This is a very rare example of an Italian Model 30 medium machine gun manufacture by the Breda factory in Italy. The name Breda is short for Società Italiana Ernesto Breda but is usually just referred to as Breda. The Breda factory was founded in 1886 in Milan by Ernesto Breda, an Italian mechanical engineering. They manufactured both ground mounted and aircraft type machine guns. This rare Model 30, as noted, is actually serial number "19," and it is theorized that it was manufactured as an export/demonstration gun for the country of Costa Rica, as it is actually engraved on top of the receiver with: "GOBIERNO DE COSTA RICA/MITRA. LEGG. Cal. 7M No.19/BREDA ROMA 1935 A.XIII". These were certainly very unusual weapons for the times as they used a retarded, blowback firing mechanism with a cartridge oil lubricating system. As part of this system it also used a rotating barrel extension with a recoiling (sliding) barrel similar to Johnson Automatic rifles. It has a round (heavily machined tubular) rear receiver with a very heavy breech area that encompasses the sliding locking block and barrel extension. Although being a very heavy and robust system that weighs in at approximately 23 lbs, they were short lived as the mechanical system and cartridge oiling system were rapidly replaced by the more modern Maxim and Browning type machine guns. Another unusual aspects of this weapon is that even though it is a "medium machine gun". It used a 20 shot heavy, side mounted box magazine that is non-detachable. The magazine actually swings forward so that it can be loaded from the rear via a horseshoe type stripper clip. It has a heavy fixed walnut buttstock and a very rugged folding bipod mounted on the front end of the receiver. It comes with a spare box magazine and three extra barrels. All the internal parts are serial numbered "19," and the barrel is numbered "12". Of the spare barrels, two are in 7 mm, and one appears to be in 6 mm.

Very fine with 85% plus of the original blue finish overall with edge and high spot wear overall with more blue loss on the exposed barrel area with signs of light firing. The pistol grip panels and buttstock are all in very good condition with minor light handling marks on the sides. A very unusual and very seldom encountered example of an Italian Breda Model 30 machine gun. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios 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.