Legit, or hand-made block?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Able to fire in pitted chambers... Now there's an argument for making foil cartridges!

On the other hand, I don't suppose they're very good for reloading...

[vykkagur]

Stumbled into this old thread while looking for something else. At the risk of awakening the dead, I must ask: During the course of these deliberations, did anyone consider the possibility that this is a Khyber rifle? Or, at least, the this is a Khyber part?

[vykkagur]

Able to fire in pitted chambers... Now there's an argument for making foil cartridges!

On the other hand, I don't suppose they're very good for reloading...

No, but assembling them provided useful employment for the orphans of British servicemen. Nobody likes an out-of-work orphan...

[englishman_ca]

The block has what appears to be a Birmingham Definitive Proof marking. It could be a fake, but the mark looks good to me. As such, being a rifle made for the commercial market, it did not have to conform to any sealed pattern as did the military contract rifles.

The block does not have the striker nut keeper screw. The screw actually is a bit redundant, not needed to function (none of mine have them installed in the empty hole). Mechanically, the keeper set up is not really needed. So a manufacturing concession such as this would not inconceivable on a commercial arm.

Casting was the method for manufacturing the breech block which was then machined to produce surfaces and holes to a datum. The underside faces do not have to locate anywhere and could be hand finished. So maybe a bit rough and ready, but not a surprise to see.

Khyber made? No i don't think so. Just a commercial grade Birmingham job.

[bombdoc]

Khyber made? No i don't think so. Just a commercial grade Birmingham job.

Peshawar work is usually better!