This is an example of a very desirable early belt feed, medium machine gun as remanufactured by the DLO Company in Stamford, CT. The 1917 series of machine guns were developed right at the end of WWI; however, they saw service in WWII, Korea and even in Vietnam. The difference between this the 1917 series and the later 1919 series is that the 1917 was fitted with a large water jacket around the barrel to help cool it during heavy sustained fire, while the 1919 was air-cooled. This was patterned after the Maxim MGs that also used a similar water cooling system. Both the 1917 and later 1919 designs were developed by John Browning, based on a square boxed riveted receiver that was so successful it actually became the forerunner to the later M2 50cal which is still in use after over 85 years. This is an example of an early 1917A1 production with both a brass trunnion and endcap. The gun was assembled from its original U.S. parts with a new manufactured DLO receiver (right side plate) that has been engraved with the same information that was on the original side plate. The right side of the receiver has been photo-engraved/milled with the following: "NO. 232773 U.S. INSP./BROWNING MACHINE GUN/U.S.CAL 30 MODEL 1917A1/MANFD BY ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL//PATENT 1,621,476/DOUGLAS L. OEFINGER, STAMFORD, CT." The top of the receiver is fitted with the original large tangent type rear sight graduated from 1-27 (100-2700 yards) with a blade front sight mounted on top of the end cap. This example is complete with a huge amount of accessories that includes: an original 1917 tripod and cradle, a T&E mechanism, a spare pintle adapter, 21 cloth machine gun belts, a belt loader, two metal ammunition cans with approximately 250 rounds of ammunition in a cloth belt inside each can, an early WWI type wooden ammunition can and an ammunition can with numerous spare parts, such as a complete rear sight assembly, ruptured shell extractor, various small pins, springs and parts, a disassembly wrench and two barrel extension. Douglas Oefinger was a well-known, early class 2/3 manufacturer and dealer in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was well know in the industry for manufacturing some of the best and most authentic machine guns, and new receiver side plates.

Very fine as remanufactured with 98% of the parkerized finish overall with minor edge and high spot wear with evidence of light firing. The tripod is in very good condition with 75% of the green painted finish overall and the rest of the accessories and ammunition are all in very fine condition. A really nice all complete and fully functional Class III/NFA Model 1917A1 medium machine gun. 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.