M-1917A1 Tripod, Parts Exchange and Reference

[Quest Master]

Moderator, please make this a sticky under the Weapons Forum.

This thread is for the exchange of parts, restoration tips and identification of parts for the M-1917, M-1917A1 and M-1917A2 Browning Machine Gun Tripod. This tripod was introduced during WWI as the M-1917 and was modified through various designs to mount several different weapon systems.

Many countries used and stored this mount through most of the 20th century. In the 1980s and 1990s many of these mounts were thankfully re-imported into the United States by companies like SARCO. Unfortunately, the entire mount would often have to be torch cut into many pieces making restoration very difficult...but it is possible. Often, parts sets were put together from different models and manufactures making restoration even more difficult.

I have personally restored three M-1917A1 Tripods and will be working on a fourth one shortly.
This is one of the M-1917A1 Tripods that I have restored with a typical parts set that after demil:

The following are schematics for discussion of parts using the correct terminology for correct identification.

[Quest Master]

Parts list added 10/15/2014 for correct identification of parts:

A – Pin, elevating screw joint, assy – 5141163
B – Screw, fil-hd No. 6 (0.138) – 40NF-2 x 5/16
C – Nut, safety, 5/16 – 503347
D – Bolt, cradle clamping, assy – 5140937
E – Bolt, pintle support – 5140993
F – Nut, trunnion stud – 5160133
G – Plate, side, left, assy – 5559807
H – Stud, trunnion – 5141122
J – Pin, cotter, split, 1/8 x 1 ¼ - 137195
K – Nut, pintle bolt – 5139964
L – Pintle, gun – 6108914
M – Bolt, pintle – 5139973
N – Support, pintle – 6108881 with Lock, pintle, assy – 6108986
P – Plate, side, right – 5559798
Q – Nut, safety, 3/8 in – 503353
R – Handle, cradle clamping – 5140853
S – Pin, cotter – 137181
T – Collar, cradle clamping, assy – 5140915
U – Washer, lock – 138167
V – Screw, stop, cradle clamping handle – 5141111
W – Knob, traversing – 5141076
X – Scale, elevating and traversing mechanism, assy – 5140817
Y – Plate, click, traversing – 5141075
Z – Washer, lock, int-teeth, No. 6 – 138528
AA – Pintle, cradle, assy – 6142488
BB – Mechanism, elevating and traversing, assy -6531559
CC – Spacer, cradle – 5140933
DD – Bearing, traversing screw – 5140871
EE – Washer, traversing screw – 5159451
FF – Chain, assy – 5141460

[1939]

I have one of those bought from Sarco couple of years ago.
Slowly I have been getting parts for it (bolts, pintle ect).
Will be nice to see how involved this will get before I start on mine

[Quest Master]

Does anyone have any spare tripod parts for sale? Cut and demil'd parts?

[Quest Master]

The second M-1917A1 Tripod restoration is underway (the one in the background is one I have previously done). Here is the progress of the current M-1917A1 Tripod so far:


Let me know if you have any M-1917A1 parts for sale. Cut or demil'd is fine. Also looking for M-1917A1 Browning Machine Gun parts.

[Quest Master]

Ok, I did a quick inventory of the parts I have, and need, for the restoration of M-1917A1 Tripod #2 and Tripod #3. I realized that there are a couple of commercial suppliers of parts...but just checking to see if anyone on the forum has these parts loose:
Needed (cut parts are fine in some cases):
A – Pin, elevating screw joint, assy – 5141163 (1 needed for Tripod #3)
B – Screw, fil-hd No. 6 (0.138) – 40NF-2 x 5/16 (2x needed for Tripod #3)
C – Nut, safety, 5/16 – 503347 (4x needed for tripod #3)
E – Bolt, pintle support – 5140993 (2x needed for tripod #3)
F – Nut, trunnion stud – 5160133 (4x needed for tripod #2 and #3)
G – Plate, side, left, assy – 5559807 (1 needed for tripod #3)
N – Support, pintle – 6108881 with Lock, pintle, assy – 6108986 (1 needed for tripod #3)
Q – Nut, safety, 3/8 in – 503353 (4x needed for tripod #3 and 2x tripod #1)
W – Knob, traversing – 5141076 (1 needed for tripod #3)
X – Scale, elevating and traversing mechanism, assy – 5140817 (2x needed for tripod #2 and tripod #3)
Y – Plate, click, traversing – 5141075 (1 needed for tripod #3)
Z – Washer, lock, int-teeth, No. 6 – 138528 (2x needed for tripod #3)
AA – Pintle, cradle, assy – 6142488 (left side needed for tripod #3, have cut right section)
BB – Mechanism, elevating and traversing, assy -6531559 (1 needed for tripod #3)
CC – Spacer, cradle – 5140933 (1 needed for tripod #3)
EE – Washer, traversing screw – 5159451 (2x needed for tripod #2 and tripod #3)
FF – Chain, assy – 5141460 (1 needed for tripod #3)
GG- Transverse Screw (1 needed for tripod #3 and possibly replacement for tripod #1)
Also needed:
Lower section of rear leg (cut is fine) for tripod #3
Cradle Pintle Socket, rear leg section (the big chunk of the rear brass base) for tripod #3
Transverse Dial (cut sections are fine, steel or brass) for tripod #3

Let me know if you know of any available.

[dan1]

I've got a traversing knob...W on your chart #5141075..drop me a PM on value. TX's

[Quest Master]

Restoration on tripod #2 is almost complete. Still looking for some parts for it and tripod #3
Needed (cut parts are fine in some cases):
B – Screw, fil-hd No. 6 (0.138) – 40NF-2 x 5/16 (2x needed for Tripod #3)
C – Nut, safety, 5/16 – 503347 (2x needed for tripod #3)
F – Nut, trunnion stud – 5160133 (4x needed for tripod #2 and #3)
N – Support, pintle – 6108881 with Lock, pintle, assy – 6108986 (1 needed for tripod #3)
Q – Nut, safety, 3/8 in – 503353 (2x needed for tripod #3 and 2x tripod #1)
W – Knob, traversing – 5141076 (1 needed for tripod #3)
X – Scale, elevating and traversing mechanism, assy – 5140817 (2x needed for tripod #2 and tripod #3)
Y – Plate, click, traversing – 5141075 (1 needed for tripod #3)
Z – Washer, lock, int-teeth, No. 6 – 138528 (2x needed for tripod #3)
AA – Pintle, cradle, assy – 6142488 (left side needed for tripod #3, have cut right section)
BB – Mechanism, elevating and traversing, assy -6531559 (1 needed for tripod #3)
EE – Washer, traversing screw – 5159451 (2x needed for tripod #2 and tripod #3)
GG- Transverse Screw (1 needed for tripod #3 and possibly replacement for tripod #1)
Also needed:
Lower section of rear leg (cut is fine) for tripod #3
Cradle Pintle Socket, rear leg section (the big chunk of the rear brass base) for tripod #3
Transverse Dial (cut sections are fine, steel or brass) for tripod #3

[Quest Master]

Almost finished with M-1917A1 Tripod #2. Some small parts are still missing or not yet added in the photo:
Enjoy!
Before:

After:


Still looking for other parts for the restoration of tripod #3. Anyone have any spares?

[Quest Master]

Almost done with tripod #3! Lotta welding and finishing work, but I am very pleased.
I still need:
- Transverse Dial (cut sections are fine, steel or brass)....this is the circular dial that sits in the brass base of the tripod.
- Pintle, cradle, assy – 6142488, cut up pieces are fine...I can weld them.
All three of these were torch cut in to little pieces. Enjoy!

[CHelweg]

darn nice work! A lot of motivation for mine. I got the sawcut center which I’m hoping goes back well. How were the forks rewelded together? Filled with anything or just bridged together with weld?

[master22nl]

check GB, use the search engine with 1917A1
nos, cradle traverse ass for sale....

[CHelweg]

If thoes are yours, I just bought one from ya. Lookin forward to gettin everything put together. I should have a 1917A1 ready for it before New Years. Actually our plan to bring in the new year is with lettin loose with 5-7 beltfeds. Thankfully deer season will be over and hopeful the feral hogs shall be plentiful.

[Quest Master]

darn nice work! A lot of motivation for mine. I got the sawcut center which I’m hoping goes back well. How were the forks rewelded together? Filled with anything or just bridged together with weld?

Thanks! This is a very old posting...all three are very much all done. I MIG welded the legs back together, chamfered, without any tubing on the inside.

[Andy Cole]

I've only done one. It was a SARCO kit. I wouldn't be afraid to do another, but really have no need for another one.