Can anyone ID this gun?

[Plynkes]

Ethiopian Chief with Light Machine Gun is all the caption says. Not much of a gun expert myself, and the photo isn't all that it could be. I was thinking maybe a Hotchkiss Mark I (the LMG, not the tripod Hotchkiss) like the Brits used in the Great War? I'm certainly not sure, though. A BAR? (can't see a magazine). The photo is so abominably indistinct.

Any other ideas from the gang?

[DFlynSqrl]

Really hard to tell from the picture, but it does look more like a BAR to me than a Hotchkiss.  The stock doesn't look right to me for a Hotchkiss and also how he's holding it on the front.

[Durutti]

I would go with a BAR too,
if it was the Hotchkiss, there would be a strip feed on one side, and it has a bipod too.

Looks just like a posed shot, with no actual mag on the gun.

Askari minis do a version of this figure, but he appears to be firing a rifle.

[Plynkes]

Well I wouldn't take absence of strip feed and bipod as evidence of it being one or the other, as BARs came with bipods, too, and a strip feed can be missing in a posed shot just the same as a magazine can. 

But I certainly am prepared to bow to other folks knowledge regarding the shape of the guns concerned.

Thanks, chaps!


I'm looking to convert one of Duruttti's fine figures into an LMG gunner, and was wondering what my options were. I don't know whether they had Lewis guns or not, but they will probably be getting one and will have to like it, as I happen to have one lying around. 

But does anyone sell BARs as separate weapons?

[DFlynSqrl]

But does anyone sell BARs as separate weapons?

I know Darkson Designs has a blister of American WWII Airborne, which includes a BAR.  It would be attached to an arm (arms are generally separated from the torso for their mini's so you can mix and match).  Not sure how they would scale with the mini you want to attach it to though.

http://store.valueweb.com/servlet/darksondesigns/-strse-69/American-Airborne/Detail

[leadfool]

It is really hard to tell but the Magazine well looks indented and the barrel appears to be free floating, both of which eliminate a BAR.  The barrel looks like that of a Bren gun.  It could be Italian, Czech or French.  I'm stumped.

[Calimero]

But does anyone sell BARs as separate weapons?

The Assault Group do; http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=299&cat=27&page=1

[Durutti]

OK
now think its not a BAR, but possibly a French Fusil Mitrailleur M24/29 (Chatelerault) Its the bit where he's holding it at the front that made me think it could be this.

[chicklewis]

That's no BAR, but there is a lovely 28mm BAR in the newish Reaper Chronoscope "20th century weapons" pack.   For some unimaginable reason they have added a carrying handle to the top of the weapon, but it is easy to snip off. 

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/century%20weapons/latest/50030

second from the right, folded bipod under the barrel. 

Chick

[Big Juju]

Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range?!  (Sorry - just saw Terminator Salvation.)

It could be a BAR but I think it's more likely some kind of French LMG.

That Reaper BAR that Chick linked to is pretty cool.  Cannon Fodder Minis also makes an awesome 28mm BAR: http://www.canfodmins.com/

[TMcNulty]

I'd agree with Durutti
 

http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg53-e.htm

[leadfool]

Looking at the way he is holding it, there might be a pistol grip that he just does not know how to use.  That would open up a whole group of possibilities. 

[Ray Rivers]

Just to be contrary... 

I do think it is a BAR.  He is covering the magazine with his right hand.  And yes, there is a bit of separation between the upper and lower barrels at the end of the weapon.



Who knows!   

[DFlynSqrl]

I still think it's a BAR as well, but his hand isn't far enough forward to be covering the clip.  I'm thinking this is just a "posed" shot and whoever handed him the weapon removed the clip for everyone's safety.  Judging by his firing stance he's not much of a shooter anyway...

[twrchtrwyth]

If you look closely you can see where the top barrel becomes thicker towards the end, it just catches the light, like a BAR, however there is no grip on the lower barrel like a BAR would have. If they made BARs without this grip it could be one, if they always had the grip it can't be a BAR. Does anyone know if the grip was optional?