The .345 Winchester Self-Loading (.345 WSL / .345 Winchester Machine Rifle) or 8.8x34mm WSL is a rimless, rifle cartridge in a "cylindrical" shape, created in 1917 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.[1]
| .345 Winchester Self-Loading / 8.8x34mm WSL | |
|---|---|
 The .345 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge. | |
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Specifications | |
| Case type | Semi-rimmed, straight |
| Bullet diameter | .345 in (8.8 mm) |
| Primer type | Small rifle |
It was designed for aircraft use, but there was also an alternate barrel with bayonet attachment for ground use. The rifle was the Winchester-Burton Machine Rifle, also known as the Winchester Model 1917 and was developed by Frank F. Burton.[2] Little documentation on the rifle survives, but it was believed to have been intended for use as an anti-balloon weapon.[1] [3]
History
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During the outbreak of the First World War, observation balloons were essential for both sides of the front.[4] These static balloons inflated with hydrogen, became targets for airmen on both sides, and were defended by anti-aircraft batteries and patrol fighters.[5]
To face these balloons, conventional ammunition proved to be inefficient, and other alternatives were sought.[6] In 1916, French officer Yves le Prieur created a rocket system powered by electricity, but its range was limited. In 1917, tracer and incendiary ammunition was being developed to target these balloons.[1][5]
To meet this need, Frank F. Burton of Winchester, developed the "Burton Light Machine Rifle", a selective fire blowback rifle, with selection of rate of fire to be used in observation and surveillance planes, the first practical version of which was ready in 1917.[7] [8] [9] For this rifle, he adapted the .351 WSL cartridge into a rimless cartridge, firing an incendiary Spitzer bullet, resulting in the .345 Winchester Self-Loading.[1][10]
Dimensions
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "345 Winchester Machine Rifle". cartridgecollector.net. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- ^ https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/139141156104/the-winchester-burton-machine-rifle-the
- ^ Small Arms Review: America's First Assault Rifle, by James L Ballou. December 2010, 14(3)
- ^ https://cartridgecollector.net/cartridge/345-winchester-machine-rifle/
- ^ a b "The Winchester-Burton Machine Rifle". Historical Firearms. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- ^ https://centerofthewest.org/2019/09/03/museum-minute-rifle-ahead-time/
- ^ "The Mysterious Burton Machine Rifle ft. Danny Michael of the Cody Firearms Museum". youtube.com. The Armourer's Bench. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
- ^ "The Mysterious Burton Machine Rifle". The Armourer's Bench. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
- ^ Hlebinsky, Ashley (October 13, 2019). "Burton Light Machine Rifle". Recoil Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Forgotten Weapons: The 1917 Burton Light Machine Rifle". Popular Mechanics. 2016-07-01. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
External links
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