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Title:	GUN, MACHINE -  U.S. MACHINE GUN BROWNING M1 .22 SN# 42014
Maker/Manufacturer:	BROWNING, JOHN MOSES/DAVID WILLIAMS
Date of Manufacture:	C 1935
Eminent Figure:	WILLIAMS, DAVID
Catalog Number:	SPAR 2879
Measurements:	OL: 97.2CM 38 3/8" BL: 55.8CM 22" 33.1 lbs. w/o water

Object Description:

U.S. MACHINE GUN BROWNING M1 .22 SN# 42014
Manufactured by Remington Arms, Ilion, N.Y. Modified by Springfield Armory - This weapon provides a small bore machine gun for use in machine gun marksmanship courses and musketry practice on 500 and 1000 inch ranges. It is similar in appearance to the water cooled caliber .30 M1917 Browning machine gun. It may be mounted on any mount or tripod this similarity in appearance is enhanced, but the use of water for cooling is optional in simulating the weight of the caliber .30 gun in training. This machine gun does not operate on the basic Browning principle. The interior construction of this gun differs in several fundamental features from the Browning type. Some of the parts of the caliber .30 gun were altered and thereby list their former identity. Other parts were used but perform different functions, while still other parts were used unchanged. While the basic principle of operation for this gun is fundamentally different from that of the caliber .30 and caliber .50 guns, in that it depends more upon the expansion of gas for the operation of the power stroke than upon the recoil, the actual functioning of the recoiling parts is approximately the same as for the caliber .30 gun. The principal difference is that the barrel is stationary in the caliber .22 gun. Converted to .22 caliber to facilitate training by making MG gallery practice feasible and inexpensive. Converted 10/21/34. Cyclic rate of fire: 550-600 rpm. Muzzle velocity at 25 feet: 1100 fps. Weapon weighs approximately 39 3/4 lbs. with water and 33.1 lbs. without water.

Markings:
Receiver: RZC (in circle)/NO42014. U.S. INSP. LEB./BROWNING MACHINE GUN/U.S. CAL.30/MODEL OF 1917/MAN'F'D BY REMINGTON ARMS CO./PATENTS APPLIED FOR/CONVERTED TO/U.S. MACHINE GUN/CAL.22M1/SERIAL NO.1.
Receiver cover: B8830.
Rear of trunnion: C L O

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 6 June 1935. At that time weapon was appraised at $285.00.

Army # 5286 - "'This is the First Production Model U.S. Machine Gun, Cal ..22 M1 Manufactured at the Springfield Armory Oct. 21. 1934. The is the first gun to operate on the principle of capturing gases in an internal chamber. Patented by David M. Williams of Goodwin, N.C. The design of this mechanism is unique in that approximately the same rate of fire is obtained with the Cal..22 Long Rifle Cartridge as is obtained with the Cal..30 M1 Ball Ammunition.' - C.A. Miller
The purpose in the modification of this gun is to provide a suitable substitute for the Browning Machine Gun, Cal..30 M1917 for Training Purposes. The various cams, lugs & springs actuate the feeding, firing, extraction & ejection in a manner similar to the BMG Cal..30 M1917 except that the barrel is stationary. It may be fired either with or without water, and all phases of 1.000" range firing may be practices. The gun may be mounted on either M1917 or M1918 Tripod Mounts."

Springfield Republican, 10/25/1935 - NEW MACHINE GUN NOW BEING MADE AT U.S. ARMORY HERE. Production of a new .22 caliber Browning machine gun (pictured above) has reached a point at the United States Armory here so that Army machine gun companies are now receiving supplies of this unique rapid fire weapon. It fires between 400 and 500 rounds per minute, and is intended to save many thousands of dollars a year in the cost of ammunition and at the same time provide greaters facilities for marksmanship training, not only for regular Army units but also for the National Guard.
The gun was developed by David M. Williams of Godwin, N.C. Mr. Williams constructed the original model, and after demonstrating it to the War Department came to Springfield Armory to assist in the development work necessary to establish the weapon as an item of practical manufacture and as an article suitable for use in the Army.
The external appearance of the gun is identical with that of the caliber .30 M1917 gun. The mechanism, though different in many respects, renders a performance almost identical with the higher powered caliber .30 gun. It may be fired either with or withoThe operating principle in this gun is unique, in that, as far as it is known, it is the first successful attempt to operate what is commonly referred to as a high-power machine gun, with a small caliber cartridge, and duplicate the rate of fire. This was accomplished by combining the gas and recoil operating principles.
The serviceable life of the gun has not been determined, although firing to date indicates that many thousands of rounds may be fired before malfunctions will occur due to wear or breakages of parts. No special care is necessary. It will function normally over an indefinite period with no attention or care other than that given to other weapons in the same class for the National Guard and Organized Reserve.
It is a Browning machine gun caliber .30 M1917, modified to accommodate the caliber .22 long rifle cartridge. The object of the modification is to provide a suitable substitute for the caliber .30 of reduced caliber for training purposes.
The many advantages of a weapon of this kind are apparent. The cost of ammunition and lack of adequate range facilities have in the past limited the amount of range training to an absolute minimum. Climate conditions render outdoor range practice in the greater portion of the United State impracticable for all year firing, even though range facilities are available. Therefore the advent of the caliber .22 machine gun fulfilled a long felt need for a small caliber machine gun in which could be incorporated the following requirements: The same general performance as the caliber .30 Browning machine gun designed to fire the caliber .22 long rifle cartridge at the normal rate of fire with accuracy equal to that of the caliber .30 on any range suitable for any caliber .22 rifle.
The tremendous advantages to be derived from a weapon of this type lie in the fact that it can be used for year round firing, day or night, inside or outside, on cheap and easily constructed ranges, at a very small percentage of the cost of the caliber .30.
The weapon is especially valuable to all civilian units of the military establishment, such as the National Guard, Organized Reserves and ROTC Units, who, due to a lack of time and facilities, have been required to limit their actual range practice to one or two days during the summer training period. The use of this gun will permit the entire personnel of a machine gun unit to complete all preliminary range work including one thousand inch firing during the winter months."

Notes: "7. VARTIATIONS FROM THE STANDARD PRINCIPLES. - a. There are any number of different mechanical solutions of the three standard principles of operation (recoil-operated, gas-operated, blow-back), for instance, the Maxim, the Vickers, and most recoil operated-aircraft machine guns have an attachment around the muzzle against which the powder gases following the bullet impinge and, in rebounding, exert pressure against a disk attached to the muzzle of the barrel to assist in recoiling the barrel. Thus these weapons are a combination of recoil and gas operation, although the forces exerted by the gas play a minor part and are not essential for operation….
f. The most original and newest method of operating an automatic weapon is that used by Mr. Williams in the new caliber .22 machine gun made by modifying a Browning caliber .30 machine gun. Mr. Williams' gun has a moveable chamber in which the cartridge is held, the bullet resting in the barrel. When the cartridge is fired the recoil of the bullet moves the moveable chamber slightly to the rear, whereupon the expansion of powder gas against the face of the chamber gives it a great deal of power, so that the caliber .22 cartridge will operate a full sized caliber .30 machine gun. This principle is a unique combination of recoil and gases. It is the only known way to gain great operating power from35. GUN, MACHINE, CAL. .22, U.S. M1 - a. This weapon provides a small bore machine gun for use in machine gun marksmanship courses and musketry practice on 500 and 1000 inch ranges. It is similar in appearance to the water-cooled caliber .30 M1917 Browning machine gun. It may be mounted on any mount or tripod that is complementary to that weapon. By including the water jacket this similarity in appearance is enhanced, but the use of water for cooling is optional in simulating the weight of the caliber .30 gun in training.
b. This is the only machine gun of standard issue in our service today that does not operate on the basic Browning principle. The interior construction of this gun differs in several fundamental features from the Browning type. Some of the parts of the caliber .30 gun were altered and thereby lost their former identity. Other parts were used but perform different functions, while still other parts were used unchanged.
c. While the basic principle of operation for this gun is fundamentally different from that of the caliber .30 and caliber .50 guns, in that it depends more upon the expansion of gas for the operation of the power stroke than upon the recoil, the actual functioning of the recoiling parts is approximately same as for the caliber .30 gun. The principal difference is that the barrel is stationary in the caliber .22 gun.
d. Recoil in this gun is obtained through a gas actuator mechanism. Part of the inertia of the bolt and recoiling parts is initially overcome by recoil when the gun is fired. This movement is assisted and carried to completion by the force of expanding gases. Power for the actual operation of the recoiling parts is obtained in the following manner. The exterior of the rear of the barrel is reduced and over this reduced section is assembled a barrel sleeve which is locked to the barrel by the barrel sleeve lock, forming a housing for the reduced section. The barrel and barrel sleeve are rigidly locked in place by the barrel nut. A chamber is assembled and locked to the forward end of the barrel extension. The forward end of this chamber fits into the barrel sleeve and telescopes over the reduced section of the barrel inside the barrel sleeve. The bullet of the cartridge is seated in the barrel but the cartridge case is seated in the chamber. This chamber, in addition to housing the cartridge case, also functions as a gas piston.
e. When the gun is fired, gases escaping through the area between the end of the barrel and the inner face of the chamber impinge on this inner face which is a relatively large area, forcing the chamber, the barrel extension and the bolt to the rear. Leakage of these gases during this movement is prevented by the gas retaining ring which is assembled to the reduced section of the barrel. When the barrel extension has moved about ½ inch to the rear, the expanded gases escape through several spline type grooves on the inner wall of the chamber. When the recoiling mechanism has recoiled 3/8 of an inch the positive lock between the bolt and barrel extension (which is the same as for the caliber .30) starts to release. Final separation occurs after an additional ¼ inch of travel. The function of the accelerator occurs after an additional ¼ inch of travel. The function of the accelerator and other operating parts during the recoil and forward movement of the bolt to an intent and purpose, the same as that of the caliber .30 gun described in paragraph 10.
f. INTERCHANGEABILITY - The barrel extension and subchamber are specially fitted to each other and are not interchangeable. Each barrel extension is stamped with a number, and the subchamber is stamped with a corresponding number. All other parts are as interchangeable as the design will permit. The best functioning will be obtained if parts are not interchanged from gun to gun. When replacing broken or unserviceable parts, it may be found necessary in some cases to hand fit the replacement part to obtain satisfactory functioning." - Springfield Armory Document ST No. 48 (1939)
BLWeigh of gun w/o water: 33.12 lbs.
Weight of gun w/water: 39.75
Rate of fire: 550-600 rpm
Muzzle velocity at 25 feet: 1100 fps.
Type of operation: gas.



"'I didn't know the Ordnance Department was interested in a .22 machine-gun or even a pistol for training. When I met with them for the first time was the first I knew about it. At that time I met with Major Wilhelm and Mr. J.C. Grady, who were heads of the technical staff in the Ordnance Department. I went to see them first. If you had anything of interest, then they referred you to others. If it was artillery, small arms or anything like that, then they steered you were you belonged.
At that particular time, Major Julian S. Hatcher (he's a general now) was head of the Small Arms Division, Ordnance Department. They saw the guns that I had here which demonstrated, without a doubt, that I could get a great deal of operating energy out of a small cartridge. Major Hatcher, Mr. Grady and Mr. Wilhelm saw right away that my floating chamber might be the solution to the .22 machine gun that the Army wanted for all the using services.
I went over to see Major Hatcher (he really knows guns) and he knew, without a doubt, that I would come up with it,' he continued. 'He knew that these mechanisms require a lot of energy to operate and he was wondering if I could make a heavy machine gun that would pull a belt. I told him I thought so. 'Well,' he said, 'Are you willing to try it.' I said, 'Sure, I'm willing to try it. I'll be glad for something like that.' He said, 'Well, why don't we?' We agreed on a price for one model .22 machine gun. I left there that day with a contract to make one.
I come back here to this same shop and made one gun in pretty short order,' Carbine said, with obvious satisfaction. 'It didn't take me but about five or six weeks, roughly, and I went back with the gun. We didn't go out to the regular testing range they had in Washington at Congress Heights. There was a place right there near the Ordnance Department, some medical center. They had a basement and we went there. We didn't walk very far. We went to that basement and my gun worked good. They said, 'We want five more.' I said, 'All right,' and I come back and made five more.
'I made some improvements on the general mechanism but, of course, didn't change the principle,' he stressed. 'The principle had to remain the same. The is still the only known way of getting a great deal of operating energy out of a small cartridge. In a book I have it listed as a 'new principle of firearms.'
'Actually you pioneered a new firing concept. Yours was a new method,' I offered, seeking his confirmation.
'Yes. It was a new method, a new principle by which a gun is made. Anyway, I came back here and I don't know how long it took me to make five but, you know, that's quite a job for one man, and it was some months. Those five guns operated perfectly, and Springfield Armory wanted one and the Ordnance wanted one and the Army too. It took five to go around.
'The original model, they just probably kept that,' he continued, 'because I made some changes that made it better. I've forgotten what I changed - the feed mechanism, the way the barrel fitted or something. Then the gun was sent to the using services and it made such a nice showing it was unanimously adopted by the using services and made at Springfield Armory. While we are talking about it, I do have a set of manufacturing blueprints I brought back from Springfield Armory.
'The kinda funny part to me was being such a young boy,' he chuckled. 'You know, if somebody said something like, 'You're kinda young for you to have all these fellers making something like that, ain't you?' I'd reply, 'I don't know about that.' There were a great deal of draftsmen and so forth at Springfield Armory and they were all busy making measurements and making drawings - and they didn't change a thing. The orders from the War Department were: when making this gun don't change anything; make it as it is. No changes were ever made in the gun,' he said, making no e
References:
Beard, Ross E. CARBINE: THE STORY OF DAVID MARSHALL WILLIAMS. Philips Publications. Williamstown, N.J. 1977.