Developed in the late 1950s, the M60 was designed as a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), a single weapon to replace as many different .30 caliber machine guns in the Army inventory as possible. The M60 was deployed as the chief infantry machine gun for Vietnam, along with a variety of air, ground, and water vehicle mountings. While other designs started to fill the infantry niche from the 80s onward, the M60 is still a front-line automatic weapon with American and allied armed forces. This example is built around a receiver made by Rock Island Armory (located near, but not connected to, the Rock Island Arsenal). The barrel is equipped with a fixed blade front sight and heavily fluted, with a bipod and Lone Star brand pistol grip clamped to the gas tube, a quick release barrel latch, carry handle, and folding rear sight on the trunnion, and RIA markings on the left side and underside of the receiver. With a rubberized and ribbed pistol grip and buttstock assembly with flip-up shoulder rest. Provenance: The Al Walker Collection