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WTK: Sideplate Vickers price?


Stoner63A

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Based on the last 6 month multiple Vickers side plates have gone for $13k - $14k with tripods

At RIA in August a Wilson went for $13.1 with the buyer premium included.

At Creek there was a C&R balloon gun for $14k

On gunbroker these are two were no reserve auctions.  One needed built ($12k) the other is a complete gun ($13.1k)

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/711202785

 

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/717295373

Best of luck, there is little demand for ww1 style machine guns.  Folks want modern machine gun currently. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

AHH yes no one wants WWI guns, actually the lack of decent ammo has had the most effect on ALL the tripod  guns both WWI and WWII UNLESS there is a reasonable supply of ammo to run in them. even the M-2 .50's are climbing why? because you can shoot them. another thing that will make your question have diff answers is faith in the build. many Vickers guns were "garage" or one off builds by someone with little experience. the Vickers is NOT an easy build. yes it can be riveted and look right, but few can build one that wont leak or down right flood the station when shooting.  consequently if suspect it wont bring any money. several examples have sold for less than $12k since 2014. I even bought 2 for less than $11k WITH EXTRAS. should you get stuck with one of those, be prepared to spend close to $2k to get it fixed right.  examples that are known to be built by the people that know how like PAT TOMLINSON, CHARLIE ERB, DICK WRAY (VSM) will and do continue to bring around $18k with the mount  the Vickers is not the only gun to endure this down turn, both the 1919 and the water cooled Brownings can be found at "bargain prices" because of the double standard.   I caught an ARGENTINE COLT with a 17a1 mount for $10,500 on gunbroker. and almost missed it at no reserve. bought it in the last 30 minutes? and it was a Group IND built gun with the COLT engravings that were not cheep.  BOTTOM LINE? the average price for a QUALITY built Vickers with orig mount is just under $17k.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK and buy from reputable people.   cheers mike todd

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On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 1:36 PM, mike todd said:

AHH yes no one wants WWI guns, actually the lack of decent ammo has had the most effect on ALL the tripod  guns both WWI and WWII UNLESS there is a reasonable supply of ammo to run in them. even the M-2 .50's are climbing why? because you can shoot them. another thing that will make your question have diff answers is faith in the build. many Vickers guns were "garage" or one off builds by someone with little experience. the Vickers is NOT an easy build. yes it can be riveted and look right, but few can build one that wont leak or down right flood the station when shooting.  consequently if suspect it wont bring any money. several examples have sold for less than $12k since 2014. I even bought 2 for less than $11k WITH EXTRAS. should you get stuck with one of those, be prepared to spend close to $2k to get it fixed right.  examples that are known to be built by the people that know how like PAT TOMLINSON, CHARLIE ERB, DICK WRAY (VSM) will and do continue to bring around $18k with the mount  the Vickers is not the only gun to endure this down turn, both the 1919 and the water cooled Brownings can be found at "bargain prices" because of the double standard.   I caught an ARGENTINE COLT with a 17a1 mount for $10,500 on gunbroker. and almost missed it at no reserve. bought it in the last 30 minutes? and it was a Group IND built gun with the COLT engravings that were not cheep.  BOTTOM LINE? the average price for a QUALITY built Vickers with orig mount is just under $17k.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK and buy from reputable people.   cheers mike todd

Here's a picture of Pat Tomlinson on the day he completed my Vickers build.  It is a US Balloon Buster side plate gun using a mint '42 Aussie parts kit.  I must admit Pat was especially nasty to deal with.  He was always pissed off about anything and everything.  If Dolf had not intervened on my part, Pat would not have completed my build.  Pat has since passed away.  Too bad. 

Pat insisted I do a Form 3 transfer to him for the side plate prior to doing the build.  That's exactly what I did, but he then did a Form 3 transfer for the completed weapon back to me.  So, I now have paperwork provenance that Pat did indeed do my build.  In the long run, I guess, it was a good thing we did it this way. My Vickers eats everything that I feed it; .303, 8mm, 30-06, .308, 54R.

 

.Pat_Tom_Tomlinson_with_Vickers.jpg

Edited by pstidan
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  • 3 weeks later...

DAN, NO DENYING THE TOMLINSON SCOWL IS THERE? when was that taken? he built several guns for me and in my opinion only Dick Wray could equal his work. my police short argentine Vickers was talk of the industry when it hit the line. they thought it was original.    I actually had to use DOLPH to get him to talk to me, it was either complete silence or loud swearing , nothing in between.  I cant get enough of the Vickers, DOLPH hit it on the head with "THE GRAND OLD LADY" didn't he? I take one out every time I shoot without fail .  and don't care how many I stack up, there is 7 in the stable now and I'm NOT a DEALER. CHEERS MIKE!! 

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2 hours ago, mike todd said:

DAN, NO DENYING THE TOMLINSON SCOWL IS THERE? when was that taken? he built several guns for me and in my opinion only Dick Wray could equal his work. my police short argentine Vickers was talk of the industry when it hit the line. they thought it was original.    I actually had to use DOLPH to get him to talk to me, it was either complete silence or loud swearing , nothing in between.  I cant get enough of the Vickers, DOLPH hit it on the head with "THE GRAND OLD LADY" didn't he? I take one out every time I shoot without fail .  and don't care how many I stack up, there is 7 in the stable now and I'm NOT a DEALER. CHEERS MIKE!! 

The above picture was taken on October 31, 2005.  If I remember correctly, when I needed to relate anything to Pat, I needed to speak to Litha about it.  Pat would never take my calls.  She would write down my information and then give her notes to Pat.

Here's Dolf instructing my Buddy's wife, Gina, on the correct way to shoot my Vickers.  I was running 8mm at the time.

IMG_0038.jpg

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