M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle

[Firefly]

I now want a Colt Monitor.

Were any used in WWII, if not why not?

Weight aside, it looks handier.

[MountainRaven]

I now want a Colt Monitor.

Were any used in WWII, if not why not?

Weight aside, it looks handier.

I'm guessing that they weren't. (Although with the OSS, SOE, and SAS/SBS engaging in unconventional warfare, it's possible that it was used by SOF.)

I'm guessing (again, this is spitballing) that whatever it was that Colt did to reduce the weight resulted in a less durable, more time-consuming to construct, more expensive weapon. Or that Colt broke the machines specific to the Monitor after the NFA was enacted. Or that nobody at Army Ordnance thought that there was a need for a lighter, handier BAR. Or some combination of the above.

[SteyrAUG]

I'm guessing (again, this is spitballing) that whatever it was that Colt did to reduce the weight resulted in a less durable, more time-consuming to construct, more expensive weapon. Or that Colt broke the machines specific to the Monitor after the NFA was enacted. Or that nobody at Army Ordnance thought that there was a need for a lighter, handier BAR. Or some combination of the above.

I think all the Browning designs ended up being the property of FN.

Pretty sure the Monitor was never adopted by the military and was intended for the FBI and such.

[Moose-Knuckle]

There is one in the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco Texas. I got to watch it being shot as a boy. Since I was a wee lad, I was not allowed to shoot it.

Good times.

I've had the privilege of seeing that very gun in person.

The son of Ranger Frank Hamer donated it to the TRM. It is the gun that his father used to shoot the hell out of Bonnie and Clyde.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Pretty sure the Monitor was never adopted by the military and was intended for the FBI and such.

"Bring Enough Gun" A History of the FBI's Long Arms

Although the Colt Monitor, the civilian version of the Browning Automatic Rifle, was not initially recommended, by 1935 several were purchased for field use. By then, several period gangsters were using BARs, usually stolen from National Guard armories. “Rusty” Gibson had one in Chicago in 1935 when Walter Walsh shot and killed him with an issue Winchester .351 WSL.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...bis-long-arms/



Here is a great reference page for all things G-Men.

Our own review of FBI files pertaining to weapons acquisitions reveals sporadic information on the Colt Monitor. From documents found, it is clear that Colt salesmen "pitched" the Bureau on the Monitor in June, 1933. However, the files show that in all liklihood, purchase of the Monitor did not occur until 1934.

We've set forth a few documents here that may be of interest to readers:

The June, 1934 Monitor distribution list - it is believed this is the first distribution of the Monitor Bureau wide.

June, 1934 Monitor training memo - it is believed that this is the initial stages of training.

http://historicalgmen.squarespace.co...-colt-monitor/

[Mongo]

Didn't some of the BAR's from Europe use a pistol grip? Maybe the Belgians?

All most all the countries in Europe that adopted the BAR used a pistol grip that looks like the Monitor grip except for the Swedes which were the earliest adopter of the BAR (except for the US). Here is my Swedish kg m/37 BAR that also has a quick change barrel mechanism.

[JC5188]

All most all the countries in Europe that adopted the BAR used a pistol grip that looks like the Monitor grip except for the Swedes which were the earliest adopter of the BAR (except for the US). Here is my Swedish kg m/37 BAR that also has a quick change barrel mechanism.

Outstanding. Love the checkering


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[CRAMBONE]

It's weird/funny to see one design get used for so many different things.....assault rifle, automatic rifle, and light machine gun.