Looking for reasons to stamp "DP" on an SMLE

[englishman_ca]

As much as I can gather, DP rifles were primarliy made from condemed rifles or assembled from dodgey parts. However, if an armoury was filling an order and there wasn't enough junk riles to convert, they would pull the balance from stores. So it ispossible that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Also if an arm was made obscolete, it was a candidate to be made into a DP.

The main thing with a DP in service is that it would no longer in the loop for inspection and maintainance as would be with live rifles.

Some other older DPs that I have seen are complete and capable of firing, DP marked everywhere including the bolt handle. I guess that is why DP was stamped, stenciled and bands of coloured paint applied to that there was no mistaking them for live rifles. Some have 'NOT FOR BALL' stamped on them which means that they were good for blank fire.




There is a story bouncing around about a recent incident with an Army Cadet instructor. Story is that a DP ended up on the range and a cadet was trying to fire ball rounds through it but it would not fire due to the striker being cut off short. Click but no bang. The dick head of an instructor checked the cartridge primer and seeing no strike mark, he switched out the bolt with one from another rifle, a live one and gave the DP back to the cadet to shoot. There was a problem and the cadet was hurt.

This could not have been an incident in Canada as current day DPs as issued to Canadian Army Cadets, have no bolts, no mags, they can't even chamber a round as they are drilled and pinned through the chamber (some would make you cry, minty Longbranch No.4s).


And then there are the arms made into DPs simply because they became obscolete. I am playing with a project Lee Metford that has DP markings. Original finish, well dinged up yet, it's internals show very little use. Without a doubt it was a DP issued without a bolt.

The bore is clean and shiney, bore guages show no discernable wear. More by luck than good judgement, the bolt head I fitted sgave me correct headspace. I have shot it and the spent cases show no signs of distress.

So if the receiver is marked DP, have the rifle checked against specs. It might be just fine.

Oh, and also something to note. I have seen parts with a condemed mark (bolt heads, barrels, mags, woodwork), that have an armourer's cancellation mark overstruck where DP parts were put back into service.

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[Mk VII]

This could not have been an incident in Canada as current day DPs as issued to Canadian Army Cadets, have no bolts, no mags, they can't even chamber a round as they are drilled and pinned through the chamber (some would make you cry, minty Longbranch No.4s).

Not much point to them, then, if they can't even teach load/unload drill properly with them.

[englishman_ca]

Not much point to them, then, if they can't even teach load/unload drill properly with them.

Nope, Canadian cadets don't even get to shoot 303 anymore. 303s are used strictly for bashing on the parade square. Summer training camps have live No.4s for performing a 'feu de joi' and fire blanks. Looking at the bore of some of these, a ball round would not exit due to carbon build up.

Some camps hold C7 service rifles (Canadian improved and built M16) and senior cadets get a familierisation shoot of 5 rounds (whoopdee fricken doo) at a bulls eye target at 100 yds from the prone position. Air cadets cannot shoot the C7 at all, Sea cadets only if they 17 years old.

The Canadian Army Cadet marksmanship program is now performed with a 177 Daisy 853c air rifle. Some select shooters that get a place on the National Rifle Team do get to shoot the 7.62 single shot bolt target rifle and play on Connaught Ranges and a trip over to Bisley if they do really well.

There are still some nice Long Branch No.7s still in use but they will all be withdrawn from service in 2011 to be be pinned and returned to corps as DPs.