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rifle

human history
  • Other Name

    smoke grenade discharger (descriptive name)

  • Description

    smoke grenade discharger (rifle part): breech of 1907 SMLE No1 Mk1*

    Cut down for use as a smoke grenade discharger, circa 1900s

    woodwork cut off in front of action & at wrist; piece of steel plate bolted through to action with additional mounting hole at base; heavy brass ring fitted to trigger guard and barrel cut off 2-1/2" in front of bolt; possibly takes a cup discharger for smoke grenade for an armoured vehicle; manufactured by Sparkbrook; body and barrel have been renumbered; possibly cut down for WW2; underside of barrel stub has been milled to create flat surface, similar to Nock's form on top; barrel has been shortened to 30mm and externally threaded, possibly for the screwing on of a grenade or smoke discharger cup, most likely the latter; bolt has been converted from a Lee Metford Mk2 with the two dust-cover lugs removed, but the rear engaging groove remains; magazine has been removed and replaced with wooden plug, grooved to allow easy single loading of cartridge; long-range rear aperture sight remains, presumably to provide the spring washer plate for the safety catch; cut-out removed

    missing: discharge cup; threaded connector

    markings:

    right hand side body strap: [crown] / ER / SPARKBROOK / 1907 / SHTLE / 1.*

    right hand side forward of body: T / 6927 / 13187 (struckthrough)

    right side of barrel: manufacturer and proof marks; 6927 / T / W44

    left hand body strap (date refurbished): ,14

    front left of body: manufacturer and proof mark

    front left of barrel stub: manufacturer and proof mark; (year of replacement barrel) ,07 [broad arrow]

    on Nock's form: ..ANK / 1309

    forward of outer thread on top of barrel: armourer's asterisk originally denoting corrosion on internal barrel at that position

    on bolt: T / 6927

  • Place
  • Accession Date
    1987
  • Other Id

    A7122 (arms)

  • Department
rifle, A7122, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 27 Jan… … Read more

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