Colt M1895 "Potato Digger"
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1895
Also known as: M1895 Colt-Browning, Potato Digger, Colt-Browning Machine Gun
Overview
The Colt M1895, nicknamed the "Potato Digger", was the first successful gas-operated machine gun to enter service. Designed by John Moses Browning and his brother Matthew, it used a swinging gas-operated lever beneath the barrel that pivoted downward on each shot. Air-cooled and belt-fed, it was adopted by the US Navy and Marine Corps and saw action in the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 16000 g (564.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 610 m/s (2001 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2650 J (1955 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 700 m (766 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 450 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-40 Krag · primary — also known as .30 Army, .30 US, 7.62x59mmR
- 6mm Lee Navy — also known as 6mm USN, .236 Navy, 6x60mmSR
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Fabric Belt
- Features: Gas Lever Operation, Air Cooled, Tripod Mounted, Closed Bolt
Variants
- Colt M1895/14 — Improved
- Colt M1915 (Canadian) — Export
Service history
Operators
- United States Navy · adopted 1895 · as M1895
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1898 · as M1895
- Canadian Expeditionary Force · adopted 1914 · as M1895/14
- Russian Empire · adopted 1914
Conflicts
- Spanish-American War (1898)
- Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Production years: 1895-1920
Produced by Colt and later under license; superseded by the Marlin gas-piston redesign for tank and aircraft use
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Moses Browning
Discontinued: 1920
Notes
The gun required clearance beneath the barrel because the operating lever swung down in a digging motion; mounted too low it would literally dig into the ground, earning its nickname. Chamberings spanned 6mm Lee Navy, .30-40 Krag, 7x57mm Mauser and later .30-06 Springfield.
Background
The Potato Digger was the first machine gun John Browning ever designed, inspired by watching reeds bend in the muzzle blast of a rifle at a Utah shooting match. He sold the patents to Colt for a flat fee, never imagining how much firepower the simple swinging lever would unleash.