One of John Browning's contributions to American arms history, the Browning Automatic Rifle was developed in 1917 and dubbed the "1918" to avoid confusion with Browning's 1917 water cooled belt fed machine gun. A late entry for World War I, the BAR represented the cutting edge of light machine gun technology and was able to fill a niche with infantry units clear through the Korean War. Blade front and flip-up ladder rear sights, with the barrel marked "W/bomb/10 18" at the muzzle, with the "crossed cannons" and "P" stamps on top of the receiver near the 5-line Colt address and "BROWNING MACHINE RIFLE" model markings, and British "crown/GP" proofs on the right side of the frame and bolt, and a set of British "scimitar/NP" nitro proofs and tonnage markings on the right side of the chamber. The 3-position selector switch has "F" (semi), "A" (full) and "S"(safe) position markings on the receiver, with a spring-loaded pin to keep the gunner from inadvertently putting the rifle on safe when flipping the switch from semi to full. Fitted with a checkered forearm and smooth pistol grip stock with a smooth steel buttplate. Per information supplied by the consignor, this BAR was acquired in 1968 by Larry C. Laceby of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born in Michigan, Laceby was 3 years out of the Tulsa Police Academy at the time of acquisition and would spend a 31 year career with Tulsa PD followed by a 15 year stint with the U.S. Marshall Service and a retirement gig with Tulsa Community College for another 4. It is unknown if Laceby ever used this BAR in a professional capacity.