By James Ballou

Mention a mouse today and most will think of their computers. To my generation a mouse meant large ears and lecherous thoughts about Annette Funicello. What in the world does a “mouse” have to do with BAR’s? According to Maxwell G. Atchisson, a noted arms designer, “mouse” refers to the mechanical rate reducer developed for use on the 1918A2.

This mechanical delay appeared to be like a mouse racing back and forth in a cage. Early on, John M. Browning recognized that the cyclic rate of the BAR was too fast for a hand held machinegun. Remember, the bipod for the 1918 was not developed until 1922.

On September 12, 1924, Browning was granted patent Number 1,511,262. It reads in part, “The rate of firing may be so rapid that the shooter can not properly aim his gun or rifle, ammunition is wasted and the rapid succession of recoils is so severe, particularly in the case of a machine rifle being fired from the hip or shoulder, that the accuracy is much decreased.”

The essence of the mechanism is a clockwork spring that holds the bolt slide back until the ratchet engages the sear again to allow it to fire. In other words the retarding lever is pushed down to compress the spring and until it returns to the normal position the primary sear will not allow the bolt slide to go forward.

Interestingly enough, most people think the rate reducer was an FN design, but even a cursory examination of the two mechanisms will reveal its true origin.

Among the recommendations found in the ordnance committee’s memorandum. O.C.M. – 14553 – June 30, 1938 was section g. that called for a reduction of cyclic rate to reduce training problems and provide more accurate fire direction.

This led to the now familiar 1918A2. The rate reducer developed at Springfield Armory was a team effort. Among the members of the team were Maxwell B. Atchisson and William B. Ruger. Yes, that Ruger. They developed such things as the belt fed BAR and other classic innovations.

Atchisson is known for sub-machinegun designs, assault shotguns, and .22 conversion units. It was he who coined the term “mouse” for the rate reducing mechanism, that the team developed for the butt stock of the BAR. The heart of the mechanism was a weighted actuator that flitted back and forth in the butt stock like a mouse. It’s spring retarded movement provided a mechanical delay before it tripped a secondary sear release causing the rifle to continue firing at a cyclic rate of 350 -400 RPM. The Marine Corps, from early on, recognized the value of the BAR and geared tactics around the squad automatic weapon.

During WW II they wanted to restore its semi-automatic capabilities in order to maximized the accuracy. To accomplish this, a young Warrant Officer in the Corps developed the T-30 semi-automatic conversion. In January, 1946, the New England Small Arms Corporation began installing the T-30 field conversions. Obviously, from the number found they did not continue very diligently.

I would like to thank two individuals for their contributions to this article. Kent Lomont who sent me a box of a dozen different trigger housings and Bob Landies, who when asked for a semi-auto trigger housing sent me an entire cutaway Semi-Auto 1918A3.

Finally, Kent Lomont made the comment, “That the beautiful thing about the BAR is the case of interchangeability of parts from one maker to another. Even the Belgian, Swedish, and Polish BAR’s interchange to a degree”. This is not remarkable since Colt sent examples of their 1924 Commercial BAR’s to Belgium, Sweden and Poland as part of a franchise agreement. BAR’s are universal having been adopted by over 50 countries.

Kent A. Lomont
Lomont Precision Bullets
R P 1, Box 34
Salmon, ID 83467
Phone: 208-756-6819
Fax: 208-756-6824

Robert Landies
Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc.
PO Box 687
Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: 440-285-3481
Fax: 440-286-8571

The great industrial revolution of the nineteenth century was spawned on the banks of the Connecticut River. This mighty river supplied the driving force for many of American’s premier gun makers; Colt, Smith and Wesson, Harrington Richardson, Winchester, to name but a few. The fledgling nation of the United States needed an arsenal to supply its growing military needs. George Washington established a National Armory in Springfield in 1794. Almost immediately a museum was established to preserve advancements made in the arms field.

Since this museum is still in operation, it is one of the oldest in the US. Now maintained by the National Park Service, it is still the national treasure that I first saw in 1959, as a teenager dreaming about Thompson’s and BAR’s. Through the years, under the direction of men like Tom Wallace and Steven Beatty, this museum has become a Nirvana for collectors and historians. Once your “Bona Fides” have been established, vast treasures become open to you

Budget constraints have limited access to all but a select few. So my first step was to contact John R. McCabe, who among his many duties was being in charge of security. He immediately sent me a computer print out of ALL the BAR’s on site with a brief description of each. I had struck gold.

Also enclosed was an “Application for Access”. This delineated the rules and limitations that are necessary to protect these fragile artifacts. I had invited a good friend, Carl Majeskey, retired Lieutenant of the Massachusetts State Police to accompany me and photograph the precious BAR’s.

Friday, July 12, 1996, I am again at the Springfield Armory Museum doing research for my upcoming book on the Browning Automatic Rifle, “America’s Rock”. I am with my esteemed friend, Lt. Carl M. Majesky, retired head of Ballistics with the Massachusetts State Police. Carl is a legend in the weapon community, a friend of shooters and gun owners, the nemesis of the nefarious. I’ve spent countless hours listening to Carl’s stories of guns and bad guys. Carl is no stranger to Springfield since this is his “hometown” and he once made Garands here at the Armory. His stories of John Garand are legendary. We were met by John R. McCabe who is a National Park Ranger and Chief of Security at the facility. He had made all the arrangements for our visit. Carl and I were then introduced to James D. Roberts, the new Supervisory Museum Curator, an amiable young man who treated us with cautious curiosity until he had ascertained our mission and assessed our ability.

We were led upstairs to what would be best described as a Museum Laboratory. Where the object of my quest lay on a work bench, the coveted belt fed BAR.

My elation soon turned to disappointment as the entire mechanism was frozen shut. Probably some unthinking person had shot the weapon in the past and not cleaned it. It was also missing the muzzle device designed to enhance its stability in full-auto fire. I felt like an archaeologist who has seen the damage perpetrated by some vandal of the past. I thought, “Is this all I’m going to get out of the trip?”, until I asked, “Isn’t there a rack somewhere with a bunch of BAR’s?” With a wry smile, Jim replied “Well yes, I’ll see if I can get the key.”

Within fifteen minutes, Carl and I found ourselves where the real treasures are, beneath the ground in a secured vault. My adrenalin began to flow as the lights revealed rack after rack of neatly arranged treasures.

Just to name a few, a Maxim Pom Pom gun in the corner, the Super Secret Gast machine gun could be seen with its side mounted drums. One rack held all of the experimental models that led to the M-60. I’ve died and gone to heaven. Just leave me here, I’ll live off Cosmoline. We then entered a small side vault. Here you will see some of the pictures Carl and I took.

A second trip was needed and this time we were met by the superintendent, Steven Beatty, and James Roberts, who had set up an area for us to photograph the treasures we had requested.

Steve and Jim were not afraid to get their hands dirty as we setup for the photo shoot and even offered excellent advice for best exposures. I’m proud to say these photos and my comments will be included in the museum archives for future reference.

I can only say that despite shrinking budgets and staff cuts, everyone at the museum did everything possible to ensure the success of my book and to add to the historical treasure that is our American Heritage.