Lot 3440: Fully Automatic Class III/NFA CATCO 1919A4 Machine Gun

This an excellent example of a desirable, fully automatic, class III/NFA M1919A4 light machine gun. The wonderful example was remanufactured using a combination of original GI and newly manufactured parts mated to a new manufactured "CATCO" side plate. The side of the receiver is marked "CATCO-NAPA CA/5047/BROWNING 1919". The original US Government model was developed by John Browning, shortly after WWI and was actually an improved version of the M1917A1 water cooled MG. The major difference being that this model was an "air cooled" version that used a perforated barrel jacket versus the large water cooled barrel jacket. It is a man portable, general purpose, light duty MG that served in both the squad and platoon levels, was mounted in Jeeps and even used as an aircraft model by the Air Force, in a fixed wing, air-cooled aircraft version. These were an extremely reliable and robust MG that saw service in three major U.S. conflicts (WWII, Korea and Vietnam) as well as numerous smaller conflicts by several American allies, that spanned over 50 years. They fired from a closed bolt using a non-disintegrating cloth belt and were equipped with a fully adjustable tangent rear sight with a fold down front sight mounted on the front of the receiver. This example uses and comes with an original Belgian, three leg, folding tripod, that does not require a pintle or T&E mechanism. It comes with an extra barrel extension, a correct Israeli marked "headspace & timing" gauge, with instruction article and two ruptured shell extractors.

Very fine with 97% of the gray refurbished/parkerized finish overall showing minor edge and high spot wear with evidence of light firing. The tripod is also in excellent condition with a gray parkerized finish overall showing light use. Note: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.