TonyE Posted 19 October , 2008 Share Posted 19 October , 2008 Welshdoc: I wish you well, but I do not think the National Army Museum will be of much help. there is one person there who may be of help, but he is not a bayonet expert. Ditto the IWM. After Mike H and a couple of others retired from there most of the real expertise has been lost. I also totally agree with Seph. I don't know what this bayonet is, but my gut feel is that it is "Iffy". (that's a technical term). A great thread, and all part of the "learning curve". regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 19 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 19 October , 2008 AH well it will go with my other mysterious memorobilia . I recently got some old autographed pictures of film stars and the same result, some think this ones ok the next person thinks it aint. One final question have any of the collectors / experts on the forum ever heard of or seen a faked P1913 Vickers (not including mine)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findabetterole Posted 19 October , 2008 Share Posted 19 October , 2008 One final question have any of the collectors / experts on the forum ever heard of or seen a faked P1913 Vickers (not including mine)? In answer... I've seen pics of a few over the years, but never had the privalage of actually putting my mits on one.. sadly! Heres something that I wander if anyone has considered. Have you tried getting in touch with the firm of Vickers? They are still around, and their main armament production is the Vickers Medium Battle Tank. Most armament firms have an archive, and I'm certain that Vickers must also keep one up to date. Its worth a try dont you think? Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 19 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 19 October , 2008 Now Seph that is a bl**dy good idea! I will google and have a look see. Its driving me mad not knowing for 100% sure ( Im about 80% sure but live in hope to have the Holy grail). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewD Posted 19 October , 2008 Share Posted 19 October , 2008 Vickers were taken over by BAE ages ago,wonder if the records were kept or destroyed? Cheers, Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 19 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 19 October , 2008 Yes Andy Ive just had a look at their website, if I want a 2 used tornadoes Im OK but I doubt they will have much info on a 1917 bayonet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 19 October , 2008 Share Posted 19 October , 2008 Vickers archives are still around and are at Cambridge University library.. I have beem through a lot of them (mainly looking for ammunition details) but can't say I saw anything about the P.13/14 contract. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findabetterole Posted 19 October , 2008 Share Posted 19 October , 2008 I think it would be worth a try TonyE. About three years ago I made to enquire about certain details in reference to Enfield, but was told the firm had moved from the stated location, and the works had long closed down (which I did not know at that time). However, the archives are still around. The same applies to Remington, but they have no archivist as such, just an interested individual as head of department. They also still have archives as such. Unless their records were destroyed during the Blitz of WW2, I think its a good area to research... going straight to the horses mouth so-to-speak. Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 20 October , 2008 Share Posted 20 October , 2008 Vickers archives are still around and are at Cambridge University library.. I have beem through a lot of them (mainly looking for ammunition details) but can't say I saw anything about the P.13/14 contract. Regards TonyE Anything in the archives at Kew relating to the Pattern 14 rifle contract? (the ones you mentioned in post 54)? I'll be at Kew in a week or two for a couple of days so if you could give me a likely ref I might be able to have a look Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 26 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2008 Ok bayontees, I finally managed to find someone with a Vickers 1913 and its on this link post number 19. http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php...5038#post545038 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 26 October , 2008 Share Posted 26 October , 2008 AH well it will go with my other mysterious memorobilia . I recently got some old autographed pictures of film stars and the same result, some think this ones ok the next person thinks it aint. Generally I find the next statement after they have told you it is a fake is 'I'll give you a couple of quid to take it off your hands as a favour' mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 26 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2008 Not in this case Mick, honest opinions only given and no offers sadley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 1 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 1 November , 2008 I have now found 4 of the 1913 pattern Vickers and all have identical inspection marks 9C over E. So all is looking good for a very lucky car boot find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 23 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2008 So I took the offending item to the BArry Memorial day yesterday and showded it to several local collectors, needless to say they had never seen one, but agreed that there was no sign of any marks being ground off. I was also told of various other bayonets in their collections which did not have all the marks. Their impression it was a good one irrespective of its problems. So thats the current state of play. Incidently I was shown a real beaut, a 1907 pattern marked and numbered to the Welsh Guards, Nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1052 Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 I wonder where Seph has gone. He hasn't been on the forum since October 22nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 I am pleased for you that the opinion of other collectors who have actually now seen and handled your bayonet is that it is OK. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 23 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2008 Its certainly an oddity, whether one beleives the date stamp is still an issue although the font appears to be correct. The fact that it has not had anything ground off suggests there was never "1907" impressed on it. The other markings on it are in the opinion of those I spoke to correct . So apart from the missing manufacture date and the acceptance mark all seems well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 Its certainly an oddity, whether one beleives the date stamp is still an issue although the font appears to be correct. The fact that it has not had anything ground off suggests there was never "1907" impressed on it. The other markings on it are in the opinion of those I spoke to correct . So apart from the missing manufacture date and the acceptance mark all seems well. Thanks for the update. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findabetterole Posted 12 December , 2008 Share Posted 12 December , 2008 Hello Chaps.... I'm back!! This darn site would not let me back in for the past couple of months... I've nearly pulled my hair out trying every combination of log-in username and password that I use. Whats the concensus on the Vickers? Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1052 Posted 12 December , 2008 Share Posted 12 December , 2008 Be advised that AWOL is a serious military offense and you're in deep deep trouble, but not as deep as the contents the stable of which you are now orderly in perpetuity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findabetterole Posted 12 December , 2008 Share Posted 12 December , 2008 OOOOPsss!! Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 12 December , 2008 Author Share Posted 12 December , 2008 Hi good to see you back Seph, with all the comparisons with the Vickers Ive found on the internet I beleive it to be a good one. When I showed it to some bayonet collectors at the Barry exhibition, they said they had never actualy seen one,their books did not even have a pic. they agreed though that it had not been messed with in particular they checked for a hollow where any grinding on dates had been removed. The feeling was that just because it did not have all the expected marks did not made it wrong . For whatever reason though it was not issued as no government arrow. THe poor stamping of the 1913 though remains an issue. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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