From the Vault: Browning BAR & Colt Monitor

Brownells Gun Tech Keith Ford is at Rock Island Auctions to show us two rarities. First, a beautifully preserved civilian Browning BAR - yes, before the Gun Control Act of 1934, a private citizen could legally own a fully automatic firearm. The BAR was also the preferred firearm of a number of Gangster Era public enemies, including Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. In response to criminals' use of the BAR, Colt developed their R80 Monitor for law enforcement use. The Monitor is a shorter, more maneuverable BAR with a pistol grip and Cutts Compensator up front on the 18.5" barrel. At least one member the posse of law enforcement officers who brought down Bonnie and Clyde in that shootout on a lonely Louisiana back road in May 1934 was armed with a Colt Monitor. Civilian-legal Monitors are even rarer than BARs - the very clean example Keith shows us is worth about $120,000!