April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/27/2021
This beautiful fluted jacket Vickers water cooled machine gun retains the lightening cuts on both sides of the receiver. The Vickers was the immediate evolutionary progression from the venerable Maxim machine gun, and by relocating the trigger mechanism to the top of the action, the overall height of the receiver box could be shortened and the gun consequently lightened. The gun was further lightening by making the receiver side-plates thinner, and as seen here, machining out cuts in the sideplates. From the perspective of the modern day collector/shooting enthusiast the Vickers is one of the machine guns most readily and easily converted to different calibers according to the desires of the owner. This particular Vickers is registered as fully transferable by “VSM” of Cincinnatti, OH, and includes in addition to original transit chest and base head tripod, the following accessories: Spare .303 barrel in leather carrier, brass steam assembly, steel fusee cover with spring, lensatic sight in box, spare pair of wood handles, steam condensing hose with steel water can, 4 white metal ammo cans, 2 Mk I clamp-on sight bars in cases, 3 tab-less cloth belts, 4 mint 250 round WW2 era “Dunlop” brass tabbed cloth belts, 1 extension post for tripod, canvas cooling cover for barrel jacket, and World War II era gunner’s box with large diameter World War II era flash hider, oil tins, spare lock, 2 extractors in tin box, combination tool, fusee spring tension gauge, fusee spring, muzzle cup, emergency level, and broken case extractor. The barrel jacket shows serial number “B2168” and has broad arrow and “VSM” proofs, as well as numerous other British proofs from 1923 through 1953. A number of desirable booklets are also included with this lot: Wessex Military Publishing, “The British Soldier in the 20th Century, “The Vickers Machine gun”, Ian Skennerton’s Small Arms Identification Manual for the Vickers Gun, 1925 British Machine Gun Training book(over 400 pages), green paperback supplement from 1930, Vickers Machine Gun Handbook (reprint), handbook for the .303- IN Vickers Machine Gun Supplement #2, .300 Vickers Machine Gun mechanism made easy by Gale & Polden Ltd, and Infantry Training Volume II, The Medium Machine Gun. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine to near excellent combination of original lustrous blue finish on receiver, top cover, fusee cover, backplate, to a dull gray arsenal refinish on bottom plate, and water jacket. Charging handle a pleasing gray patina. Water fill cap, drain cap, and water cork all retain original chain hardware. Backplate handles extremely attractive with light handing marks. Armored muzzle booster shows use but remains very serviceable. Bore is extremely fine, shiny and bright. Spare barrel bore also extremely fine shiny and bright. Bolt face is near excellent. Mechanics are crisp. This is a full-auto only machine gun. Truly an outstanding Vickers gun with very desirable accessories. Sure to please the most discerning machine gun enthusiast. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 or 4. JWK 2021-04-010
Accessories
Numerous Accessories & Transit Chest