Winchester Model 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) manufactured in 1918. This is a WWI production Winchester BAR in the original configuration issued to the American Expeditionary Force in France in September 1918. The BAR has the first pattern rear sight that is identical to that used on the Model 1917 Rifle, varnished walnut stock with smooth buttplate and walnut, first style, high forearm with coarse checkering. It lacks the magazine guards and buttplate shoulder support plate found on the later production Model 1918A2 BAR. The receiver selector lever has two positions: "F" for semi-automatic fire and "A" for automatic fire. The barrel is fitted with a WWII pattern flash-hider and bipod. The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "BROWNING MACHINE RIFLE / - U.S. MODEL OF 1918 - / - MAN'F'D. BY WINCHESTER - / 82747 / - PATENT APPLIED FOR - " in five lines. The barrel is stamped with an M (Marlin-Rockwell) above an Ordnance 'Shell & Flame' insignia and the date "8 18". A small Ordnance Escutcheon inspection mark is stamped on the top of the receiver in front of the nomenclature and 'Shell & Flame" sub-inspection marks are stamped on the top of the barrel near the chamber and on the top of the receiver in front of the rear sight. British proof marks are visible on the left side of the receiver and the bolt. The British proof marks indicate that this BAR was shipped to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease Act to assist in rearming the British Army after Dunkirk. The BAR has a dull, military blue finish on the receiver and trigger group. The barrel and gas cylinder have a blue-gray parkerized finish. The BAR is complete with a manual and spare magazines.

Very fine, with 90% of the arsenal military blue finish on the receiver with some minor edger wear and handling marks. The receiver markings are crisp. The "W" marked rear sight has a polished face. The barrel and gas cylinder have 75% plus of the gray parkerized finish with crisp markings. The bore is bright. The stock and forearm are in very fine condition with most of the original finish and light to moderate handling wear. There is a two-inch hair-line crack on the left side of the stock at the junction with the receiver. The WWII production bipod is in excellent condition and retains nearly all of the black parkerized finish. This is an outstanding example of an unaltered, WWI production, Winchester BAR in the very desirable early configuration.