"Sporterised" Lee-Enfields in WWII

[Colonel Enfield]

I was doing some research on the Australian War Memorial site and came across this photo, taken in Papua New Guinea in 1944 and showing "A staff sergeant of the 43rd Field Ordnance Depot showing two very badly damaged .303 Lee-Enfield rifles which have been returned to store" :

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/076283

Interestingly, the rifle on the left looks like it might have been cut down for jungle fighting? I know this sort of thing was officially a huge no-no, but I've heard persistent rumours it happened anyway.

Thought it might be interesting discussion material, either way...

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[Bruce_in_Oz]

Could have also been a "local's"/ plantation owner's hunting rifle that was recovered after being in the hands of the Japanese or "doubtful" locals.

I doubt that any digger would take a saw to the fore-end of his rifle.

Firstly, because the ire of the unit armourers would have paled into insignificance before the fury of the RSM.

Secondly, these "sporter" jobs are often less accurate after surgery, with Mk7 ball, because all of the carefully built-in bedding has been tossed aside.

[Bindi2]

Looks like a Roo shooters rifle. The other one would appear to be missing its clothes.

[henry r]

the one on the right looks like it has been through a big fire (vehicle or building?)

[browningautorifle]

Interestingly, the rifle on the left looks like it might have been cut down for jungle fighting? I know this sort of thing was officially a huge no-no, but I've heard persistent rumours it happened anyway.

Because people that have zero military experience want these romantic notions to be true. And the internet makes it worse. If a soldier had cut down his rifle or customized it in ANY way, as a Snr NCO I'd have danced him directly to the jail house. Do not pass go. I'd have done it on my own authority...

We had a young man once that wanted to stand out on parade so he went to buy a small screwdriver set. He sat in his room in the quarters and stripped his FN C1 A1 to pennybits and removed every spot of parkerizing visible. Upon return to stores he was immediately charged for destruction of goods.

Now let's come down off the clouds and forget this happy hogsh*t. As the others pointed out, one plantation rifle and one looks like a destroyed rifle. RQ's problem now...

[Sentryduty]

Broken stock and a bent barrel, that is essentially what a soldier (or anyone) would have done to disable a captured/discovered weapon in the field without tools.

Its been awhile since I read the manuals but these actions and others were described for dealing with unwanted weapons or to prevent their capture and use. Also included plugging the barrel with mud and firing a round remotely with a string, removing bolts and critical bits to discard in water, swamps, bogs where-ever, and so on.

While the weapon may have been turned into stores, there is little way of knowing where it actually came from.

[green]

One on the left appears to have been run over by a heavy vehicle or hit by shell fragment IMHO. Notice how the shortening of the stock correspomds with the bend in the barrel.

[Maxwell Smart]

Attachment 79705

I've often wondered about this photo; AWM 013155.

Captioned as taken by Damien Parer, 28/8/42
Private H A Lake of 2/5 Independent Company.

Could be his own rifle which he has bought with him into service?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

A lot of "target" rifles were handed back "for the duration" in WW2

Some of these ended up with the VDC, (Volunteer Defence Corps). A lot of members of this organisation already had a rifle (or two) in .303. I notice that the one in the AWM pic still has its magazine cutoff, despite these being officially "withdrawn" TWICE. First time was with the introduction of the No1 Mklll* "economy model. Post WW1, it was decided to put the fruit back on. The second time "economies" were introduced again was not long before WW2.

[Bindi2]

Attachment 79705

I've often wondered about this photo; AWM 013155.

Captioned as taken by Damien Parer, 28/8/42
Private H A Lake of 2/5 Independent Company.

Could be his own rifle which he has bought with him into service?

He was a roo shooter before the war. Most likely his own rifle.