WARNING! contains pictures that may disturb

I know I might be in trouble for saying this, but I like it!

I'd do something like it if I had;
a barreled action from a sporter, with metal bits that needed something hidden, such as non-original drilled & tapped scope holes which have been plugged,
a set of buggered but repaired timber that was beyond the BLO-stage, but could be filled and painted,
parts which were already modified, such as an Aussie nosecap which had a drilled-out hole for the barrel and the like.

If I had all of those things and some spare time, I'd do something like that in a heartbeat. Something to bring otherwise dead or cosmetically hopeless bits back to the land of the living. I wouldn't do it with a complete, matching and collectable rifle, just with bits that were not doing anything else...

Cheers,
Matt

Hi Matt the pink and blue is, as you say made up from crappy old parts from all over the place. The action and barrel are a post war Ishapore with a non matching bolt and the barrel is a bit furry (but it does shoot and is actually quite accurate). The woodwork had the bubba MkIII conversion, eg cut out for a dial sight, it was even in the wrong place! I bogged up the wood and assembled the final product. For people wondering about the choice of colours have a look at a Britten V1000 motorbike. I don't spend much time on these forums but the other members can rest assured that I am a serious collector and have a rather large collection of Martini, Metford and Enfield rifles.
Matt we spoke a long time ago about a visit to the Lithgow museum, I am still keen to go and would still like to catch up over there. The bad economy has knocked the wind out of my sails a bit, but I would like to think that I will be over next year. I will keep you posted.

Glenn

As to "Chromed' SMLE, done officially, I was in the NZ Army Base Ordnance Depot in the late 1960's. During a stocktake of the Wepons section, one crate turned out to have 10 or so fully chromed SMLE and bayonets. It turned out that these had been returned from Government House - the residence of the NZ Governor general. A Corporals guard used to be mounted on certain days or public functions and these weapons were for that guard. I used to attend Wellington College which shared a boundary with Government House and there were two sentry boxes at the entrance for the guard.

Why?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr303, You are not only the proud owner of your rifle but also have the distinction of having the most read posting on the forum! Congrats!

'there's only one worse than being talked about and thats not being talked about', quote er, sumbody beginning with Paris?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RJW NZ

Mr303, You are not only the proud owner of your rifle but also have the distinction of having the most read posting on the forum! Congrats!

'there's only one worse than being talked about and thats not being talked about', quote er, sumbody beginning with Paris?

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Thanks for that RJW, Yes it certainly gets people talking. I have had reactions that range from damn near violence to bent double laughing. It is meant to be a dig at ourselves as collectors, I take my hobby quite seriously and am very fussy regarding what I consider a good example of a Lee rifle. I made it as a laugh at myself, as much as a laugh at others.

:eek:WOW

We're jealous too. Not of the rifle but the fact that you have a Britten V-1000 bike too!

Ute308 asked the very valid question '....why?' when we were talking about chromed rifles. I'll let you into a little secret Ute. When you've been in the British ....., or any of the wild antipodean Armies, then you learn very quickly that being on a Quarter Guard or Ceremonial Guard or in fact any guard, even Guard Mounting at 6 o'clock, then bullshi....., er... bullshine very definately DOES baffle brains. As well as immaculately bulled boots, creases that you could cut your fingers on and a chromed bayonet, then all pale into insignificance if the guard all possess chromed rifles too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

We're jealous too. Not of the rifle but the fact that you have a Britten V-1000 bike too!

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I wish that was true! I have seen a few of them.