I came across this piece recently. It is in .303 caliber. The story from the old man was that it was salvaged from side hatch of an airplaine wreck. I am trying to find out from what kind of airplaine this machine gun could have been used in. I have been searching online but i can not find any RAF airplaines with side hatch only top or back turrets. Can you tell if this one was wingmounted or for turret? The old guy said it used to have pistol grip but I am not sure if his memory is so fresh anymore. Please let me know if you have any information you would like to share.
Regards Ice
P.S did this kind of aircraft machine gun have flashhider?
By: Edgar Brooks - 1st July 2010 at 08:13
Some Ansons were fitted with side hatches, which could take a single .303″ when required.
Edgar
By: IceSpitfire - 30th June 2010 at 22:43
Bump
Bumping this one to the top. This one now sits at the local museum, the staff is looking for more info on it. Someone suggested this could maybe be wing-attachment. The machine gun is in .303, Any additional info would be appreciated.
P.S. the pistol grip on the photo is not related to this piece
By: IceSpitfire - 6th March 2009 at 12:07
Thanks for the answers, Moggy It does not have bibod!
I am not based in the UK, these things can be registered where I live with special collectors license, but I am in the process of donating this piece to a museum. I am working on getting air crash files of all aircrafts lost in the area where the gun was found. I will keep you updated of what information I will find.
Regards Ice
By: Ant.H - 6th March 2009 at 12:05
Looks like a British .303 Browning to me, as far as I’m aware it was only the British examples that had the long cooling slots around the barrel, US ones always being circular.
By: ZRX61 - 6th March 2009 at 01:39
A good soak in Evaporust will soon take care of the rust.. or a day or 2 in malt vinegar…
By: Moggy C - 6th March 2009 at 00:28
Do check your legal position very carefully.
If an expert considered there is any way that the gun could be refurbished to a usable condition you are looking at five years in jail for possessing it.
And that’s not a maximum, it is the mandatory sentence, recently imposed on a Norfolk farmer’s son for a .22 handgun he left in a storage unit for ten years or so.
Take care.
In the pictures is that a bipod? If so it is most definitely an infantry weapon.
Moggy
By: IceSpitfire - 5th March 2009 at 23:43
Thank you John for your reply. Maybe it is American but then the gun is probably 30.06 right?, I have not checked the caliber to be sure but he was pretty sure the old man that it is .303 but his memory is not so fresh anymore. I am going to clean it up and look for markings. The sad part about this gun is that it was in good condition but for the past 8 years it has been stored in a leaking shed and all the rust you see is fairly new. He told me every part of the gun worked and was moveable few years ago.
Regards Ice
By: John Aeroclub - 5th March 2009 at 22:35
The weapon looks more like a rear fitted, flexible Colt Browning 30/303 especially if it had a pistol grip at some time. Some Wellingtons were fitted with beam guns as were Sunderlands but these were usually Vickers K. The Liberator II used beam defence twin 303’s (FN 65 mount). My gut feeling is it’s from an American type. The muzzle is of the non flash hider type, which again makes me think it’s american.
John
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March 5, 2009 at 8:29 pm