POTD: The BAR in Its Final Form – The FN Model D
Sam.S 04.25.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The FN Model D firmly deserves its nickname – the “Dieudonne” not only because of its designer but also because the name means gift of God. This Belgian beauty took John Browning’s influential BAR design and refined it to a class all its own. While initially based on FN’s licensed Colt Model 1925 copy in 1930, the FN Model D brought some tantalizing upgrades just two years later. The pièce de résistance? A quick-change barrel to keep that cyclic rate humming through sustained frenzies. An ergonomic pistol grip with a rate reducer let operators tame with precision. Chambered in potent servings like 7.65 Belgian, .30-06, and eventually 7.62 NATO, the Model D proved a worldly design. It sated the palates of militaries from Belgium to Israel to China over its decades-long production run.
“Manufactured in Belgium for contract sale to Luxembourg, the Type D Light Machine Gun is an evolution of the Browning Automatic Rifle. In addition to a number of internal adjustments and integration of a “Monitor” style pistol grip, the Type D introduced an interchangeable barrel, which greatly increased the endurance of the arm in sustained fire. Blade front and tangent rear sights, with the “AL” Luxembourg mark on top of the receiver, British proofs on the receiver, barrel and bolt, and matching serial numbers. A three position selector switch is installed on the left side of the trigger group (only 1 position, “full auto”, works as marked), with a thumb-actuated dust cover on the right side of the receiver, and a combination carry handle and takedown lever at the front of the receiver. Fitted with a folding steel bipod, green canvas web sling, hardwood pistol grip and fixed buttstock with flip-up shoulder rest. Included with the item is an extra (mixed numbered) barrel with a canvas and leather storage case and an extra bipod.”
Lot 1485: FN Luxembourg Model D Registered Transferrable Machine Gun – Scarce Fabrique Nationale Luxembourg Contract Type D Class III/NFA “Sales Sample” Machine Gun with Accessories. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/80/1485/fn-luxembourg-model-d-registered-transferrable-machine-gun.
