.50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic Spring Latch Back Plate Stop
$4,444.00
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.50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic Spring Latch Back Plate Stop
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This .50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic Spring Latch Back Plate Stop, identified by Part Number 7313162 and NSN 5315-00-731-3162, is a specialized military-surplus component associated with the .50 caliber M3 air-cooled machine gun system. For collectors of U.S. military ordnance parts, aircraft machine gun components, government-surplus hardware, and NSN-identified small parts, this is a highly specific support item with clear catalog and part-number value.
The M3 .50 caliber machine gun, also referred to as the AN/M3 .50 caliber machine gun, is documented as an air-cooled .50 caliber machine gun developed from the Browning .50 caliber family for high-rate aircraft applications. This part is not a complete firearm, not ammunition, and not an explosive item. It is a small ordnance component intended for collection, reference, restoration support, or display use where lawful and appropriate.
The Spring Latch Back Plate Stop
The Spring Latch Back Plate Stop belongs to the broader family of .50 caliber machine gun support parts, ordnance hardware, pins, stops, and replacement components. A .50 caliber parts reference identifies 7313162 as a “STOP, back plate latch lock spring”, connecting this part number to the back plate latch / latch-lock-spring area of the weapon system.
Because this item is identified by both P/N 7313162 and NSN 5315-00-731-3162, it has added value for collectors and restorers who prefer traceable military part numbers rather than unmarked or generic hardware. NSN records classify 5315-00-731-3162 under FSC 5315 – Nails, Machine Keys, and Pins, with the item name listed as PIN, GROOVED, HEADLESS and the associated NIIN 007313162.
For collectors, that gives this component strong reference appeal. It represents the small but important hardware that supported larger military weapon systems and fits especially well in collections focused on .50 caliber ordnance parts, M3 machine gun components, aircraft armament, U.S. military supply-system hardware, and NSN-marked surplus parts.
Known Catalog Details
As an NSN-identified component, this part is especially useful for buyers who track military surplus items by official supply-system data.
Known catalog information includes:
- Item: .50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic Spring Latch Back Plate Stop
- Part Number: 7313162
- NSN: 5315-00-731-3162
- NIIN: 007313162
- NSN Item Name: Pin, Grooved, Headless
- Federal Supply Classification: FSC 5315 – Nails, Machine Keys, and Pins
- Associated Reference Description: Stop, back plate latch lock spring
- Material: Steel overall
- Overall Length: 0.875 inches nominal
- Diameter: 0.183 inches minimum to 0.185 inches maximum
- End Style: Chamfered
- Surface Treatment: Manganese phosphate overall
- Surface Finish: 125 microinches overall
These details make the part especially relevant for collectors, restorers, and researchers who need a small ordnance component identified by official-style part-number and NSN information.
Historical and Technical Interest
The .50 Cal M3 belongs to the broader Browning .50 caliber family, but it was developed for a different role than the more familiar ground-service M2HB. FN Herstal notes that the M3 was introduced near the end of World War II as a heavily modified, higher-rate .50 caliber aircraft gun, and that it was later produced again during the Korean War period.
Small components like this Spring Latch Back Plate Stop help tell the support story behind those larger systems. While the complete weapon receives most of the attention, military supply chains depended on thousands of individual components, each identified, cataloged, and stocked for maintenance, inspection, and repair support.
For collectors and historians, this part is especially relevant to subjects such as:
- .50 Cal M3 air-cooled machine gun components
- AN/M3 aircraft machine gun parts
- Browning .50 caliber ordnance hardware
- U.S. military aircraft armament support parts
- NSN-identified surplus components
- ordnance maintenance and supply-system history
Because it is a small, specific component rather than a broad display item, it adds strong technical depth to a collection. It helps represent the detailed supply and maintenance system behind U.S. military aircraft armament and .50 caliber ordnance equipment.
About This Component
This listing is for one .50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic Spring Latch Back Plate Stop, identified as P/N 7313162 and NSN 5315-00-731-3162.
It is especially well suited for:
- .50 caliber M3 machine gun parts collectors
- aircraft armament reference collections
- U.S. military surplus hardware collections
- ordnance component displays
- NSN and part-numbered military parts collections
- museum and archival reference use
- restorers seeking correctly identified small components
- collectors of Browning .50 caliber support parts
This listing is for the Spring Latch Back Plate Stop only unless otherwise stated. No complete firearm, receiver, barrel, ammunition, tools, manuals, back plate assembly, or additional accessories are included unless specifically shown or noted.
Why This Part Matters
Many military collectibles focus on complete weapons, aircraft, vehicles, helmets, or manuals. This item represents a different but equally important category: the small support components that kept military equipment documented, maintained, and supplied through official channels.
For collectors, it is a compact and highly specific ordnance component with clear P/N 7313162 and NSN 5315-00-731-3162 identification. For researchers, it provides a useful reference point for how small .50 caliber machine gun parts were cataloged. For museums and displays, it helps show the behind-the-scenes hardware that supported larger aircraft armament systems.
Because this item is tied to the .50 Cal M3 Air Cooled Basic parts family and carries a traceable NSN, it is a strong fit for anyone building a focused collection of U.S. military ordnance components, aircraft gun parts, or government-surplus small hardware.
Ideal For
This component is a strong fit for:
- .50 Cal M3 machine gun component collections
- AN/M3 aircraft armament displays
- Browning .50 caliber parts reference collections
- U.S. military surplus hardware collectors
- ordnance maintenance and supply-system displays
- museum and archival reference collections
- collectors of NSN-marked or NSN-identified parts
- buyers seeking P/N 7313162 / NSN 5315-00-731-3162
Approx length 1", Approx width .1", Approx height .1", Approx weight .1lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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