For our UK friends, a challenge...

[cvairwerks]

How would I go about finding out what UK company was involved in manufacturing the British version of the AN-M2 .30 cal machine gun? I'm searching for a number of AN-M2 .30 drawings and just ran across an IPB that lists the British part numbers. Another reference stated that the UK built a large number of the guns, but modified them to use the .303 round. I'd like to find copies of a number of the prints to use in building a replica of the AN-M2. I've got a full set of prints for the 1919A4, which is the basis for the AN-M2, but there are a few specific exterior parts that have different dimensions. I have query going for a couple of sight drawings on the 1919A4 board, and even the experts over there have not ever found any AN-M2 drawings.

 

[Snautzer01]

[email protected] might have a clue.
Big fan of his programs. Very knowledgeable. Very.

 

[ThomasP]

According to my notes:

The British .303 cal Browning Mk I thru II were license manufactured versions based on the Colt MG40 (I think). NOTE that the British made weapons were chambered for the .303 cal round from the beginning of series production.

Along with other minor modifications, there were 2 major modifications to the design:
1. The mechanism was modified to fire from an open bolt, vs the closed bolt operation of the original US pattern.
2. In order to increase the ROF, increase the belt-pulling forces, and prevent decreased ROF and/or increased stoppage due to build-up of powder residue in the mechanism, the British aircraft gun pattern used a recoil booster mounted on the end of the barrel.

For manufacturers I have BSA and Vickers as the major manufacturers in England, along with John Inglis and Co. of Canada. I do not know which of the aircraft and/or ground variants John Inglis manufactured.

 

[cvairwerks]

ThomasP: Any suggestions where I might start digging on maybe find some build drawings? I'm mainly interested in barrel shroud and barrel nut areas, as the exterior of the 1919 should be the same.

 

[ThomasP]

Not directly, sorry.

However, somewhere on the internet - a number of years ago - I ran across a digitized manual on the Colt MG40. I do no remember if it was only for the US pattern Colt MG40 or if it covered other nation's versions as well. I think it was from FN and was in Belgian(?). It had pictures, exploded views, and part numbers/lists.

 

[Maxrobot1]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYuN1emg3dg

 

[Maxrobot1]

in this video, he says early guns were made in the USA by Colt, then they were made by Vickers and BSA (Birmingham Small Arms.)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCkvyjGQ2xg

 

[Maxrobot1]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqq3Jf3Jpxo

 

[Greyman]

The first 60 guns were made by Colt, and a total of 1660 were made and purchased by the British.

As ThomasP said, Vickers and BSA started making the guns in 1936, with the lion's share being made by BSA.

I'm not sure about Inglis, might you be seeing figures for the 9-mm pistol?

 

[ThomasP]

My information about the Inglis made .303 cal Browning machine gun could be wrong, but I have run across mention on a couple of the gun forums of the .303 cal Aircraft Gun Mk II made by John Inglis (they also mentioned the 9mm Browning FN Mk I and Mk II) with the John Inglis makers mark stamped on the receiver of at least 1 sold at auction recently as a display piece. I do not know if John Inglis made the entire gun in house or only components and/or performed final assembly/inspection.

There may be some confusion due to some government arsenals being supervised/managed by John Inglis personnel and staffed with John Inglis engineers in some cases - Long Branch being one example. There was also some association with Border Cities Industries/GM of Canada where they made the .303 cal Browning Mk II*.

John Inglis and Co. was a fairly diverse company in terms of size and types of material manufactured. They manufactured a fairly large array of materiel for the war, including a wide array of small arms. The ones most often mentioned are the .303 cal Bren Gun (over 100,000) and the 9mm Browning (over 100,000), but they also made the Lee-Enfield Mk 4 No.1, the Sten gun, the Boys AT Rifle, and a fair amount of grenades, demo charges, artillery shells, etc. They also made components for a bunch of other weapons.

Their heavy industry units made the main power plants for 4 of the Canadian built Tribal DDs.

 

[Greyman]

Think I got the story straight here ...

Border Cities Industries Ltd. (Walkerville Ontario), operated by General Motors Canada produced 26,009 M1919A4s from '41 to '43. It seems like the main use was in various Canadian AFVs, including almost all of the Valentines sent to the Soviet Union.

John Inglis Co. Ltd. produced 32,653 Browning Mk.II* from '41 to '43. These were used in RCAF and RAF aircraft.