALLIANCE OHIO), above right photo. |
| WWII Browning M-1917A1 .30 Caliber, water-cooled, Machine Gun, Field Manual FM 23-55, left photo. This is the War Department Field Manual for the Browning M-1917A1 .30 Caliber Machine Gun, produced by the War Department June 20th 1940, under the direction of the Chief of Infantry. 327 Pages with Change 1, dated July 25th 1941 and Change 2, dated May 6th 1942. |
