POTD: One of WWI’s “What Ifs” – The Burton Light Machine Rifle
Sam.S 04.30.21
Hello all, welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Today we have a beautiful image of the Burton Light Machine Rifle courtesy of Cody Firearms Museum – check them out; they are awesome!
The Burton Light Machine Rifle, also known as the Burton LMR, was in development during WWI with the idea that ground forces would have a weapon that could be useful against other ground forces as well as air ones. The gun would have two magazines mounted on top and only one would be active at a time. The user would have a choice between regular ground force ammunition or some sort of incendiary ammunition in the other ideally for blimps and other slow-moving aircraft.
“This is the Burton Light Machine Rifle. It was designed by Frank Burton while he worked for Winchester during World War One. The Army had asked for a rifle to combat Zeppelins and be adaptable to ground use. This was the design that resulted. Only one is known as the gun never entered production. “
Prototype Tuesday [Photograph found in Photos, Cody Firearms Museum’s Facebook]. (2016, December 27). Retrieved April 29, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/CodyFirearmsMuseum/photos/2173703506187150
