Right, don't know where I got the other from...except I think it was captured intact. Now a museum ship in the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclark303
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Right, don't know where I got the other from...except I think it was captured intact. Now a museum ship in the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclark303
But back to real life......... These special tools and gauges that KtK collects and produces to trip us up every so often just go to show the way life really worked at our big workshops. There was no time for hammer and bash or what you colonials call 'bubbas merchants'. You can imagine how it feels when you see boxes of breeching washers or locking shoulders etc etc at the big shows - or even bolt heads. You just walk on thinking to yourself that '.......some of these so called gunsmiths really have no idea'. Everything was thorough and methodical using the right tools for the job. Then you'd see what they're passing off as quality work............... As for letting them loose with all these gauges........... Holy sxxx! Bolts being slammed forwards on the reject, accepts being extracted and ejected with a whizzzzzz across the floor. not-to-pass plug gauges being forced in to 'prove' to the seller by the 'home made expert' that the bore really is worn out. Then, when you wince or grimace with a knowing look, they look back as though you've just come in on the banana boat
You've got me going now.............. Time for another scotch!
I like gathering up the the unique armourers made tools, I hate to think how many unique tools, gauges and fixtures that have gone to the scrap or the tip because no one wanted them or they are told to get rid of it as its obsolete. Some are works of art, some are..... well.... practical, but they are unique and served a purpose.
Here's some I've managed to gathered over the years*.
Flash Eliminator Spanners
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...pxyblcns-1.jpg
Screwdrivers
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...w3to1zlt-1.jpg
Wrenches and Extractor Removal Tool
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ugllphff-1.jpg
Foresight / Gas Block Tools
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...92qw5bgs-1.jpg
*now if any of these did belong to any of the members at one stage...... tough they aren't coming back. :madsmile:
The U505 is at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Rescued in the 1950's by the then retired Admiral Gallery who led the task force that captured her on 5 June 1944 off the coast of Africa. The U.S. Navy was going to use her as a target ship when he stepped in and procured funding to save her. The 505 was the first ship captured on the high seas by the U.S. Navy since the War of 1812.
NZ, the pics of some of those tools brought back memories! Of going through basic trade training, & were generally made by Individual Training Armourers.
They were usually hand made, when undergoing 'Basic Bench Fitting' in the Trade Schools. They were checked rigorously when you 'Thought' you had finished them. By Eagle eyed Instructors. Who generally, though not always. Were retired Ex Armourers themselves. Selected, because of the high standard of technical Instruction & Training we Underwent! ;)
The reason that these tools were made as Trade Test Pieces, was. The very sensible notion, that what you made, when going through the 'General Engineering wing'. In but One Phase of your Tech training. You could then use at your unit, when working on Small Arms & MGs there. It made your life a lot simpler, with 'The Right tool, for the right job!
Particularly the 'C' Spanner for undoing Gas cylinders on SLRS. & the ESSENTIAL Flash Hider removal/ Installation Tool! ;)
They obviously varied in Quality & finish. As ALL were Hand Made. Some Better than others!....Isnt that Right Peter?...LOL. :madsmile:
For some years I had the butt spring removal tool for FN C1...and found out they were all made in trade school by the man that used it as part of their machine training. No tack hammer for them...(like we did in hi school).
These tools take me back....... We all made them and generally they were simpler and worked far better than the issued tools. We did a year of bench fitting and made all sorts of stuff, just Like Tankie says! I inevitably had mine put back on my bench with a sarcastic note by the fatherly but strict Mr Surtees, our class ex Artillery basic trades Instructor. Nice to see the little A in U stamped on the little tool (photo 4, thread 23). That indicated a tool that was made according to a spec/drawing/EMER instruction and as such, was taken 'on account' by the technical stores. It was logged in 'the A in U account' which told us that it was from the tech stores and was an 'ARTICLES IN USE'.
The Tech storemen were not generally the brightest lights in the box, but a few rungs up the ladder from the Ordnance Blanket stackers. It was quite easy to get one over on them by handing in a few broken bits that could pass as a something that you'd like to keep. Like a set of nice recently calibrated Vee blocks or vernier caliper....... You know the sort of thing!
Great thread, brings me out in a chuckle. Let's have some more.......................................
I'll see what other bits of rubbish I can find.........
I like this...... can anyone tell me where to find the drawings for it? ;)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0ayfp4er-1.jpg
The SLR 'Stands' came onto the market a few years ago in the UK. They were all brand new in the wrapping. Why? Because no self respecting Armourer would use anything like them!
They were a rubbish design! The Rifle would have wobbled about like a Dick in a Shirtsleeve! Any hard energy required to remove a particular component, would have made it bend Of come off the 'Stand' because all that was keeping in on. Was the Mag catch & Mag lug on the front of the Magazine!.......
I cant remember exactly, but I THINK these were available to Royal Navy Armourers. Which is why we never saw them in Army Service. And would never have used them for their intended purpose anyway!!!!..............
They would be useful now in a Civilian application though. As a Display Stand for a Deactivated L1A1 Rifle!.....................;)
wobbled about like a Dick in a Shirtsleeve. Mike, you just made me laugh out load with that one! Sat round a pool at the moment in the Greek Islands, enjoying more than a few beers, just thought I would share that..Quote:
Originally Posted by tankhunter