Vickers Smooth water jacket

Omega · 4 February 2006, 10:58 AM

Can anyone supply me with a photo or detailed dimensions of the vents cut into the sides and top of the WW1 Vickers smooth water jacket? I have seen photos in the Goldsmith book of the Colt guns and also the fluted guns but no details of vents in smooth jackets. I currently have the patterns for the front cut outs but only grainy photos of the louvers on the sides. Any help would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Omega

Omega · 4 February 2006, 04:22 PM

Any ideas how they cut them in the jackets?

William · 5 February 2006, 09:52 AM

Omega,
It was my understanding that the smooth jacket wasn't introduced until well after WWI. Is this incorrect? The vents were cut with a hack saw in the field, not sure what they used in the factory probably a hack saw or some equivalent of a cut-off saw. I can give you dimensions for location and the spacing of cuts from original Colt guns if you want. A few British guns were double vented front and back but this was quickly abandoned as superfluous and just the rear vents were cut. Americans/Colt copied the Brits but for some reason left them vented both front and back. The front openings varied quite a bit. It is a simple matter to cut the vents and flare them out with a screwdriver or fid. If you use a small cut off saw be sure to secure it and introduce the jacket to it so that you don't overcut.
Best,
William

Omega · 5 February 2006, 10:22 AM

William,

Thank You for the reply. It is my understanding that the smooth jacket guns were mostly the H series introduced in mid 1918. I have seen several Sopwith factory photos with a mix of smooth and fluted guns on the aircraft. I have a Colt jacket with the vents in both the front and rear but was wondering if there was any "factory" design or specific pattern on the British jackets. If anyone can provide me with some details on the British guns specifically I would be very grateful.

Sincerely,
Omega