The Burton Model 1917, also known as the Winchester-Burton, was an American automatic rifle that was designed by Frank Burton. It is sometimes cited as an early precursor of the assault rifle concept.
History[]
The Burton automatic rifle was designed by a Winchester engineer, Frank Burton, during World War I. It was conceived as an anti-air rifle for use by aircraft observers, although the development of synchronized machine guns for aircraft rendered observer's rifles obsolete. It was built as a prototype only and was never put into production.
Design[]
The Model 1917 was a blowback-operated, open bolt automatic rifle that fed from two canted 20-round magazines. These magazines were inserted into the top of the receiver at 60° angles, and the gun was capable of only feeding from one magazine at a time. The magazine in reserve was inserted partially when the magazine in use was fully inserted, this was for easier handling in the cockpit for the observer. A bayonet lug was fitted to the 'ground' barrel.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
References[]
- The World's Assault Rifles By Gary Paul Johnston, Thomas B. Nelson. Chapter 2: Assault Rifle Operating and Locking Systems.
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a21631/forgotten-weapons-americas-first-assault-rifle/