Serial number shown on top of waterjacket. H 5529.
Serial number shown on base of cross-piece. L 677.
Serial number shown on feedblock. K 878.
Serial number shown on feedblock 8304.
The serial number of a gun was allocated by the manufacturer to individually identify the gun so that a record could be kept of it throughout its life and service. Generally the number is stamped or inscribed on the top of the water jacket (or cooling jacket in the case of aircraft guns). Other places noticed on some examples are on the base of the cross-piece, the bottom slide, the top cover (front and back) and the mounting blocks.
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Serial number shown on top of waterjacket. H 5529. |
Serial number shown on base of cross-piece. L 677. |
Serial number shown on feedblock. K 878. |
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Serial number shown on feedblock 8304. |
The two serial numbers which are marked as being on feedblocks, were in fact on the same feedblock which indicates that the feedblock was first part of the 'K' series guns but when mass re-furbishment of guns took place, it was reallocated to a gun with serial number '8304' which would indicate it was an Australian-manufactured gun.
In order to identify the approximate period of the manufacture of a gun, it is possible to use the serial number prefix (i.e. the letter). This may also give an indication of the location of manufacture - although some other information is needed to provide certainty. The following table will be of use.
| Prefix | Type | Period | Location Built |
| A | Mk. I | 1916 - 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |
| Mk. II | 1918 - 1919 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| Mk. V | 1935 - 1941 | Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, Australia | |
| M1918 | 1917 - 1918 | Colt PFA Mfg Co, Hartford, Conneticut, USA | |
| M/939 | 1939 | Fabrico de Braco de Prata, Portugal | |
| Commercial | 1932 - 1933 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| B | Mk. I | 1917 - 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |
| Mk. I | 1944 - 1945 | Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, Australia | |
| Commercial | 1933 - 1934 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| C | Mk. I | 1916 - 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| Commercial | 1935 - 1936 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| D | Mk. I | 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| Commercial | 1936 - 1937 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| E | Commercial | 1937 - 1938 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| ET | Mk. I | c.1942 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| F | Mk. I | 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| Commercial | 1939 - | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| G | Mk. I | 1918 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| .5-inch Mk. I
.5-inch Mk. II .5-inch Mk. IV .5-inch Mk. V |
1932 - 1940 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK | |
| H | Mk. I | 1918 - 1919 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |
| IK | Mk. I | c.1942 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| K | Mk. I | 1918 - 1919 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |
| L | Mk. I | 1911 - 1916 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |
| N | M/930 | 1930 | Fabrico de Braco de Prata, Portugal |
| Nepalese Special | 1936 | Colt PFA Mfg Co, Hartford, Conneticut, USA | |
| S | .5-inch Mk. III | 1932 - 1945 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| T | Mk. XXI | 1941 - 1944 | Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, Australia |
| V | Mk. I | 1939 - 1944 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| W | Mk. I | 1939 - 1944 | Vickers Armstrongs Crayford, Kent, UK |
| M1915 | 1915 - 1918 | Colt PFA Mfg Co, Hartford, Conneticut, USA | |
| Mk. I | 1933 - 1945 | Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, Australia | |
| Commercial | 1920 - 1931 | Vickers Armstrongs Erith, Kent, UK |