more tests were done for u.s. army weapon officers at springfield armory in may 1917. both weapons were recommended to be brought into service immediately. so that the bar was not confused with the m1917 machine gun, it was officially named the m1918 or rifle, caliber .30, automatic, browning, m1918. on 16 july 1917, 12,000 bars were ordered from colt's patent firearms manufacturing company. they were allowed to make the bar under browning's patents (browning's patent 1293022 was owned by colt). however, colt was already making as many weapons as they could (as they were making the vickers machine gun for the british army). they asked for the military to wait a while, as they were opening a new factory in meriden, connecticut. because of how much the weapon was needed, the request was turned down. the winchester repeating arms company (wrac) would make the weapons instead. winchester also helped out with the bar's final design.