Question Regarding Volley or Long Range Sights on the No 1 Mk III

[gsimmons]

Bsa 1916

[RobD]

Peter: You say "In my service I only ever saw two examples where a weapon was retro modified" - could I suggest a third example you have mentioned here previously? The stocking-up of L42A1s, where No4 Mk2 fore-ends, as well as being cut down and channel opened out for the floating barrel, were returned to MkI configuration.
When, as I understand it, a No 4 Mk 2 style fore-end [as used in Envoys and Enforcers] would fit the L42A1 perfectly well and with less trouble involved.

[Peter Laidler]

Fair point Rob, but it's not really comparing like with like is it? The Mk1 and 2 fore-ends were converted to make them suitable for the L42. The rear of the Mk2 fore-ends were converted back (to Mk1 spec - and done badly at that.....) simply to enable the plentiful existing stocks of Mk2 fore-ends to be readily utilised.

I think I mentioned it earlier; but when the dire* state of the Mk1 and Mk2 fore-end conversions soon became apparent there was a suggestion that the L39 type Mk2 fore-ends could easily be utilised on the Mk1 bodied L42 rifles. This was rejected by '.....those wot know best.....' because laterally, the open rear end was not supported by the Mk1 body - as it is with the trigger block on the Mk1/2,3 and 2. It would have meant....... Anyway it was rejected.

When we dovetail patched and pegged the muzzle ends of the L42 fore-ends (even the 'new' ones came in from Ordnance as thin and flimsy and about to break.....) we made sure that we didn't follow the internal line of the fore-end. The groove for the barrel was floated out so as to leave .020" or the thickness of a piece of card around the free floating barrel. That was all that was required so you were left with substantial meat at the tip of the fore-end

However, it was permitted to use the more plentiful Mk2 fore-ends on all marks of DP rifle where such niceties didn't matter
* I use the word 'dire' simply because there are no words to really describe the true state of them!

[Maxwell Smart]

Bsa 1912

[Ridolpho]

RSAF Enfield, 1916

[Brian Dick]

LSA 1913
BSA 1914
Lithgow 1916

[northwalesfred]

I've got an Enfield Mod 1913 Mark 3
Completely matching, including unit markings on the disk.

[watty12]

LSA 1912 all matching

[Roy]

"In my service I only ever saw two examples where a weapon was retro modified"

Am I mistaken having seen MkIII*'s with the '*' lined out and the cutoff reinstalled.

Ill get some pics up monday.

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, there are plenty of those around and it's entirely possible that they were done in UK Military service too. The instructions in the first EMER's and Armourers notes following the demise of the old Inst for Armourers are pretty ambiguous - in a way that 'suggests' a sensible course of action. While the last No1 EMER makes no mention or differences between the Mk3 and 3* beyond the technical description.

One way the old EMER's 'suggested' things was to suggest that '........Districts or Commands having lesser facilities might utilise those in the best way possible'; being one that I remember. I mean....., what are 'lesser' facilities? And what does 'best way possible' actually mean? Anyway.........