Originally developed by John Browning during World War I, the water cooled Model 1917 machine gun was in many ways the American answer to and improvement on the 1908 Maxim Gun deployed by the Germans. Variations on the 1917, especially the air-cooled 1919 Model, would serve as the go-to medium machine gun of America's armed forces through the bulk of the 20th century, and the basic structure would be developed and refined to create the M2 heavy machine gun, which stands to this very day as one of the best weapons in its class. This example was re-manufactured by the firm of Douglas L. Oefinger of Stamford, Connecticut, using a combination of new-made and military surplus components. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights, with a set of Westinghouse-style nomenclature on the right side plate above the DLO address, a brass-capped steel water jacket, and a rear pistol grip with smooth grip panels. A 1943 dated folding field mount with traverse & elevation mechanism is included.

Very fine as restored/refinished, with areas of mixed brown and gray patina, sub-surface pitting, and scattered handling marks. The grips show some chips and dents, and the cork is absent from the water jacket plug. Mechanically excellent. 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.