Book: The Lanchester Machine Carbine: A Collector’s Guide

[Peter Laidler]

One of the constant problems we faced with them was the three screws that held the body catch down to the wood. Always stripped the wood threads so regardless of whether they were stripped or not, they'd always be drilled out 1/4" plus or so and a hardwood dowel (made of meranti ?) would be glued and knocked in place. That solved the problem. To be honest, as a Base workshops, Armourers were called in from outlying units across Malaya and Borneo to assist with this WORP/CA (War Office Repair Programme or Crown Agents) type work. So while we dealt with thousands of Sterings and Stens over the years, we only dealt with hundreds of Lanchesters....., relatively few!. But good experience for the Aust and NZ Armourers amongst us. I wonder where likeable Graham Stewart is now...... The Out Inspector would stamp the side of the butt with the usual 40 BW-S and date code

[browningautorifle]

So while we dealt with thousands of Sterings and Stens over the years, we only dealt with hundreds of Lanchesters....., relatively few!

I still remember seeing a Turk soldier carry one across his back, brass fitting gleaming in the desert sun outside Nicosia. It was the only one I saw among the forest of Sten, Thompson, so on.