Vickers production figures

[boris]

Sorry if that topic has been discussed before but how many Vickers MGs were made during WWI and WWII by the different manufacturers and especially by Lithgow during WWII? TIA

[woodsy]

Lithgow commenced production of the Vickers in 1929 and by the beginning of WW2 had made 697 guns, and at the end of production Lithgow had made a total of 12,344 guns (including some tank and aircraft models). The wartime production of Mk 1 guns at Lithgow was 10,170.

The WW1 productions totals from both the UK Vickers plants (Erith & Crayford) totalled 75,242 guns, and UK WW2 production was 11,828. To these figures you must add the guns made before WW1 and also those produced during the inter-war years. Of course the US Colt made guns (in .30/06 & 7.62x54R Russian) add another 19,839 to the list.

[boris]

Thanks, Woodsy. I am amazed at the low WWII UK overall production figures but UK had probably plenty of Vickers from WWI. Were the Vickers manufactured by Lithgow issued exclusively to the Australian Army?

[woodsy]

Most of the the Lithgow production was for the Aussie Army, but a number were supplied to New Zealand during WW2 (not many, probably only 2-300 guns). As I understand it, the Aussie Vickers were put into storage in the 1970's and later sold to an English dealer (Interarms?) and then subsequently released into the collector market. I know that my gun (and a couple belonging to friends) came from this source about 15 years ago. These guns were all FTR'd in about 1952 and were in new condition, gun in one chest and tripod in another. With good clean ammo mine runs like a Swiss watch! ;D

[tonygibson]

Chaps, I read your comments with interest.
I started work with Vickers Armstrongs in 1973, being third generation I was brought up with a great interest of all weapons.
At the start of WW2 my Father was a machine gunner in the Northumberland fusiliers, when in france during the re-treat to Dunkirk, they were pined down by German machine gun fire they only escaped because both the Germans and ourselves used the same manual so they new when the break would come in changes of direction.
We had a Vickers machine gun in a glass case at work, in 1985, when escorting a General from
Thailand around, he stopped and exclaimed,"I killed my first man with a Vickers Machine Gun.
Sadly, when a former owner (Rolls Royce) tried to strip the factory it was discovered that the gun was in full working order, they could not take the gun as they did not have a licence but we did, however it could not be displayed and was removed to a protected vault.
On the same subject, I visited a museum in Newcastle ( Joyce Museum) where they had a Maxim gun, this was Brass, a Boar War gun, a beautiful gun but it would have taken some polishing.
Woodsy, does your comment mean that you get to fire the gun on full automatic?

[woodsy]

Being a licensed dealer, as well as a collector, does have its advantages! I have been lucky enough to have been invited by the Army to demonstrate my guns on several occasions. NZ collectors are not permitted to fire their MG's with live ammo under any circumstances, but may use them with blanks at a 'theatrical event' (re-enacting). As a dealer I can fire my guns with live ammo with the co-operation of the Army.

I also have a .303 Maxim (in brass) by Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd, 1901, which also goes well! ;D