722. Left side view of a complete M1918A3 Self Loading Rifle (SLR), as introduced by Robert I. Landies in 1996. This rifle uses a new, patented semi-automatic only firing mechanism, which as noted in the text was examined and given complete approval by the BATF.
Note the extra trigger pin (behind the change lever), holding the rear of the redesigned trigger housing in place. The receiver has been re-dimensioned so that a standard military trigger guard group cannot be installed.
courtesy Robert I. Landies
After more than twenty years in the Class III business, selling and servicing military BARs and also marketing a successful MOR version of the BAR, manufacturer Robert I.
"Bob" Landies, owner of Collectors Corner of Chardon, Ohio, Ohio Ordnance Co. designed
a special Self Loading Rifle (SLR) version of the BAR.
A sample gun built around a receiver machined from a solid block of steel was submitted to the BATF for examination and approval as a Title I rifle on November 1, 1994. The interesting reply from the BATF is excerpted as follows:
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Washington, D.C. 20226
. . Examination of the submitted sample, no serial number, indicates that it is a closed bolt, hammer fired rifle in caliber .30-'06. The firearm has the external appearance of the Browning Model 1918 (BAR) selective fire rifle.
The receiver has been machined from a solid block of steel and is originally designed and manufactured to permit only semi-automatic fire. The receiver cavity is machined such that a standard BAR hammer cannot be installed. The portion of the receiver opening that supports the rear of the trigger housing has been redesigned so that a standard BAR trigger housing cannot be installed. A second retaining pin hole has been drilled through the receiver to support the rear of the redesigned trigger housing. The slide has been modified by machining the lower surface to remove the original sear surface. The channels in the receiver for the modified slide have been machined to accept only the modified slide.
A standard BAR operating slide will not fit into the receiver. The slot in the front of the receiver for locating the gas tube/handguard has been changed so that a standard BAR gas tube/handguard will not fit.
The firing pin has been modified and is designed to work in conjunction with a secondary striker that is mounted in a redesigned bolt link. The redesigned firing pin is such that the weapon is now designed to fire from the closed bolt when the secondary striker is hit by a spring loaded hammer.
The trigger housing has been redesigned by the incorporation of a spring loaded hammer and an M1 carbine type sliding sear that also serves as a disconnector. The rear of the trigger housing has been modified to mate with the rear of the receiver and a second retaining pin hole has been drilled through the hammer and trigger mounting block.
The firearm, as submitted, is originally designed and manufactured to permit only semiautomatic fire. The receiver is not modified from an existing BAR receiver.
Based on the above examination, the submitted sample is classified as a firearm as that term is defined in Title 18 U.S.C., Chapter 44, Section 921 (a) (3) (A). The rifle is not a firearm as that term is defined in Section 5845, Chapter 53, Title 26, U.S.C…
The firearm is a semi-automatic rifle that utilizes a detachable magazine. The muzzle of the barrel is threaded to accept a flash suppressor. The rifle does not have a folding or telescoping shoulder stock, a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, or a bayonet mount or a grenade launcher. Therefore, the above rifle is not a semi-automatic assault weapon as defined in Section Title 18 U.S.C., Chapter 44, Section 921 (a) (30) (B).
The magazine is a standard BAR magazine having a capacity of 20 cartridges. Any of these magazines lawfully possessed prior to the enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, are not large capacity ammunition feeding devices as defined in Section 921 (a) (31) of the cited chapter …
It was noted during our examination that the firearm is not marked with a serial number as required by Section 923 ft of the cited chapter and Section 178.92, Part 178, Title 27, CFR. This section requires that the model designation, if assigned, must also be marked on the firearm. It is suggested that a model designation that clearly distinguishes this rifle from a full-automatic BAR be assigned to the weapon… further … the name, city and state of the manufacturer
must be marked on the receiver as required by the cited section …
sincerely yours,
Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch
Describing the Production Version of the Self-Loading M1918A3
723. Right side closeup of an instructional cutaway model of the M1918A3 SLR with bolt closed and action cocked, showing details of
the unique and patented secondary striker, mounted in the redesigned bolt link, further described in the factory drawings below.
courtesy
Robert I. Landies
With BATF approval in hand, the production version of the 1918A3 SLR was introduced in 1996. Excerpts from the company brochure describe the 1918A3 as follows:
This firearm is gas operated, hammer fired from a closed bolt position. It is the only one of its kind in production anywhere in the world today. Our 1918A3 Self Loading Rifle is approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as a semi-automatic only,
Title I rifle [and] approved as NOT being an assault rifle with respect to the 1994 federal assault rifle ban …
The heart of the 1918A3 SLR is the Receiver. It is made from 86/20 cast steel that has been heat treated and carborized. The castings are machined on a state-of-the-art, computer controlled, machining center. The 1918A3 SLR has undergone several modifications that make it unique and reliable. The design of the slide prohibits the use of full-auto parts.
The trigger group has some distinct differences. The secondary firing mechanism is entirely new and its design has been [awarded] U.S. Patent No. 5,614,691
