.303" Colt model 1915

[Peter Wells]

I have one of the 1000 Colts modified to Brit spec .303" guns during WW2 at Enfield as documented in G.O.L. (page 229). During my local research and digging I found a few other 1915 parts which differ slightly in detail from their Brit & Aus made equivalents.

I am interested to know if any other converted 1915s are known, if the serial numbers of those 1000 are available or any other facts about these guns not mentioned in G.O.L.

Anything at all will be appreciated.

[AlanD]

Peter

Here are two images taken from a "secret" S.A. Identification List for the .30in USA Mk 1 Vickers. This is the same gun of course which was issued to the Home Guard in .30 calibre .
Although the manual is dated November 1941 on the cover, the first page inside is dated September 1941. The only reference to conversion to .303 is on the front and inside cover, the rest of the manual is a parts description including all accessories such as, tripod, belt filling machine,spare part box, ammo box, condenser equipment etc.

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

[Peter Wells]

Hi Alan

Thanks for your response. I look forward to seeing the images - they aren't showing up at the moment.

Pls also let me have a pic of the front cover of the manual as I must try and get one for my collection.

I have the Gale & Polden ".300 VICKERS MACHINE GUN, MECHANISM MADE EASY" produced for the Home Guard which on page 5, Plate 1 shows Muzzle Velocities and Bullet weights for both .303: Mk vii and .300 M1 ammo. Strange

The gun seems to be a rare bird considering the lack of responses.

Cheers for now.

[Richard Fisher]

Hi Peter,

The manual Alan is referring to is available as a PDF on my site (I can get a CD of the high-res images sent to you if you want?).

They are very rare. I have heard of one in the UK in a private collection but missing quite a few parts. I would dearly love to have one in my collection but I don't think it's likely to happen.

I will see if I can invite the chap that knows a bit more about the one in the UK.

Rich

[woodsy]

Hi Peter

The .303 Colts are a rare bird indeed! There is one here in NZ that I know of and I believe it was imported from the UK as a regular Vickers many years ago.

Photo 33 (page 59) in GOL shows a cutaway gun with an extra set of holes in the cover. How do they compare to yours?

[Peter Wells]

Hi Rod

As a matter of interest my 1915 was also living as a regular Vickers. Lucky me!

We have two threads going here ('1915' & 'Puzzling Holes') which should probably, if I knew how, be merged.

I had noted the two holes in fig. 33 and they appear to be very similar to the patched holes in my covers and can't be explained ito the 'cutaway' process so one must assume were pre-existing.

What I find really strange is that my three examples are all slightly different. The possibility of them being Donation Plate, Regt markings etc. rivet holes is good for this reason. But how the hell do I land up with three of them?

The possibility of any mods by a previous collector are zero as I am the first to get my grubby little paws on them.

So, I remain puzzled

Cheers for now (and thanks for helping to get the Bowning sub-forum going)

[phoenix]

This gun belongs to a friend of mine,It's certainly one of the guns aquired for the Home Guard,unfortunately it appears to have had a hard life.
This is the gun as aquired:



He was lucky enough to also get a tripod,this shows the British acceptance marks:


This is the gun as it is now, an original rear top cover with sight is needed and also the grip assembly:





For those who are interested, I'll post some pictures of his Browning 1918 tripod, also Home Guard issue in the Browning section.

thanks to Kev for sorting out the pictures

[Peter Wells]

Hi Phoenix - does that name apply to you or the half dead Colt?

Lovely to see work put in to restore a gun needing attention like that. Well done to your mate. ;D

As I got my piece in full .303 config I had a quandary - leave 'as is' or try and restore to original 1915 config. Well, I chickened out and have basically left it in .303 but looting any 1915 parts I can. I may eventually be able to display it in either role but am becoming resigned to NOT getting some of the original 1915 parts.

BTW - my gun is in the 5XXX range (behind front sight), the receiver is also in the 5XXX range but 220 lower than the jacket (number on bottom of gun below chamber). I would be interested to know if your gun was also seperated at some time, presumable at .303 rebuild time?

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Cheers

[phoenix]

Both I think! I can't remember now, what the other marking we came accross when we first got it, I will endeavor to have a look at it again.We broke up an Aussie gun for the bulk of the donor parts, as this was the most economic way to get it back into some sort of reasonable shape, so the barrel and lock are 303.The muzzle, was a 303 armoured type, that I turned down in a lathe, and Mark fabricated the rest.The next job is to fabricate the correct rear sight, using some 1917A1 Browning parts.I will keep you updated, Pete.