Article: 1942 British Lanchester Mk1 Submachinegun

[Badger]

You can view the page at https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...Submachinegun&

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[RossM10]

Not a technical comment, but could we perhaps have our Union Flag shown the right way round?

[reded69]

Gun Geek Fact:
The 2000 Smith&Wesson 9mmP Light Rifles this article mentions, were probably never issued to the RAF or anybody for that matter in the end. After they arrived in the UK, tests showed that the guns didn't work with the 9mmP that the British produced(a similar situation found with MP40s and Sten gun ammo issued to French Foreign Legion Paratroops in 1949). I guess the British version of the metric system didn't quite match up with the European original. All but 80 of the guns were destroyed and the contract canceled.
Smith&Wesson was left in massive debt, having spent $870,000 to ready the production line for the Light Rifles already. With the US government's help, the Brits set up a new contract with S&W that began the massive production of the Victory model revolvers: 200,000 in .38-200 caliber for the British; 600,000 in .38 Special for the US.
Personal opinion: I think the Brits should have converted or had produced all their .38 revolvers to use 9mmP in half moon clips like the 1917 .45 ACP S&W/Colt revolvers of WWI. It would have spared their ammo factories the task of producing a third pistol round(alongside .45 ACP and 0mmP)and simplified ammo supply.The .38-200 wasn't considered satisfactory by most especially after the round was modified to fit Geneva Convention guidelines with a lighter 178 grain bullet.

[painter777]

[/COLOR]CF... Civilforsvaret (Civil Defense) of Denmark.

This was bought by Denmark for CF use.
The brass receiver housing from a Lanchester Mk.I. The ∋∈ marking indicates the gun was released for export. The “A”: after the serial number indicates the gun had “non-interchangeable parts” with other Lanchesters, a problem with these highly-crafted firearms.

Mk1


Mk1*
The brass receiver housing from a Lanchester Mk.I*. The M/94 stamp indicates it was part of W.W.Greener’s subcontract, and the stamp on the rear flange is 1942. This particular gun has the ∋∈ cleared-for-export marking and a post-WWII “S” (sold) indicating it was actually exported.




HTH,
Charlie-Painter777