Royal engineers "sappers" tunnel rifle

[Gil Boyd]

Peter,
I did find something about something aluding to what the sappers used in tunnels in WW1 by a person who was subsequently banned on the site, so I didn't go there as it was about as useful as a preverbial porcupine in a baloon factory

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[bigduke6]

Peter,
I did find something about something aluding to what the sappers used in tunnels in WW1 by a person who was subsequently banned on the site, so I didn't go there as it was about as useful as a preverbial porcupine in a baloon factory

I,m not that convinced to call it a ... Whatever, as most who know the history and the extent of the tunnels that were built, mined, dug ect I think a cut down rifle would of been a reserve arm if enemy tunnelers had broke through so would guess it it was a last reserve or emergency arm, so the clay kicker at the time could be armed. I would also guess they were a one off and only a few of them made and most would of been left behind in the tunnels etc....

[Patrick Chadwick]

last reserve or emergency arm, so the clay kicker at the time could be armed. I would also guess they were a one off and only a few of them made and most would of been left behind in the tunnels etc....

IMHO the whole thing is a fairy story. Yet another example of junk being peddled as a rarity.

Are we supposed to believe that 1) Webleys were extinct? 2) And the Colt New Service? 3) And all the other revolvers, S&W etc etc? 4) So serviceable SMLEs were being cut up as a revolver "Ersatz"? Carried how?

Pull the other one, it plays "It's a long way to Tipperary" in 3/4 time.

This monstrosity was probably inspired by the "Mare's Leg" (cut-down LAR) used by Steve Mcqueen. Which was a long-range rifle by comparison with this horror.

[Gil Boyd]

Oh well worth bumping up for the New Years debate even though its nothing new, and still no conclusive answer from the Royal Engineers museum:

http://www.peashooter85.com/post/919...d-war-i-during