UNIQUE**THE OLDEST SURVIVING AUSTRALIAN WD VICKERS (SERIAL NUMBER 12)**Transit Cased Inter War 1929-1931 Production WW2 Lithgow Vickers MK 1 .303 Calibre Heavy Machine Gun With Cased WW2 1942 Dated MK IV Tripod**UK 2001 DEACTIVATION CERTIFICATED* D 1298 None 0 Machine Guns

**UNIQUE**THE OLDEST SURVIVING AUSTRALIAN WD VICKERS (SERIAL NUMBER 12)**Transit Cased Inter War 1929-1931 Production WW2 Lithgow Vickers MK 1 .303 Calibre Heavy Machine Gun With Cased WW2 1942 Dated MK IV Tripod**UK 2001 DEACTIVATION CERTIFICATED* D 1298 - D 1298

This Australian built Vickers MK1 .303 Machine gun serial number 12 is believed to be the oldest surviving Australian gun left out of a total of 12.344 made. The small arms factory at Lithgow New South Wales was set to make Australia self sufficient in the production of small arms after the devastating losses of WW1 and to remove the dependence on Great Britain for small arms supply. It was to be a sensible move; after Dunkirk it was Great Britain that became reliant on Australia for additional arms production. The 1st Lithgow Vickers No.1 was delivered to the Australian army on 3rd May 1929 but by the end of 1931 only 56 guns had been delivered-it was peacetime & there was little sense of urgency. By the time war broke out, production had reached 697 guns, but accelerated rapidly. The last gun made number B2344 was delivered on 27th June 1945. This smooth jacketed .303 Vickers Heavy Machine gun is with transit case & cased WW2 dated tripod. The machine gun is marked with serial number '12' below WD. It is also stamped MA (Lithgow) marks and other inspection marks (illustrated). It is fitted with flip up long range sight and has excellent undamaged wood firing handles. The machine gun retains near 100% of its original finish. Deactivated to UK specification in 2001 the gun cocks and dry fires, its breech cover can be opened and the feed tray can be removed. The tripod is in excellent original condition with original green paint and is marked ‘Mount Tripod MG MK IV’. It is also stamped with 1942 date and serial number. (The tripod and dial markings are illustrated in image 2). The Vickers and tripod are accompanied by their original wood transit cases with correct compartments and rope handles. The cases retain their original green paint and stencilled lettering. The price includes deactivation certificate. Due to the size and weight of this piece delivery will be by arrangement and at cost. D 1298

£7,450.00