I was shown an SMLE MkIII* the other day fitted with a brass barrel band, it was OA marked, I have never seen one of these before has anyone else come across one, it was the only brass item other that the butt plate on the rifle?:confused:
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I was shown an SMLE MkIII* the other day fitted with a brass barrel band, it was OA marked, I have never seen one of these before has anyone else come across one, it was the only brass item other that the butt plate on the rifle?:confused:
Yes Sir, Many of them. OA is the Orange Rifle Factory in Australia. Australian manufactured Mk.III's are the only rifles that left the factory with them although, I'm sure some of them have made there way onto many other rifles over the years.
Agreed. They are around, particularly if you look at Lithgow produced rifles. Having said that steel bands were also produced in Australia, but I don't know enough about Aussie production to know who produced what & for how long. Can someone kindly educate us??
Lithgow produced the brass lower band & they also produced a brass butt swivel boss, both this & the band were finished in black.
The other part made from brass as a production expediency was the inner band. Away from the books at the moment, but late in 41/ early '42 start rings a bell. Corrections taken, as usual :)Quote:
Originally Posted by 5thBatt
Does anyone know if the steel & brass lower bands were produced contemporaneously (I mean, in Australia), or did one replace the other?
Looking through SAIS No19, it says for all three components, "From April '42 these were made from die cast brass and black finished. Steel was reverted to in 1945" (the butt swivel mount was steel or malleable iron before and I assume after the couple of years of brass.)
My '45 Lith MkIII has the brass OA front band must have crept in at one stage.
I'm thinking the OP's question regarding the "barrel band" was in reference to the "inner band". Not to be confused with the "lower band". :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Son
Since the SMLE Mk.III normally has no upper band, how can it have a "lower" band? Maybe "inner" and "outer" or "barrel" and "forestock" bands? What's the official terminology, anyway?