They used cut down SMLEs for smoke launchers
They used cut down SMLEs for smoke launchers
Speaking of tunnel rifles. This might be the bugger you are referring to https://www.trademe.co.nz/2595248686
From the TM blurb:
In Skennerton's THE LEE ENFIELD
"During the trench fighting of the Great War, some SMLE rifles were cut down for use by the Tunnelling Companys. In 'Villiers-Stuart Goes to War', Brigadier-General W.D. Villier-Stuart in 1915 raised and took the 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade to France until they virtually ceased to exist as a fighting Regiment in September of 1915 because of the large number of casualties.
Villiers-Stuart records ...'when last in 'Y' Wood sector [Ypres] I had seen that the bombers were very much hampered by their rifles. I thought a lot about it and finally took a Salvaged rifle along to the Field Ordnance repair shop and got a conductor to cut it down to a 12-inch barrel, re-braze the foresight block and sight to the muzzle of that, and remove the backsight and bed altogether, cutting a 'V' in the bridge charger guide to replace it.
This made a very good close-quarter weapon and the nose cap being repositioned on the shortened fore-end meant that a sword [bayonet] could be fixed. I then had 10 more made and issued them to Officers for testing. We tried them on the butts and found them very accurate to 100 yds and made sure they would have been good at 200 yds as well.'
In the event, these shortened rifles were not developed any further because Villiers-Stuart states that, 'The American sawn-off shotgun* came along and was better for close-quarter fighting'.
An itch ... is ... a desire to scratch
Too much bloody time in lockdown decided to turn my 308 tikka into a long action DIY style (aka bubba as hell). Was too far gone before I realised my mistake. So 1 finishing nail latter and she’s good to go...... well that’s a crock as a 2 round magazine it’s going 100% of the time 90% of the time.
Sadly didn’t take a picture of the bolt stop needless to say it was working well until it wasn’t. Weakened it too much and the metal folded and smacked myself in the face in the process. Needless to say it’s got a gunworks bolt stop in there now.
Only have one more DIY gunsmithing job left and that’s bedding a rifle so standby for another addition if it goes tits up
do you do other peoples rifles i need some custom work done on mine
ok like a good cathoilc boy must fess up -my old toz17.22 had a bloody stock fashined from stalins bloody walking astic and was about as crooked .
having a stirling M20 stock in the shed ,and being bored i managed to mate the Toz to it using some surplus aluminium ihad laying around .
GSPF has rifle at present still shoots sweet just looks UNUSUAL
id love to see it beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Here you go @dannyb...just for you mate.My SBL cowboy assault rifle with a leather fetish...
born to hunt - forced to work
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