SMLE Craddle Arm, WWI on GB

[AmEngRifles]

This appears to not be a complete unit. Not even sure that repros were ever made? Just posting this as a courtesy to MilSurp Enfield fans.

It is titled as such:

World War I SMLE Enfield mount stand #1 Mk III

World War I SMLE Enfield mount stand #1 Mk III : World War I / II at GunBroker.com

Information

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[Badger]

Looks familar .....

Canadian Armourer's Rest ...

Attachment 15209

Regards,
Badger

[Beerhunter]

I just looks like part of an Aiming Rest to me. Used to teach aiming. So do Badger's pix.

[AmEngRifles]

I am not familiar with this kit, but I figured it was used during long stints of observation in the trenches? Machine guns had bipods and tripods, why not set your service rifle to "scan" the horizon, but not have to hold the bloody thing at arms length all day? Enlighten me.

[Son]

It's an aiming stand. As far as I know, mainly used for instruction- the recruit would get his sights set on a target and step away so the instructor could check his point of aim. I don't think rifles were fired from the stand. They may have been used by armourers, but it would be very limiting to what you could do to a rifle while on it. There was a later version that suited the L1A1. One of the members has seen a dozen of them set up behind a mound at an old army training range.

Mine is missing the elevation adjustment assembly. It's also made with a fixed steel tripod, similar in appearance to the wooden legs on Badger's excellent example.

I've also got to add... Lithy doesn't have one!

[lucky dog]

A gent had one of those stands at a local gun show last winter, had a cut away No.4 mounted in it. It was definitely an interesting display.

[crusty]

About ten of the rests shown by Badger came up for sale in New Zealand earlier this year, I walked into an Auckland gunshop, saw one for sale for $95, wasn't really sure what it was but bought it. That night I displayed it at our NZ Antique Arms Assn meeting. By about 10 am the next morning the rest had sold out.
They were all unused & well packed in cosmo. Interesting that they don't have a leather protector on the front clamp.

see this link: http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Aim_teaching_devices.htm

[Beerhunter]

It's an aiming stand. As far as I know, mainly used for instruction- the recruit would get his sights set on a target and step away so the instructor could check his point of aim. I don't think rifles were fired from the stand. They may have been used by armourers, but it would be very limiting to what you could do to a rifle while on it. There was a later version that suited the L1A1.
Mine is missing the elevation adjustment assembly. It's also made with a fixed steel tripod, similar in appearance to the wooden legs on Badger's excellent example.

Quite correct. As you say, the tripods of the later ones are made of steel and do not have the elevation screw. The correct term is Aiming Rest.

They are too high and not stable enough to even clean a rifle on one let alone do any meaningful work. That is not to say that they were never used by armourers, its just that that is not their purpose and they wouldn't be much use anyway.