Belt feds

nc_reb

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Back in February, I decided to dig out all of my belt fed paraphernalia. Before you get too excited, yes they fire, no they are not full auto. Both are good old boring fully legal semi-auto.
This was the first time that all of this has been together at once. I've still got a few other little pieces that I couldn't locate, but this is the majority of it.
I know this collection pales in comparison to what many have, but I am very proud of it.
I also know that I'm carrying around an extra hundred pounds of fat, that a typical WWII GI would not have, but I love displaying this stuff at living histories and WWII events along with my '43 Willys. I also know that the carry handle on the 1919a4 is post war, I forgot to take it off, but it does make moving it around easier.

Since the photo I have picked up a 1941 dated (asbestos) barrel changing mit.
What am I missing? I need leather handles for the wood boxes, but I can make those. A funnel, and canteen would be nice.



 
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I think I have a correct canteen somewhere. No cover though.
 
I think I have a correct canteen somewhere. No cover though.
Are you talking about the individual canteen for the soldier or the big round canteen for the gun? The one I'm looking holds about 2.5 or 3 gallons.
 
How do you not feel guilty shooting that stuff?

That why I don't own historic stuff, the anxiety.
 
Are you talking about the individual canteen for the soldier or the big round canteen for the gun? The one I'm looking holds about 2.5 or 3 gallons.

Ah thought you meant the individual canteen.
 
How do you not feel guilty shooting that stuff?

That why I don't own historic stuff, the anxiety.
The water cooled (1917a1) gun was my first project. It was found under a house. Super rusty and cut up with a torch. I swapped a CW reproduction black powder revolver for it. I spent a year or so researching the thing, locating parts and making repairs. My buddy at the community college turned the water jacket for free. I made my own semi RSP from scratch, and my own semi mods. I bought a KMP semi trigger and sear.
Honesty I think I have about $1,200-$1,500 in gun and tripod. The tripod was a demilled SARCO that I restored.
I am a budget builder. Got no money, so I have to make everything. I made the M2 tripod for the 1919a4 from scratch!

I built both of these from parts. They were made to shoot. The only guilt or anxiety I feel is not having enough money to feed them properly.

Here's how I got the 1917a1






 
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Ok so as far as historic value it isn't high up there. Then that is cool
 
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I guess it would also help to share that I have an FFL and do a fair amount of machining. Both of these run like they should. The water-cooled it's about 8-9 years old now and the air-cooled is about 5 years old.
For both guns, all of the parts are original military except the semi auto right side plates and the semi auto triggers and sears.
 
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I sold my 1919a4 a few years ago when the wife totaled her car and needed a new one. I miss it a lot. If I ever see a good deal on another I will scoop it up. I did pickup a RPD last week and love it.
 
The entire reason I got one, is because I wanted a dummy one to mount on my WWII Jeep. I got a lead on the water cooled one. As I was working on it thought, "I can make the a semi". I was too stubborn to quit and too broke to pay to have it done. So it got spread out over a year or two. By the time the first one was completed I almost had enough spare parts to build the air cooled. So I spent another year "piece mealing" that one together.
Back then you could buy a whole 1919 kit for $300-$400. They have now gone to $1000 or more. I got in at the end of the "golden era" of semi Belt fed building from surplus kits. Parts were plentiful and affordable. No so much anymore.
Bolts have gone from $19-$90, extractors went nuts. I bought one for $5 once. Most in the $20-$30. They are parts that are prone to failure so you need spares. I've seen them as high as $140 recently. Average is $100.
I could have never afforded this set up now. Not and stay married. My wife keeps telling me to sell this stuff now. I look at it like a savings plan. It accrues interest faster than a savings account.
 
Thats really awesome. I like that set up. You do nice work. All the talent hidden away on this forum.
 
Very nice, and great work on the restoration. Have we seen the Jeep??
 
That's a heck of a collection, NC Reb! Fantastic restoration work.

Thanks for this thread.
 
Again, very nice!
 
Must be, so what's missing on the jeep?
I need lots of stuff. I need a fuel sending unit, I need a canvas top, seat cushions, blackout light on the fender. I've got a horn but I've got to install it. I need to also hook up a new horn button. I also need tool box latches. I need the snaps around the side openings, and along the top of the windshield.
The devil is in the details, and there are LOTS of little things I need to finish it. I'll keep nickel and dime'ing it until I get it mostly done.
 
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Outstanding work NC_reb and beautiful collection! I would love to hear them talk. Only gun I out of the hundards I collected in Iraq over the years was a M1919A6 .30 cal Browning. Can you imagine how hard it is to find .30 cal linked in Iraq? Did find one belt of AP-APIT in disintegrating links. Love shooting 1919s. As I stated at the beginning I brought that gun home since it was still stamped US property, put back on the units books and brought back to the HHC, 5th SFG(A) arms room. Last I heard it was still there. That was back in 05'-06'. While marked 1919A6 it was missing the buttstock, had the FH and bipod. I mounted it up on my M998 Humvee.

As recovered from the insurgents
9809RPK_PKM_PPSh41_MG3_and_M1919A6_minus_stock.JPG


Close up of receiver
1919A6.JPG


Mounted on pedestal, 1919 still goes to war! (already shot my half belt of .30 cal so used 7.62mm belt for photo op)
9809IMAG0030.JPG

9809M1919A6.JPG



CD
 
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Very cool. During the building of these, I would run across some pretty cool parts.
I actually have a 1919a6 contoured barrel in 8mm Mauser. I have since acquired the parts to convert both of these to fire more than one caliber.
The 1917a1 will shoot 30.06 (M1 or M2 Ball) or 7.62x51
The 1919a4 will shoot. 30.06 (M1 or M2 Ball), 8mm Mauser, 7.62 x 51, or 7.62 x 54R.

The same bolt and extractor will work for three of the four calibers. Gotta have a modified bolt and extractor for the 54R.
Each caliber has it's own front cartridge guide and barrel. A caliber conversion can be made in about 15 minutes. Special precaution has to be made with regard to head spacing.
The 1919a6 contoured barrel is much lighter than the standard 1919a4 barrel, and has a higher cyclical rate of fire.
I would have loved to pull the trigger on the one you recovered. I am glad that it made it back home!
 
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Super collection of equipment, the guns, and the Jeep!

Cool 1919A6 Combat Diver! When my son was there in 07 the only U.S. equipment once in Iraqi hands that he came across was an M-24 Chaffee light tank.

S0oUaQTl.jpg


I've got a 1919A4 semi auto also...only take it out a couple times a year. Pretty heavy gun to be toting around. That' my youngest shooting it about 6 years ago. Are the ranges around Raleigh belt-fed friendly?


ezaHZYvl.jpg
 
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Cool thread, thanks for posting this stuff fellas.
 
FN brought just about their entire product line (including some prototypes) up to Frontline last month. They also brought this M-249 SAW and a truckload of free ammo. Paul put an old Ford sedan out at 300 yards and we let the good times roll. It is a blast to shoot a SAW when someone else is providing the ammo.

IMG_20180625_193909.jpg
 
Super collection of equipment, the guns, and the Jeep!

Cool 1919A6 Combat Diver! When my son was there in 07 the only U.S. equipment once in Iraqi hands that he came across was an M-24 Chaffee light tank.

S0oUaQTl.jpg


I've got a 1919A4 semi auto also...only take it out a couple times a year. Pretty heavy gun to be toting around. That' my youngest shooting it about 6 years ago. Are the ranges around Raleigh belt-fed friendly?


ezaHZYvl.jpg
Wake county used to let me set my old 1919a4 up on a pistol range by my self when they where slow but that was years ago.
 
That is really cool!
 
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