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LOT 393
Desirable Ramo M2 Browning Heavy Machine Gun, Class III/
NFA Fully Transferable Machine Gun, with Accessories - Serial no.
003576, 50 cal., 45 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, hardwood grips.
Manufactured by Ramo of Nashville, Tennessee, the M2 Browning
Machine Gun is the definitive Western heavy machine gun of the 20th
century. A descendant of Browning’s 1917 HMG, the development of
the M2 was first prompted by the emergence of armored aircraft among
German forces in World War I, calling for a greater level of firepower to
bring down enemy aircraft. Development continued after Browning’s
passing in 1926, and in 1933 it was adopted by the U.S. armed forces. In
service to this day, the air-cooled “HB” variant of the M2 has been used
in a wide spectrum of roles on sea, air and land, from as fundamental
as an infantry heavy machine gun, as rarified as the main armament of
top of the line fighter aircraft, to as oddball as being used as a sniper
rifle; the famed Carlos Hathcock used a scoped M2 to set a confirmed
kill record in Vietnam that wouldn’t be beaten until the War on Terror,
and still holds a spot on the top 10 as of this writing. Hooded blade front
and folding ladder peep sights with optical sight base on the receiver,
with the six-line Ramo legend and serial number on the right side plate,
over the Ramo “elephant head” logo, a short vented barrel shroud, and
a heavyweight barrel. The cocking handle and spade grips are both
hardwood construction. Included with the lot are an M3 folding tripod,
clamp-on blank firing adapter, two pintle mounts, one ammo box carrier,
a T&E mechanism with adapter, small parts, and a belt loading tool.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 95% plus original parkerized finish, showing
minor handling marks overall. Mechanically excellent. Accessories are
very good, with mild wear and spotting. 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 479.
Estimate: 37,500 - 55,000