Originally developed as the Model 1895 by John M. Browning, the "Potato Digger" was an early development in gas-operated firearms, using a gas port near the muzzle of the barrel to power a spring loaded lever arm to cycle the action. This arm, which projects down and out from the weapon with significant force during the firing cycle, is the source of the weapon's nickname, "potato digger". Originally manufactured by Colt, the production of the arm was taken over by Marlin Rockwell, at the time of WWI, who received the rights, the tooling, and the standing military contracts to the Russian and Italian governments. Primarily used as a training weapon by American forces, the Marlin found additional use as aircraft and tank armament in addition to being issued to National Guard units and the North Russia and Siberia Expedition Forces sent to intervene in the Russian Civil War. Measuring 42 inches in overall length, the Marlin is fitted with a blade front and a flip-up elevation adjustable rear sight, and a heavily ribbed barrel and a wooden pistol grip. The barrel and receiver are both marked with the standard two-line "MARLIN ARMS CORPORATION/NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT" over "CAL .30/U.S.A." to distinguish it from the earlier 30-40 and 30-03 rounds. The note with the weapon states that the barrel was burned away in the area of the extractor cut and it is currently listed as an unserviceable firearm on the ATF form.

Fair overall. The entire machine gun shows a light to medium rust on all the outside metal surfaces mixed with some old dried grease in areas. The gun looks to be complete, and it hand cycles okay; however, it needs to go through restoration. NOTE: This is a registered DEWAT weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), as a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon, that is fully transferable. It has been classified as a Curio or Relic as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.