VB Mk III

[tom]

Finally i have just scored a Vickers Berthier Mk III at Beltring, knocked down because of foul weather was making the dealers jittery about turning a profit it would seem. ;-{D))

It will need rebluing at some point as there is some surface rust (no pitting thankfully)mainly on the bipod, most will hopefully rub off with some oil but I think this is going to be a tart it up job!

Does anyone know of a gunsmith who does good work on MGs, in the Uk of course.

Anyway i'm chuffed to bits with it!

ATB

Tom

just had a quick rub with a dry hanky and nearly all the rust colour has come off. The serials don't match but are all close together so it is still proper to mark, unlike my bitsa Mk II that has a Mk I butt fitted, the sort with the exposed return spring tube.

Factory fitted to the front mount is a extension piece (will show when I can down load the camera) which I suspect is so it will fit to the same mounts as a Bren, not sure how the rear mount would have been altered but since it was basically a vertical tube with a catch a adapter wouldn't have been too difficult to do.

I'm now lookng for a Indian (as opposed to VAC marked one) monopod as well as the cleaning kit.

[tom]

The magazine that came with it was yet another varriation on a altered Bren one, rather unevenly finished and rusty so the one in the photos is the other one.









On closer inspection the wood was a lot better than I thought, just a few deep chips. The riveted on extension to the front mounting looks like the one in DD(E) 1637 for the cradle to mount a VB on a Bren Tripod.

ATB

Tom

[tom]

Well folks, with Beltring looming on the horizon again I finally got around to cleaning up the VB Mk III I got last year and thought I'd inflict the redbacks I took of it on you. Pretty much like the last ones but a little better done so excuse my sort of repeating myself!

I'm still looking for the related kit, leather and webb amo pouches, monopod carrier, tripod and Bren tripod adapter, tool kit and of course the 2 SMLE bayonet AA bipod adapter thingy.

ATB

Tom

[Richard Fisher]

Nice one Tom - having done a little more reading about these, I am becoming increasing tempted to buy one should one become available.

Regards

Richard

[tom]

OK folks, brain picking time
whats a reasonable price for one of these in the UK at present? I'm talking not a silly over optomistic (sp?) dealer-sits on the shelf for years price but a good honest everyones happy price?

I just can't justify one of these in my collection when I don't have things like a L7 jimpy of Charlie G despite it being a lovely bit of kit.

The sling will be sold seperately as its rarer than the gun!


[e-mail]

Thanks!

Tom