Muzzle attachment parts

As an introduction to the different muzzle attachments in use with the Vickers, please watch our video.

Complete assemblies

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0768, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Muzzle-attachments, ball, Mk. I – Complete with muzzle cup. Issued with either Mk. I or II front cone for Ground Service and with Mk. II front cone for A.F.Vs.

Machine Gun Equipment.

Approval is given for the issue of an additional “muzzle attachment for ball firing” to all units in possession of machine guns.

Indents should be sent to Ordnance officers concerned, and issue will be made as supplies become available.

General Routine Order 894 dated 2 June 1915.
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0278, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Muzzle-attachments, ball, Mk. IV – Consisting of Mk. II muzzle cup; Mk. II gland; Mk. II front cone; disc; and Mk. II outer casing. For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0279, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Muzzle-attachments, ball, Mk. V – Consisting of Mk. III gland; front and rear cups; and Mk. IV outer casing

Components

Clips

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0835, List of changes A8081, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Pins, Split, Muzzle-attachment – With M.G. chain, and 2 M.G. “S” hooks
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  • Cat No. C1/BD 2027, List of changes A3312, HOOKS, “S”, M.G. – Steel
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0085, List of changes A7793, CLIPS, LOCKING, OUTER CASING MUZZLE-ATTACHMENT – For Mk. I Vickers .303-in. M.G.

The clip is in the form of a band and is suitably chamfered to allow assembly to the muzzle-attachment. A stud riveted to the inside of the clip replaces the normal split pin. This clip is for use with Mk. I .303-in. guns when used in A.F.V. mountings.

Casings

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0636, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Casings, outer, muzzle-attachment, Mk. I – With muzzle-attachment split pin, for ball and blank ammunition
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0212, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Casings, outer, muzzle-attachment, Mk. II – For ball and blank ammunition; For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0213, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Casings, outer, muzzle-attachment, Mk. IV – For ball and blank ammunition; For Mks. VI, VI* and VII guns

Cones

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0646, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, CONES, FRONT, MUZZLE-ATTACHMENT, Ball, Mk. I
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0647, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Mk. I, CONES, FRONT, MUZZLE-ATTACHMENT, Ball, Mk. II – Also for Mks. IV A and IV B guns

Cups

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0660, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Mk. I, Cups, muzzle-attachment, Ball, Mk. II – Also for Mks. IV A and IV B guns
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Vickers Machine Guns.

Approval is given for the number of “cups, muzzle attachment” carried in the spare part box of “Vickers Machine Guns” to be increased from one to three per box.

Indents to complete to the above scale should be sent to Ordnance Officers concerned.

General Routine Order 725 dated 14 March 1915.
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0236, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Cups, muzzle-attachment, Front – For Mks. VI, VI* and VII guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0237, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Cups, muzzle-attachment, Rear – For Mks. VI, VI* and VII guns

Discs

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0680, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Mk. I, Discs, Muzzle-attachement, ball – Also for Mks. IV A and IV B guns
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Glands

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0715, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Glands, Muzzle-attachments, No. 1, Mk. I – For ball and blank ammunition
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0716, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Glands, Packing – Gun-metal
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  • Cat No. C2/BG 0252, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Glands, muzzle-attachment, Mk. II – For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0253, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Glands, muzzle-attachment, Mk. III – For Mks. VI, VI* and VII guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0323, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Screws, Keeper, Gland, Muzzle-attachment – For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0412, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., MK. II, Glands, Packing, Mk. II – With rubber joint ring
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0425, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERs, .5-IN., MK. II, Locks, Gland, Packing, Mk. II
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0464, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., MK. IV, Locks, Gland, Packing, Mk. III
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0516, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., MK. V, Locks, Gland, Packing, Mk. IV
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0620, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., Glands, packing, Mk. III – For Mks. IV and V guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0762, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., Screws, Lock, packing gland, Mk. I – For Mks. I (N.I.V.) and II guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0763, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .5-IN., Screws, Lock, packing gland, Mk. II – For Mks. IV and V guns

Nuts

Attachments, blank firing

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The following special components are fitted to Mks. I, IVA and IVB .303-in. guns when used for firing blank ammunition.

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0648, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Mk. I, CONES, FRONT, MUZZLE-ATTACHMENT, Blank – For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
    The front cone is recessed, with holes drilled on the periphery, and assembles into the outer casing of the muzzle-attachment in place of the ball pattern front cone.
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0665, List of changes A7792 GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Mk. I, Cups, muzzle-attachment, Blank, Mk. I – For Mks. IV A and IV B guns
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0235, List of changes B235, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Cups, muzzle-attachment, Blank, Mk. II – For Mks. VI, VI* and VII guns
    The muzzle cup has a large recessed seating to house the head of the adjusting screw and is assembled to the D.P.B. barrel in the usual manner.
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0772, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., Nuts, Adjusting, Muzzle-attachment, blank – Also for Guns, machine, Vickers, .303-in., Mks. IVA and IVB (Section C2)
    The adjusting nut is of the ring type with holes in the outside edge to accommodate the spanner. It assembles to the projecting end of the adjusting screw and locks against the face of the front cone.
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0902, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Screws, Adjusting, Muzzle-attachment, Blank, Mk. I*, No. 1 – Also for Guns, machine, Vickers, .303-in., Mks. IVA and IVB (Section C2)
  • Cat No. C1/BD 0903, List of changes A7792, GUNS, MACHINE, VICKERS, .303-IN., MK. I, Screws, Adjusting, Muzzle-attachment, Blank, Mk. I*, No. 2 – Also for Guns, machine, Vickers, .303-in., Mks. IVA and IVB (Section C2)
    The adjusting screw has a large concave head drilled longitudinally for approximately one inch and is screwed into the front cone so that the large end may enter the muzzle cup. (The original screws were drilled throughout, these have now been plugged at the foremost end).
  • Washer, muzzle-attachment, blank
  • Cat No. C2/BG 0990, List of changes A7792, WASHERS, MUZZLE ATTACHMENT, BLANK – For Mks. I, IV A and IV B Vickers .303-in. M.Gs.
    The muzzle-attachment washer is for use with the Mks. IVA and IVB guns to prevent the unscrewing of the front cone when used in A.F.Vs. It is a thin steel washer with 3 tags (two long and one short) and assembles between the front cone and outer casing. The long tags are turned into the openings of the outer casing, the small tag being turned into a spanner slot of the front cone.

Deflectors and eliminators

The issue of noise, blast and flash is dealt with in all Maxim and Vickers manuals from the early periods of machine gun use, with both being obvious concerns when siting a machine gun position. Blast, with the resulting dust and mud, is a maintenance issue as well as one of concealment, whereas flash is concealment alone.

To manage this, early developments were extremely simplistic, but later developed into most robust items.

Silencers

An early Minute of the Small Arms Committee recognises that the noise of rifles and machine guns would give away the position to the enemy – they were not concerned about the impact of the noise on the firer.

116. Attachments to Rifle for other than Shooting Purposes.

“Silencer” for Rifles and Machine Guns.

The D. of A., 31.5.1904, notified that several proposals for a “silencer” for rifles and machine guns had been submitted lately. Trials conducted with two of them, Mr. Keeson’s and Capt. Kirke’s, had been unsatisfactory, though it was possible the defects could be remedied if an appliance of the kind was wanted. The objection to the idea seemed to be that it would add to equipment, increase its weight, and being applied at the muzzle would injure the shooting and prevent rifle having a bayonet. Rapidity of fire would also be diminished. The same objections applied to some extent to its use on a Maxim gun.

He asked for the views of the Committee as to the necessity for an appliance of this kind. A sample of Mr. Keeson’s silencer was forwarded.

The “silencers” so far submitted are only effective in close proximity to the gun, and do not prevent the report of discharge carrying to a distance. The Committee consider that such an application is not required, but if one could be designed that would entirely arrest the report of explosion, they are of opinion it would be useful.

Minute No. 859 of the Proceedings of the Small Arms Committee, 6 June 1904.

A different example was trialled in India in 1906, having been invested by a Mr Thompson – a machine gun specialist at Dum Dum Arsenal – yet it was not considered satisfactory as it slowed down the automatic action of a machine gun so much that it was no longer automatic fire (Minute No 979).

Stove Pipe Attachment

The earlist type which consisted of a tubular arrangement that fitted over the fore portion of the water jacket and extended forward over the muzzle attachment.

General Routine Order 797 dated 23 April 1915. Machine Gun Equipment.

Approval is given for the issue of the following stores for use with machine guns:-

Ammunition box carrier 1 per machine gun
Stove pipe attachment 1 per machine gun
Hyposcope 1 per machine gun

Indents to complete to above scale should be sent to Ordnance Officers concerned, and issue will be made as supplies become available.

Later items became simple and easy to carry, and were often left attached to gun other than when in transit cases.

Blast deflector

  • Cat No. C1/BD 0247, List of changes B 3201, DEFLECTORS, BLAST, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 1

Flash eliminator

  • Cat No. C1/BD 6369, List of changes B 4052, ELIMINATORS, FLASH AND BLAST DEFLECTOR, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 1

Sources

  • Small Arms Committee (1904) ‘116. Attachments to Rifle for other than Sporting Purposes’ in Proceedings of the Small Arms Committee, Minute No. 859, 6th June 1904.
  • Small Arms Committee (1907) ‘142. 116. Maxim Guns’ in Proceedings of the Small Arms Committee, Minute No. 859, 28th January 1907.
  • War Office, 1940a; 1942; 1944c; 1949a

Specific source references can be provided if required.