The Guns of Degenham, Part 2

[Peter Laidler]

Sterling simply weren't geared up to use ex Fazakerley flanged mag housings as the fixing method differed, i.e; flanged. The basic housing was a very simple and quick item to make. The shape was pressed out in two hits and power-wrapped over an automatic former. The Government were desperate to keep the strategic Fazakerley arms factory open, seemingly at all costs. Alas, no amount of help could help the industrial unrest situation at the strike bound Fazakerley open. Same as many other factories there, before and since..........

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[Vincent]

Sterling simply weren't geared up to use ex Fazakerley flanged mag housings as the fixing method differed, i.e; flanged.

Thanks, Peter.

Attachment 99673

I was wondering if the gaps between the Fazakerley flanged mag housing and the casing was the reason. The Sterling housing doesn’t have them and is clearly better thought-out and made.

On the Sterling made Mk4 there’s a very small indented ring in the casing just forward of the magazine housing (where the barrel flange sits inside). I am guessing the ring was put there after the inside of casing was reamed to size and then reamed to provide a smaller ID for the barrel flange to fit in?

On the Fazakerley made gun the ring is much larger and deeper. Also, it doesn’t go all the way around the casing. There’s a section missing in front of the magazine housing.

Attachment 99674

On the inside you can see the reamer took off considerably less material on the right side, making the ID of the ring offset to left (where the gap in the ring is). The barrel flange touches the right side of the ring and there’s a small space on the left. How did this happen? Was the reamer allowed to take the path of least resistance? In the Sterling made gun the barrel flange is centered in the casing.

Also, only the ring appears to have been reamed on the Fazakerley. The rest of the tube is smooth, with no tool marks. The production methods at Fazakerley must have been quite different than at Sterling.

[Peter Laidler]

I'm glad that you spotted that Vince. A little known point.............. That ring was pressed into the tube in order to allow a very slightly smaller diameter rear barrel diameter to be used. This was because if the exact diameter was used, even the smallest knock to the casing would/could prevent the barrel being removed or inserted. So slightly smaller inside diameter at the point where the rear barrel seating sits. If you look carefully, it doesn't go right around. Just a small squeeze from the top and bottom.

This feature didn't appear on the drawings that Fazakerley had acquired. Whether they were reverse engineered or pirated, nobody ever established - and it was a feature of the copyright trial too! But Fazakerley thought that this was a small groove cut around the casing and copied it. Alas, it proved wasteful and costly because the first several hundreds of guns (no figure known but probably 1000 or so) simply bent or broke in service at that point simply because the casing material thickness had been reduced in diameter

[browningautorifle]

the first several hundreds of guns simply bent or broke in service at that point simply because the casing material thickness had been reduced in diameter

Most disconcerting when your SMG goes to pieces in your hands during firing...

[Vincent]

Very interesting, Peter. I bet you have lots more good stuff like that for your new book. I can’t wait to get a copy.

[Peter Laidler]

It's noy MY book as such but James Edmistons update of my book plus some. And a LOT more about the shenanigans about the zillions of variations of the Mk6's, and shysters running the dealerships and antics of the importers in the US. It's up and running as we speak and published in the UK

[Vincent]

It's up and running as we speak and published in the UK

How do I buy a copy?

[AmEngRifles]

Peter, what has happened to the Bren book? Is it still in the works?

[Peter Laidler]

Dagenham book. We are meeting the new publishers in May
Bren book, the written work is here plus some of the photos but LMO lost most of them including the rare historic ones..........

[AmEngRifles]

Dagenham book. We are meeting the new publishers in May
Bren book, the written work is here plus some of the photos but LMO lost most of them including the rare historic ones..........

Sorry to hear this. (LMO)? I know LMAO, but not LMO....