My 1918 Colt Vickers Aircraft Machine Gun

[Mike C (Perro)]

Here are photos of my 1918 Colt Vickers gun.
it was originally mounted to a biplane during world war 1, and was the type of gun used to shoot at the Red Baron in the sky.
It is an original Curio and Relic machine gun that was made in 1918, and was originally in 11mm caliber which was a french designed incendiary round meant to ignite the gasses inside of Zeppelin balloons. It is typically called a balloon buster gun.

there are a few differences between the ground gun and the air gun, but essentially they are the same gun.
the water jacket on the air gun has been louvered, and drilled to scoop air into the jacket. with the gun flying at 100 mph in cooler higher altitude air, water was no longer needed to cool the barrel.

they made a top cover with no rear sight - you had aircraft sights mounted on the actual plane, and had no need for the ground gun top cover and rear sight.

they didnt bother installing a front sight to the water jacket for the same reason above.

the air gun didnt have spade grips. it had a backplate designed to accept what was called a veeder counter that told you how many rounds you had left. it was rigid mounted to the plane and the trigger was actuated inside the cockpit

and it had the provisions for the interruptor assembly on the top cover, and the front cover. this allowed the gun to only fire when the propellor wasnt in the way of the bullet

i was able to convert it to limited ground gun use by installing a set of spade grips, a top cover, and a .303 lock, and barrel with booster.

someday i will convert it to 100% ground gun use by installing a waterjacket that still holds water, with front sights on it, but until then im enjoying playing with it as is but it limits me to about 50 rounds belts before i have to let the barrel cool again.

hope you enjoy, im quite proud of this one

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/accuracybyvolume/vicky/1sm.jpg
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[Mike C (Perro)]

When i received my gun, i believe it was unfired.

there are little cams inside of the sideplates that move the lock extractor up and down, and these didnt have a scratch on them, and the feedblock had never had a single belted round drug across its perfect finish.

when i went to test fire my gun, i swapped out as many of the original RARE Colt made parts with well used and worn parts from my australian vickers ground gun parts set so the parts you see with the worn metal finish are actually from an australian vickers.

i took video of her maiden test fire, and i believe that these were the first rounds EVER fired out of this gun short of maybe test firing at Colts back in 1918

The website may ask you to install a Microsoft Windows Media module to play these videos, but its from microsoft, and virus free. Also have to click the play button in the lower left hand corner

direct link
http://www.vegasshooters.com/forum/video/1918vickers.wmv

or watch it in the browser

http://www.vegasshooters.com/forum/video/1918vickers.wmv

[VegasSMG]

I can't say why I have a thing for the Vickers guns, but I do. I told you my story about trying to negotiate a deal on one in Phoenix at the SAR Show several years ago. If the dealer would have eaten the shipping, I'd have been an Vickers owner for a few years. Oh well, I'll have to be content to have an autographed copy of Dolf's book, Grand Old Lady of No Man's Land . After your recent acquisition, I dusted off Dolf's book and I'm pouring through it once more. I'm rediscovering things like your Veeder counter, looking at the Hyland dual-purpose cocking system and noting the difference in the U.S. and Brtiish end cap cooling cuts and all the other air craft accessories. GREAT STUFF!

That you own an original C&R aircraft gun is cool beyond words and the photos don't do it justice! You've got a real beauty and something worth obtaining a FOIA report on.

Maybe you should tell everyone about how the gun was "packed" and shipped. :roll:

[Mike C (Perro)]

I can't say why I have a thing for the Vickers guns, but I do.
the first time i laid hands on my Australian Vickers parts set from IMA that i bought about 5 years ago. after cleaning all the cosmoline off the thing and mocking it up together with bolts, i sat back and thought to myself "man, what a truly elegant firearm!! "
from the curve of the spade grips with the brushes built into the caps inside the wood handles, to the cocking assembly, to rear sight that went all the way up to 3000 yards, to the brass feedblock etc etc etc.
I remember marveling at how the lock assembly worked, and how it reminds me of an old steam engine crankshaft like you would find on the titanics steam engines.

An online friend Jmann once told me that the vickers had all the charm and elegance of the Maxim, but had the parts availability of the Browning. He told me its a cool machine, and it definately puts the Machine in Machine Gun. i love that!!



After your recent acquisition, I dusted off Dolf's book and I'm pouring through it once more. I'm rediscovering things like your Veeder counter, looking at the Hyland dual-purpose cocking system and noting the difference in the U.S. and Brtiish end cap cooling cuts and all the other air craft accessories. GREAT STUFF!

That you own an original C&R aircraft gun is cool beyond words and the photos don't do it justice! You've got a real beauty and something worth obtaining a FOIA report on.
Attached are photos of how my gun looked when i got it. These photos are from a museum in Washington. i THINK its the Smithsonian. You can see the fussee spring cover on the left hand sideplate that has the brass gears and on the back end it has a square drive shaft. you can adjust fusee tension by sticking a handle onto the square shaft and cranking the recoil spring (fusee spring) tigher or looser. you can also see the slots cut into the top cover, and front cover where the interrupter assembly attached, and you can see the rear plate (cross plate) has a long tube sticking out of it with threads on it where the veeder counter attached.
last photo shows our American fighter ace Eddie Rickenbacker (flying circus) with Colt Aircraft Vickers guns mounted to his Neiuport 28 fighter

speaking of Eddie Rickenbacker - Ace of Aces, check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjSE0BUy ... xt_from=PL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjSE0BUyudw&feature=PlayList&p=E9405BAFC86F87E1&index=2&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL)



Maybe you should tell everyone about how the gun was "packed" and shipped. :roll:
You mean to tell me that while surfing Dolphs Grand Old Lady you didnt see the Vickers Fitted Bedsheet Gun Cover MK1* (modified) ?????

i can break out my autographed copy of Grand Old Lady and find you the page number if you need :D


also, here are a few movies with the Aircraft Vickers (albeit the English pattern with different shaped cooling holes in the front plate)

first is Dawn Patrol - a movie filmed in 1938 with Errol Flynn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaKqZkptIyI

aces high
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy4e0P6D ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy4e0P6DNWw&feature=related)

and of course flyboys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1riXJe63-m8

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/accuracybyvolume/vicky/aircraftvickers.jpg
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[Mike C (Perro)]

Video from Today shooting .303 pakistani through cloth belts, off of the Sokolov wheeled mount

direct link
http://www.vegasshooters.com/forum/video/1918vickers2.wmv

or watch it in the browser
http://www.vegasshooters.com/forum/video/1918vickers2.wmv

[VegasSMG]

Thanks for the education yesterday. I learned a lot and I do appreciate your time.
Here's a couple of photos...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/VegasSMG/Beltfedcoyote010.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/VegasSMG/Beltfedcoyote009.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/VegasSMG/Beltfedcoyote011.jpg

* The PhotoBucket direct image link is still cutting off a portion of the right side of the photos!

[Kurt_Gepke]

I can't say why I have a thing for the Vickers guns, but I do. I told you my story about trying to negotiate a deal on one in Phoenix at the SAR Show several years ago. If the dealer would have eaten the shipping, I'd have been an Vickers owner for a few years. Oh well, I'll have to be content to have an autographed copy of Dolf's book, Grand Old Lady of No Man's Land . After your recent acquisition, I dusted off Dolf's book and I'm pouring through it once more. I'm rediscovering things like your Veeder counter, looking at the Hyland dual-purpose cocking system and noting the difference in the U.S. and Brtiish end cap cooling cuts and all the other air craft accessories. GREAT STUFF!

That you own an original C&R aircraft gun is cool beyond words and the photos don't do it justice! You've got a real beauty and something worth obtaining a FOIA report on.

Maybe you should tell everyone about how the gun was "packed" and shipped. :roll:


Hey Tom,
This is the Vickers that I initially thought was yours. I'm looking forward to seeing it in person and listening to you guys talk turkey about vintage gear. Since I've been a point and shoot/self defense oriented guy for almost 40 years, it looks like it's going to take another 40 years to learn how everything works and the different designs and variations on a theme. At least I won't have to pay a $200 tax stamp for books and knowledge I can learn from you guys.
Since getting into actually owning Title II gear about a year ago, I've really got the bug for knowledge. I can't decide whether I want to pick a genre and become somewhat of an expert, or go for being the well rounded guy who seems to know at least something about everything out there. (better make that "most" things out there) :lol:


KG

[Mike C (Perro)]

I can't say why I have a thing for the Vickers guns, but I do. I told you my story about trying to negotiate a deal on one in Phoenix at the SAR Show several years ago. If the dealer would have eaten the shipping, I'd have been an Vickers owner for a few years. Oh well, I'll have to be content to have an autographed copy of Dolf's book, Grand Old Lady of No Man's Land . After your recent acquisition, I dusted off Dolf's book and I'm pouring through it once more. I'm rediscovering things like your Veeder counter, looking at the Hyland dual-purpose cocking system and noting the difference in the U.S. and Brtiish end cap cooling cuts and all the other air craft accessories. GREAT STUFF!

That you own an original C&R aircraft gun is cool beyond words and the photos don't do it justice! You've got a real beauty and something worth obtaining a FOIA report on.

Maybe you should tell everyone about how the gun was "packed" and shipped. :roll:


Hey Tom,
This is the Vickers that I initially thought was yours. I'm looking forward to seeing it in person and listening to you guys talk turkey about vintage gear. Since I've been a point and shoot/self defense oriented guy for almost 40 years, it looks like it's going to take another 40 years to learn how everything works and the different designs and variations on a theme. At least I won't have to pay a $200 tax stamp for books and knowledge I can learn from you guys.
Since getting into actually owning Title II gear about a year ago, I've really got the bug for knowledge. I can't decide whether I want to pick a genre and become somewhat of an expert, or go for being the well rounded guy who seems to know at least something about everything out there. (better make that "most" things out there) :lol:


KG


Kurt,

id love to let you take the vickers for a spin - please come introduce yourself at the sept. 6th shoot, and id love to let you have a go with the old girl (that goes for all of my stuff too)

i just hope i can get her to run in 762x54r before then because im all out of .303 now

i believe i welcomed you at the old proboards2.com forum, but even if i did, welcome to vegasshooters.com!


Mike

[VegasSMG]

Hey Tom,
Since getting into actually owning Title II gear about a year ago, I've really got the bug for knowledge. I can't decide whether I want to pick a genre and become somewhat of an expert, or go for being the well rounded guy who seems to know at least something about everything out there. (better make that "most" things out there) :lol:
KG
Kurt,

I've found that the older I get, the less I seem to know. I've learned a great deal from many different people over the years and I've tried to share what little I know.

With the MAX-11 you have a match ready subgun capable of competing with and beating any gun out there. I'd like to encourage you to attend one of our monthly subgun matches at DSRPC. Membership isn't required, and you'll have a great time getting to know your gun's capabilities and hanging out with some good people who will eagerly share their experience. I've gained valuable insight and understanding into a wide variety of different and unusual subguns over the years. You'll soon learn that machine gunners are some of the most generous people in the firearms community in terms of sharing their knowledge and toys.

So many toys, so little time...

I hope you'll share your CCW knowledge with me. I've been a permit holder for years but I would certainly benefit from your experience.

[Mike C (Perro)]

here is a snippet from Colonel Chinns legendary work "The Machine Gun" Volume 1

you can read about why they switched from cloth belts to metal links
you can read about how happy they were with the 11mm tracer bullets, and how well the gun was made
and how they modified the Russian contract Colt made Vickers guns for air service

also shown is an illustration of the aircraft vickers mounted to a biplane, and also a prototype 1915 Colt Vickers gun modified for aircraft use and mounted to a ground tripod for photos


http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/accuracybyvolume/vicky/chinnvickers1.jpg
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http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/accuracybyvolume/vicky/1915.jpg

[VegasSMG]

You own Chinn's book? Both volumes? That's impressive!

[Mike C (Perro)]

all 5 volumes

[kyle the cannoli]

That is one awsome gun mike is this the one you told me was shipped in a blanket?

[Mike C (Perro)]

That is one awsome gun mike is this the one you told me was shipped in a blanket?

yes - shipped in a fitted bedsheet

[kyle the cannoli]

[quote="kyle the cannoli":37vgd5or]That is one awsome gun mike is this the one you told me was shipped in a blanket?

yes - shipped in a fitted bedsheet[/quote:37vgd5or]
Thats about as awesome as the time fedex left 6 nagants and three cz52s on our door step as well as ammo!