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FULLY TRANSFERABLE VICKERS MKI WATER COOLED MG

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,500.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 14,000.00 USD
FULLY TRANSFERABLE VICKERS MKI WATER COOLED MG

Cal. .303. S# VSA-050. Bbl. 28”. Vickers MK-I Heavy MG built around a fully transferable Wilson Arms side-plate. Originally referred to as the Vickers Maxim, this gun was adopted by Great Britain in 1912. It remained a principal machine gun through WWI & WWII until being replaced by the “L7A1 GPMG” in the 1960s. Though they were at one time available w/ two different water jackets, a corrugated style & the more traditional smooth side Maxim type, this gun is of the latter. They were available in both ground gun & in aircraft gun variants. All exposed steel surfaces are finished in a nice matching dark black, pleasantly accented by the traditional brass parts including the water jacket plugs, the feed block and the left-side scope mount. The beautiful hardwood spade grips have oil caps that include a brass cap on the left side while the right cap, storing the oil brush is matching black steel. This particular firearm comes w/ a standard ground tripod. Tripod has steel legs w/ the rear most measuring 26” in length and the front legs measure 22” in length. All three legs are adj. for height and/or configuration and places the bottom of the receiver to rest at approximately 29” from the ground. The tripod’s steel cradle locks into the 360° marked brass portion of the tripod, which is elevated an additional 7” above the legs of the tripod. The elevation mechanism utilizes a steel wheel for micro adjustments while traversing freely. The entire tripod is currently painted green, aside from the brass traverse portion, which retains its natural finish with degree marks and numbers painted black. This Vickers is equipped w/ iron sights which consist of a protective blade front sight forward of the water jacket & an elevation adj. rear peep sight marked in meters from 0 to 2,000 with a flip-up battle sight for close range combat. MAGS: 1 cloth belt with steel tabs and starter measuring approximately 8’ in length. CONDITION: external metal surfaces on gun are an even, dark matte finish. Coverage is very complete and consistent with very few blemishes of any kind, even under close inspection. Outward appearances indicate very little actual use, possibly spending its later years as a static display. Brass feed block and scope mount. Hardwood spade grips are completely free of normal dings & impressions with a nice even finish. Oil brush caps are both intact & thread freely in & out of grips. Left cap is brass while the right cap is steel, matching the rest of the exposed steel parts. Tripod legs move freely and entire mechanism retains some of an earlier green painted finish. Heavily thinning towards the bottom leaving an older patina, long brought under control. Brass plate on riser still retains clear markings and cradle rotates smoothly.Cradle wears a much darker green paint with full coverage and a liberal application of cosmoline indicating much more proper storage than actual field use. Fire control mechanism appears to function correctly when cycled by hand. Bore is bright w/ strong rifling. NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT MG REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-1559/JZ). MODERN CLASS III. $9,000-14,000.