Deactivated WWII US B.A.R.

This is a rare Second World War American Browning Automatic Rifle. It was manufactured during WW2 by New England Small Arms Corporation who were a consortium set up during the war to produce the M1918A2 B.A.R. for the US military. The consortium consisted of civilian and military companies who made parts for final assembly at Crompton, Rhode Island facility. N.E. Arms made just 188,380 M1918A2 rifles by the end of the war afterwhich the contract ceased. Very few in gun terms when you consider millions of 1911A1's and rifles were made over a similar period. Of considerable interest, note the barrel fitted to this example was made by Marlin Rockwell in 1919. N.E. Arms were using both old and newly made parts to assemble guns for the US war effort.