Post by mg34dan on Nov 12, 2013 20:14:25 GMT 1
Here is a picture of my Vickers MK 1 machinegun. It is fully functional, legally registered, and fully transferrable.
It started life as a Colt US 1918 Vickers Balloon Buster aircraft gun. Which itself started off as a Colt Vickers ground gun chambered in 7.62 X 54R intended for shipment to Imperial Russia. After the Russian Revolution, the US halted all firearms shipment to Russia and these Vickers ground guns were converted into 11mm Gras Balloon Buster aircraft guns destined to be mounted on US and French fighter planes.
An air cooled Vickers is pretty much useless as the barrel will heat up and warp very quickly. So after some scrounging around I found a mint WWII 1942 Australian Vickers gun parts kit along with a Turkish Vickers 8mm barrel, feed block, and extractor. Because .303 British ammunition has dried up in the US I decided to have my Vickers built for 8mm.
I disassembled the balloon buster gun and sent the left side plate, right side plate, and bottom plate to Pat Tomlinson along with my Aussie and Turkish parts. He then re-constructed my Vickers in 8mm. I sold the useless aircraft gun components to help fund my efforts. Here is a picture of Pat and my Vickers on the day of its rebirth.
Here are a couple more birthday pictures.
Over the years I have acquired pieces and parts so I can shoot my Vickers in 30.06 Springfield, 7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester), and 7.62 X 54R Russian. Right now 7.62 X 54R is the only reasonably priced ammunition in the US so my Vickers stays in this configuration.
It started life as a Colt US 1918 Vickers Balloon Buster aircraft gun. Which itself started off as a Colt Vickers ground gun chambered in 7.62 X 54R intended for shipment to Imperial Russia. After the Russian Revolution, the US halted all firearms shipment to Russia and these Vickers ground guns were converted into 11mm Gras Balloon Buster aircraft guns destined to be mounted on US and French fighter planes.
An air cooled Vickers is pretty much useless as the barrel will heat up and warp very quickly. So after some scrounging around I found a mint WWII 1942 Australian Vickers gun parts kit along with a Turkish Vickers 8mm barrel, feed block, and extractor. Because .303 British ammunition has dried up in the US I decided to have my Vickers built for 8mm.
I disassembled the balloon buster gun and sent the left side plate, right side plate, and bottom plate to Pat Tomlinson along with my Aussie and Turkish parts. He then re-constructed my Vickers in 8mm. I sold the useless aircraft gun components to help fund my efforts. Here is a picture of Pat and my Vickers on the day of its rebirth.
Here are a couple more birthday pictures.
Over the years I have acquired pieces and parts so I can shoot my Vickers in 30.06 Springfield, 7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester), and 7.62 X 54R Russian. Right now 7.62 X 54R is the only reasonably priced ammunition in the US so my Vickers stays in this configuration.