Originality. A few home truths
I’m sure that my views as an Armourer regarding ‘all original’ rifle are well known. I heard a good comment on this very forum the other day, that something can only be original ONCE…….. therafter, it ain’t. On that basis, anything that passed through an Armourers shop isn’t(?) original anymore. That’s because by definition, it only came through our hands because reportedly there was something wrong with it – and we fixed it!
The question of what is or what isn’t original parts is also a thorny question. All BSA, all Maltby or all Fazakerley………….. what a load of old cobblers…… What I’m going to say about the parts might not be what others say or tell you. And that’s true. But what I am going to tell you is what I learned during my research into the Sten gun and the two guns were similar in the logistics of assembly. Both were assembled at main assembly points but the component parts were made across the whole of the Country.
Hundreds of small machine and press shops made the various parts but while there was a master drawing that set the standard and criteria, these individual parts manufacturers were quite at liberty to obtain a ‘relaxation in standards’. The main reason allowed was so that they might make best use of their manufacturing processes or materials or take advantage of materials in stock. So, as an imaginary example off the top of my head…. If Acme Works at Balham had several rolls of steel tape in stock that was, say .012” too narrow across its depth for use as upper bands they could ask for a relaxation in standards. The matter would be investigated and approved under a ‘permitting order’. The same would apply to another Company with a similar predicament but the steel tape might be, for example, too thick. This time, same sequence of events but the permitting order would be granted subject to ‘….the outside edges being chamfered to eliminate sharp edges’
See what I mean? Next, how the logistics worked. If you want a fuller version, then it’s all detailed in the Sten gun book (and a jolly good read it is – and cheap too…………) but to précis it for today, here goes
As the thousands of parts were punched out, folded and fabricated, they were put into oily sacks and every week or so, the sacks would be collected by a Ministry of Supply contractor (it was usually the same ‘travelling inspector’ who would batch examine/inspect at the same time) and take them to the railway station. There, they all went by rail freight to a central collecting point in the Midlands known as the ‘collecting house’. From there, the factory progress chaser would telephone in with their needs and shortages. Say, Fazakerley might shortly need 1,200 trigger guards for tomorrow. So from the huge depots, thousands of trigger guards made anywhere in the Country would be sent by rail freight to the needy factory. IF they had surplus capacity of sears, then these would be sent to the collecting house and so on. Backsights, bands, trigger guards, axis pins with flat or rounded ends……… They just put on the rifle what they had made, had in stock or had sent to them. The day, month or year mattered not one jot!
The next question is this. Why is everything (well, pretty well everything) marked with the manufacturers name. The reason is that with VAST numbers/quantities being produced – not just small arms either – if a batch made by XYZ were being rejected at the assembly stage, the problems could be easily identified, the manufacturers told to get a grip of quality control and as the parts were generally subject to piece work, that amount could be deducted from their next account that was paid monthly by the Ministry of Supply accounts offices in Lime Street, Liverpool
You can see from this how I have to smile when I read of others who are looking at an all Fazakerley, or Maltby or BSA original. Come a bit closer lads, listen to me……. And repeat after me 100 times. T H E R E I S N O S U C H T H I N G
