Description
U.S. aircraft machine gun history to your collection with this .50 Cal M3 Belt Feed Pawl, identified by Part Number 7265639, NSN 1005-00-631-3117, and legacy FSN 1005-631-3117. This is a specialized military-surplus component associated with the .50 caliber M3 / AN-M3 aircraft machine gun parts family.
Public NSN data identifies 1005-00-631-3117 as PAWL, FEED, BELT under FSC 1005 – Guns, through 30mm. The same listing also shows replacement information for NIIN 00-726-5639 as PAWL ASSEMBLY, BELT, which corresponds closely with the supplied part number.
Historical Significance
The .50 Cal M3 aircraft machine gun was the high-rate aircraft-gun development of the Browning .50 caliber family. It was built for aircraft use, where a faster rate of fire and reliable belt feeding were critical.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force lists the Browning M3 Machine Gun as a .50 caliber / 12.7mm weapon with a listed muzzle velocity of 2,870 feet per second, a rate of fire of 1,250 rounds per minute, and a gun weight of 65 pounds.
The M3 was standardized near the end of World War II and became an important postwar aircraft armament system. The M3 .50 caliber machine gun became standard aircraft armament for a number of U.S. fighters and bombers, and that it was later superseded in many fixed-wing aircraft roles by 20mm and 30mm cannon systems.
That gives this belt feed pawl strong collector value. It represents the feed-system hardware behind one of the fastest-firing Browning .50 caliber aircraft gun variants.
The Belt Feed Pawl
A belt feed pawl is part of the ammunition-feed side of a belt-fed machine gun system. It helps control and advance the linked ammunition belt through the feed mechanism as the weapon cycles.
Known identification details include:
- Item: .50 Cal M3 Belt Feed Pawl
- Part Number: 7265639
- NSN: 1005-00-631-3117
- Legacy FSN: 1005-631-3117
- Catalog Nomenclature: Pawl, Feed, Belt
- Related Listing: Pawl Assembly, Belt
- Federal Supply Class: 1005 – Guns, through 30mm
- Associated Equipment: .50 Cal M3 / AN-M3 aircraft machine gun parts family
- Item Type: U.S. military-surplus machine gun feed-system component
- Included Item: Belt feed pawl only, unless otherwise shown or stated
A period Army supply manual for the Cal. .50 Basic Aircraft Machine Gun AN-M3 lists 7265639 as PAWL, feed, belt, assy, confirming the part number’s connection to the AN-M3 aircraft machine gun parts system.
Key Features
- .50 Cal M3 / AN-M3 aircraft machine gun component
- Belt feed pawl / belt feed pawl assembly
- P/N 7265639
- NSN 1005-00-631-3117
- FSN 1005-631-3117
- Associated with the high-rate Browning M3 aircraft machine gun
- Strong fit for aircraft armament, Browning .50 caliber, and military-surplus parts collections
- Useful for parts identification, display, and restoration-reference research
- Component only — no complete machine gun, receiver, top cover, feed assembly, barrel, ammunition, tools, manuals, or additional hardware included unless specifically shown or noted
Why This Part Matters
The M3 aircraft machine gun represents the postwar aircraft-armament side of the Browning .50 caliber story. Complete guns and aircraft get most of the attention, but the system depended on many individual feed parts, pawls, pins, springs, retainers, extractors, and guide components.
This Belt Feed Pawl helps preserve that support history. It is a small, part-numbered component tied to a specific military aircraft gun system. For collectors, the value is in the clear identification: P/N 7265639, NSN 1005-00-631-3117, and its relationship to the M3 / AN-M3 feed mechanism.
It pairs well with M3 aircraft machine gun displays, AN-M3 parts references, Browning .50 caliber collections, aircraft armament manuals, and U.S. military ordnance component displays.
About This Belt Feed Pawl
This listing is for one .50 Cal M3 Belt Feed Pawl, identified by P/N 7265639, NSN 1005-00-631-3117, and FSN 1005-631-3117.
This item is intended for collection, display, restoration reference, historical research, or military surplus parts study.
Approx length 2", Approx width 1.5", 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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