Starting A New 'Collection'

As a collector (and occasional shooter) I tend to look for the unusual, the rarer models and even the downright 'oddities', but due to the ever increasing costs of such Enfields, the UK laws that limit the numbers owned and the fact that I do not use them enough to 'justify' them, and the fact they are locked away in a safe where they cannot be viewed I have decided to look at collecting unusual (non-firearm) 'parts' and, decided on 'cocking-pieces'.

They are still very cheap (only GBP £2 to £3 - US$3 to US$5) on ebay

There appears to be a large variety of cocking pieces, and of particular interest are those without the 'gripping-grooves', which I understand were originally introduced as a war-time expedient but then removed (as the soldier could not grip them with cold or wet hands) when the rifle had its annual check or FTR.

Is there any knowledge or documentation about how many manufacturers produced these and more detail about where and when they were removed ?

If anyone has any they wish to sell and help my collection grow please contact me with details /costs.

Here are pics of my first three items (any thoughts on maufacturer welcome)
Top - 'Crows-foot' and letter B
Bottom - 'Crows Foot'

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0ac276a9-1.jpg

Marked 'FYMK' and is allegedly manufactured by Savage

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b41102df-1.jpg

Hi Alan,
Good luck with your new collection! I saw the bottom one when it was listed on 'that auction site'. I sometimes buy spares if they are cheap enough. I don't know how the vendor arrived at the conclusion that the cocking piece was made by Savage when it has FY & MkII stamped on it as bold as brass...........Or am I missing something?!

ATB

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

As a collector (and occasional shooter) I tend to look for the unusual, the rarer models and even the downright 'oddities', but due to the ever increasing costs of such Enfields, the UK laws that limit the numbers owned and the fact that I do not use them enough to 'justify' them, and the fact they are locked away in a safe where they cannot be viewed I have decided to look at collecting unusual (non-firearm) 'parts' and, decided on 'cocking-pieces'.

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Have you sold up Alan? Just a sad thing to see Enfield or any Milsurp owners selling up, you will be the 6th FAC holder I know who has packed in, in the last 4 months, Myself am currently moving stuff on, but thats down to the possible move down under, but still keeping a handfull plus the .22 trainers.

For anyone who may be concerned about the good reason to own etc in the UK, I run the Milsurps comp/shoot, one of the reasons I started it was the "Justify" clause, its a competion all the same, may not be Bisley rules but certanly cheaper than bisley ! and now open to .22 rimfires at 25 or 50 ydrs/mtrs (See sticky in range reports).
Also collecting slots on your ticket will help save a few, and anyone into the .22 trainers etc there is a postal leauge at the HARC ( see link below)

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/HARC-MRL_...formation.html

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

Have you sold up Alan?
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No but thinned down a bit - the No2 Mk4* has gone and both Enforcers have gone over the pond
Left with
No1 Mk3*
No4 Mk1*
No4T
No5 Mk1
No7 MK1 (BSA)

No4 Mk1/3 in 410 'shotgun'

And about half a dozen other shotguns

I may have said this before but I really feel that people in the UK should stand up to their local police. For example this so called "use it or lose it" rubbish. Some constabularies treat the GUIDANCE on use in "Guidance to the Police" as Holy Writ. In other words if you do not put at least one round down each and every firearm in your possession at least three times a year, they threaten revocation under the term that the "good reason" is not longer extant. (This apart from the obvious that this crap does nothing for whatsoever for Public Safety and was only introduced because a Home Secretary at the time needed to be seen to be "doing something" about armed crime.) In fact failure to shoot regularly should only lead to the Constabulary asking the Certificate Holder WHY? To which the Certificate Holder can submit many reasons. For example, I have been ill, or my reason below.

The problem arises ONLY if your "good Reason" is target shooting. I have rifles for hunting that are not subject to this rule and guns that are "kept or exhibited as part of a collection" which are also exempt. If one has historic firearms that are in the "hybrid" area (collectables that one shoots) the HBSA and the Home Office agreed years ago that these firearms do not need to be fired three times a year or indeed at all!

One of my good reasons, which has been accepted by my local constabulary, is Historic Target Shooting. Note the "Historic" so if I get any crap about my having to shoot, for example, my K98k three times year, I would refuse on the basis that to do so would cause unnecessary wear to a historic firearm. (I probably shoot it more than that but that is not the point.)

A lot of people are frightened that if they kick up a fuss they will be victimised. I recently kicked up a hell of a fuss including with my MP about the dreadful inefficiency of my local constabulary. Not only have I not been victimised but the REPLACEMENT head of Firearms Licensing has been on local TV and Radio apologising and assuring us that she will not allow that to happen if we complain.

I have a very small No.4 cocking-piece collection of sorts.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...102_6283-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...102_6284-1.jpg

The button style is a Savage and appears unused. The markings on the other two are hard to read.

I wish some of you gun owners from the UK and Australia could come over here and kick some of the gun owners over here squarely in the *** and wake them up.
I guess some....no most people are content to just sit by and let others fight their battles for them hoping things go well.

Yeah, no foolin'. I have about worn out my keyboard and telephone calling and writing state and feral, er Federal legislators over the one party gun rights grab. I know of many others that have done absolutely NOTHING except complain. Guess watching TV is more important.

Jesse

Are there other style no.4 cocking pieces besides the button, grooved and smooth?
They are an interesting part of Lee-Enfield history as they kind of represent the progression of the rifle's production throughout the war.

Here are a few pictures of a few I have for comparison:

Top: FY MKII (Fazakerley)
Middle: S.M. (Singer)
Bottom: B (BSA?) / No Markings

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

Have you sold up Alan? Just a sad thing to see Enfield or any Milsurp owners selling up, you will be the 6th FAC holder I know who has packed in, in the last 4 months[/url]

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Oddy enough BD - in my club the opposite seems to be happening - whereas even a few years ago most people weren't interested in milsurp shooting more and more people are joining, and those that do are frequently interested in former military firearms.

The last time I went down there were tons of recently joined people, and when shooting commenced there was a long line of wooden-clad rifles... Even a couple of years ago you'd be lucky to see one!

I think it must be down to the internet - ie people can see shooters on there discussing things in a normal manner and it's losing (to a degree) the 'it must never be mentioned in polite (any) company' status.

Also people are a lot more knowledgeable. Well, in most cases, they at least know something, which is a start. Sites like this clearly help in terms of spreading the word.

"FYMK". Was someone giving an opinion on US manufactured parts? :p