Colt 1895 Automatic Machine Gun

Characteristics

John Browning's first machine gun design. Demonstrated for the U.S. Navy in January 1896 by John Browning personally. It was a success and the Navy ordered fifty of the guns from Colt. This was the first purchase of an automatic weapon by the U.S. goverment.This weapon was used by the U.S. Marines in the Boxer Rebellion as well as in the Phillipines during the insurrection after the U.S. seized the islands from Spain in the Spanish-American War (1898).It was used for training during World War One, but is believed not to have seen combat with Aerican forces.However,the 1895 was used by other armies across the globe and there are photos of it being used in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's.The 1895 was also used by the British Merchant Marine, in the early days of WWII, on their freighters.The British recieved hundred of the 1895 from the United States as part of the Lend-Lease program. It was available in many calibers to include 30-40 Krag, 7mm Mauser, 6mm Lee and 30-06.Later Marlin also manufactured the 1895. Before production finally ended the 1895 would go through different modifications. It was even used as a tank machine gun (for training) and an aircraft machine gun during World War One and for a few years after the war ended.

A gas-operated automatic machine gun. This weapon employed a hole drilled through the barrel near the muzzle, which worked on a piston that worked the mechanism of the gun through a swining lever. This unusual movement of the piston, which swung in a half-arc beneath the barrel, gave the gun it's nickname - "The Potato Digger"

John Browning firing the 1895. His first machine gun design

File:Colt1895.jpg

Colt 1895 machine gun .30-40 Krag

Film

United States Navy and United States Marines in Wind and the Lion, The

Television

• Rough Riders