John Inglis and Small Arms Ltd

Here is all that's left ......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1_uUsUqUHo

Quote:

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In 1937 the company was purchased by Major J.E. Hahn of Toronto, owner of British Canadian Engineering Limited, who took on the name "John Inglis and Company". In March 1938 the company won a contract with the British and Canadian governments to supply 5,000 Bren machine guns to Great Britain and 7,000 to Canada. Both countries shared the capital costs of creating a factory to produce them. Inglis started production in 1940; and the contracts were extended several times. By 1943 they were producing 60% of the Bren machine guns destined for the British Commonwealth forces, and 30% of the British Army's own requirements. They also produced a large proportion of the Polsten 20 mm autocannon for the British Commonwealth, as well as the Browning Hi-Power pistol. They also produced the machinery for four Tribal class destroyers.

Small Arms Ltd. was formed to operate the facility. By June 1941, the first five rifles had been produced. Huge quantities of British-pattern military small arms were manufactured there during the Second World War, including such weapons as the Bren light machine-gun, the Sten submachine-gun or machine-carbine, and the Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk1 bolt-action battle rifle.

Small Arms Ltd. ceased operations at the end of December 1945. Beginning January 1, 1946, operations continued as the Small Arms Division, Canadian Arsenals Limited. The factory was closed June 30, 1976.

from Wikipedia

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Is it me, or has the Wikipedia article combined the facts about SAL (Long Branch) with JI?

I think you're right. But the point is, we used to make guns...right along with the best of 'em.

Well that was bloody depressing.

Can you guys up in Canada own handguns or semi-auto rifles? I had a friend from Canada who used to joke that he couldn't own either of my JI Browning Hi-Powers if he still lived up there. Always wondered how true that was.

Longshaor

The ownership of firearms in Canada is somewhat complex. We can own certain handguns. If one is grandfather pre bill C-68 (I forget the year) one can own certain pistols, barrels less than 4.25" (I think), and calibres of .25 and .32. These are classified as "prohibited firearms", along with various other rifles or shot guns deemed scary or dangerous.

Handguns of barrels longer than 4.25" and greater than .32 calibre are "restricted firearms" we may own them with the appropriate license, however the use of "restricted firearms" including some long guns, is limited to certified restricted firearm / pistol ranges and must be transported to and from disabled with a locking device inside a locked case.

Some semi automatic rifles fall into the prohibted category, others into restricted, (all variations of the AR are restricted), some semi auto rfiles are "non-restricted" fireams, examples; the Swiss arms special series (a semi auto only version of the SIG 550) SVT-40, M1 Garand, Remington (excluding the AR types), Browning and Winchester hunting rifles and many others. All semi automatic rifles with the exception of the M1 Garand are restricted to a magazine capacity of 5 rounds. Therefore many of our rifles have pop rivets in the magazine to restrict capacity.

With Canadian firearms law there is no easy answer, with numerous exceptions, inconsistancies etc. The .32 calibre international match pistols are an exception and are restricted firearms despite the calibre putting them into the restricted class..

So in answer to your questions it depends on; the type of license your buddy has, the barrel length of the Browning Hi-Power, the type of semi auto rifle in question.

How haunting to hear Lilli Marlene while watching a part of Canadian history crumbling.

RIP Veronica Foster (aka Ronnie, the Bren Gun girl).