Martial Pinups: Colt 1895 "Potato Digger"

Martial Pinups: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I

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Origin:              USA
Year:                1895
Type:                Machine gun
Caliber:            6mm Lee  (other calibers made for export and US Army)
Weight:            16 kg (35.3 lb)
Length:            1040 mm (41 in)
Barrel Length:  711 mm (28 in)

Designed by the legendary John M. Browning, the Colt 1895 was Browning's first machine gun.  The Colt's unique nickname of "Potato Digger" was due to its unique action which featured a gas piston swinging in a downwards arc rather than reciprocating like more conventional designs.  This feature required a bit of extra clearance between the gun and the ground lest it start "digging up potatos."  This also contributed to its lesser success on the market compared to its major contemporaries, the Maxim and the Vickers.  However, due a lighter weight and more portable size, the Colt did see some sales both at home and overseas. The design would eventually see action during the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, the Mexican Revolution, the Boxer Rebellion, and both World Wars.

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