Replacing a Vickers MG tripod pin ‘feather’

A common repair needed for the Mark IV mounting of the Vickers machine gun. The 'feather' is the small locking pin on the crosshead and elevating joint pins. This 'feather' stops the joint pin falling out of the tripod when it's being moved or the gun is being fired. They can get damaged easily and the Instructions for Armourers handbook from 1931 (available to download at Armourer The Vickers Machine Gun) gives instruction on how to replace them.
As we've done it on a few of the broken pins in the Association's collection, we thought it might be useful to walk you through the process. With the right tools and materials, it is only a ten minute task with basic equipment.
Note, on the main pin in the video we have used good quality glue and then ground and filed the pin into place. We have also done it by pressing the mild steel rod into place and then filing. Both seem very secure and no welding or heating is required. The rod used is 4mm.

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https://youtu.be/V2GO1CVntcY