This is a fine example of a WWI era British Vickers/Maxim type machine gun as manufactured circa 1918 that was imported into the U.S. in the mid 1980s. Great Britain was the first country to recognize the importance and battle advantage of the machine gun and was also the first country to introduce it into their inventory in 1889 just a few years after they were invented by American-born British inventor Hiram Stevens Maxim in 1884. The Maxim was very unique as it was the first self-sustaining full automatic medium machine gun. The Vickers is an improved design based on the Maxim after Vickers purchased the Maxim Gun Company in 1896. They inverted the mechanism and also reduced the overall weight through lightening and simplifying the action and using strong alloys for some components. During WWI, the Maxim machine guns were dubbed the "Devils Paintbrush" due to the huge numbers of casualties they caused during the mass charges that took place during the trenchware. It has a barrel jacket held approximately 7 quarts of water allowing them to fire long intermittent burst of suppressive fire, which after approximately 2000 rounds of fire, the water would boil off and they had to reduce the firing rate. This example has been converted from the original .303 British to the 7.92 mm Mauser cartridge and is so marked on the top and right side plate. The top rear section of the water jacket is currently stamped "7.92/.303 V.E.T.64" with some of the original British acceptance proofs still visible while others have been stuck out. It has a set of mixed serial numbers on the various parts with the lock assembly (breechblock) stamped with an original British serial number as well as other proof marks to include a "VSM" proof mark. The rear section of the top cover is fitted with the original very long range tangent sight graduated 1-29 (100-2900 meters), and the sun has a fixed front sight. There is a small importer's mark on the lower left side of the receiver bottom plate (P.O.B. Inc.). This desirable example comes complete with an original and correct MKIV tripod and cradle that is also stamped on top: "B.S.& Co. No. 1929". It also comes with an original WWII type light brown canvas barrel jacket cover with straps, an OD green painted water can with its funnel, a red rubber water hose, one canvas ammunition belt and a 1950s era wooden .303 British cartridge ammunition case. It also comes with its original wooden transit box.

Very fine with 85% of its blue finish remaining overall with the complete water jacket having been painted a dark green color. The tripod is also in very fine condition with 80% of its green painted exterior finish. All the mechanisms on the tripod works correct and smoothly. The accessories are all in fine condition with a nice repainted OD green color overall. NOTE: This weapon is a restricted, National Firearms Act (NFA) Class 3, Fully Automatic Weapon, that is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478. This weapon is currently registered as being "LIMITED TO USE AS A SALES SAMPLE (Pre-86)" and as such can only be purchased by an FFL, with a Class 2 or Class 3 SOT License.