Gauge, inspectors, headspace, 7.62 mm rifle

[Peter Laidler]

That was the gauge to use at Command and Base Workshops to ascertain the size of locking shoulder required to bring an out of CHS rifle into the tightest CHS limit. Locking shoulders were a press fit and every time you pressed a L/S in place, it made the next L/S looser. So to save guess-work or keep removing and replacing sizes in number sequence (and like No4 bolt heads and Bren barrel nuts, L1A1 L/S's didn't follow number sequence in real life) until you got it right, this gauge gave you the thickness of L/S you needed to use. The thumb wheel turned the peg (photos 5 and 6) downwards until it bore against the slight front taper of the L/S which pushed that part of the gauge rearwards. Is there a read-out on the front shaft? That way, it might not be EXACTLY right, but it would be within spec first time. Without having to faff around, opening up the L/S hole every time. Oversize L/S hole = ZF

I think that there was a calibrated gauge that went into the chamber and register on the datum diameter of the neck. It was from this gauge that the l/s size was taken.

Like Tankie, I saw the gauge in use, took it all on board for a few weeks and then got down to doing it how we always used to! But it was a time saver and prevented worn bodies becoming even more worn. When we were apprentices we had to use the gauge to do all this stuff because we had to strip our bench rifles to the last minute item. Then every part from everyones rifle was put in a sheet, shaken up and............... Then you started again!

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