Range bag curiosities

[Roger Payne]

Although 100,000 is a modest number in terms of military production, it is still large enough, I would have thought, for the conversions to have been officially authorized. Only my best guess though.....

As an aside, aren't the magazine cases used on UK No7 rifles modified SMLE mags as well? I can only speak for the No7's that I have seen & owned, but as far as I remember all of the mags that I noticed had the vertical flutes running right down to the bottom. Were BSA involved in modifying SMLE mags to No4 configuration, perhaps??

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[mrclark303]

Although 100,000 is a modest number in terms of military production, it is still large enough, I would have thought, for the conversions to have been officially authorized. Only my best guess though.....

As an aside, aren't the magazine cases used on UK No7 rifles modified SMLE mags as well? I can only speak for the No7's that I have seen & owned, but as far as I remember all of the mags that I noticed had the vertical flutes running right down to the bottom. Were BSA involved in modifying SMLE mags to No4 configuration, perhaps??

Perhaps BSA Roger, though just about any basically equipped small engineering works or car garage workshop for that matter, could carry out the simple task I suppose.

I can picture a ****ed off 16 year old apprentice and a huge stack of magazines, that's for sure! It certainly isn't done with any great care, just a roughly machined off rib and a quick squirt with suncorite...

100,000 was probably enough to ensure you didn't have a backlog at the factories of completed No4's waiting for magazines....

I wonder if it was actually just a pre emptive measure, rather than an actual requirement?

Update: Looking at my example, it doesn't look like it's ever been fitted to a rifle in its modified form, no typical tell tale signs of mag well markings or cartridge marks on the platform...

How about yours Roger?

[browningautorifle]

I can picture a ****ed off 16 year old apprentice and a huge stack of magazines,

Sounds about right...