The Browning Machine Gun Volume 1-Rifle Caliber Brownings in U.S.Service
by Dolf L Goldsmith
Deluxe First Edition, 2005
552 pages, 568 illustrations
This is th first volume of a planned multi-volume series on Browning machine guns, written by an ex-U.S. Army armorer who studied and maintained these guns and has since owned and shot a number of them in civilian life.
This profusely illustrated history covers all models of the U.S. Browning, from the first "gas hammer" Model 1895 and the initial recoil-operated Models of 1901 and 1910, through the adoption and manufacture of the famous water-cooled heavy Model 1917 during World War I and the numerous Interwar experimental tank and aircraft guns, most of which were built up on surplus M1917 receivers.
Tank and cavalry experiments led to the development of the air-cooled M1919A4 infantry gun, while Colt's heavy investment in the Browning system paid off handsomely in the lightweight, fast-firing, dual-feed M2 aircraft machine gun, which was sold commercially and made in large numbers during World War II.
Existing stocks of the M1917 water-cooled gun were meanwhile retrofitted to the improved M1917A specification, and the failed Ordnance Department light machine gun competition, discussed in detail, resulted in the compromise M1916A6.
The history of Browning manufacture by Rock Island Arsenal, Saginaw Steering Gear and other contractors is followed by chapters recounting the heroic use of the Browning in WWII and Korea, and all subsequent variations, such as the M1919A4E1, the T151, T152, T153 and M37 tank gun, until these fine guns were phased out after the adoption of the general-purpose M60 in 1957.
