A carry handle for a "T"!???????

[Brit plumber]

I'm sure I've seen a line drawing of a SMLE fitted with the kit in front of a line drawing of a Bren Mk1

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[Thunderbox]

I'm not convinced these are even wartime devices. As noted, they do not appear in the 1940 or 1945 PH catalogues - which do list other machine gun accessories (such as - .22"RF sub-cal kits for the Vickers!). I wonder if they were produced for cadet forces in the post-war period? It would make more sense that these kits were intended for small cadet units that did not have access to Brens for their section drills. The wartime Home Guard, by contrast, seem to have briefly used wooden MG mock-ups before moving onto Lewis guns and other second-line weapons. By early 1941 the HG are being pictured with Brens again - so there obviously wasn't much of an equipment gap. Would Parkers be producing a fairly useless accessory at a time when they were at capacity manufacturing items of more direct military use? It will be interesting to see if someone can produce a contemporary photo of the kit in use.

[Peter Laidler]

It looked to me as if you were saying that the contraption WAS for a No4T and giving YOUR explanation Missing Something. Please please don't think you'll offend me by correcting me at all but I did ask a visitor at Warminster today to pass comment on it and he too thought it was you saying it. Anyway, not to worry.

When the trials into the updated version of the P-H Cadet L81-A2 rifle were being undertaken here I collared Parker Hale and they looked into it for me. It was PRE war and didn't appear in the catalogues because the war overtook events and, as you can imagine, their need for war production overtook the need for these quaint 'things'. The one I had was slightly better than theirs so I let them swop. If they were POST war, then they'd feature in the catalogues......, surely. But they don't. That's why they're rare.

The UK was awash with Brens after the war and School CCF's (who supplied most of the National Service Officer corps) were quickly supplied with real Brens or indeed had them via the wartime old boy network* so the need for the 'things' didn't rear its head again.
*Old Boy Network. An english term well known to EME Armourers for 'calling in a few favours me old mate........'. Described as '.......similar to Lend Lease but bigger'

[Rumpelhardt]

What would one need a handle on a scoped rifle for anyways. Isn't that what the scope is for?

[Peter Laidler]

I had to chuckle Rumpel................ I like it! But so true to real life, it happens

[enfield303t]

One thing is for sure...it is not worth $1,500.00 the asking price on one site. Would really like to have one but lets get serious on the price no matter how rare they are believed to be.

[ickmann]

For that price, you could call it whatever you want.


..Rare, felt lined, double No.32 scope carrier..... Arctic model (because its felt-lined, duh)

[Peter Laidler]

Somebody ought to send all the notes on this thread on to him. Carrying handle for a No4T................... have you ever heard such horse manure before. The good thing about this particular forum is that nobody minds being told it as it is!

[breakeyp]

Peter-I don't drink but under the circumstances, you and I should go somewhere and have somthing to drink.

[Brian Dick]

I'll buy the drinks.

I just went 'round with another guy about bolt heads a couple of weeks ago. I finally gave up as he insisted his rifle was out of specification when he's simply using the wrong gauges and I doubt he can wear one out in a lifetime. Ho hum. It ALL gets kind of tiring sometimes. They ask me a question which I'm glad to answer and then call me a liar in response. I'm no expert but I've learned from folks who ARE. One who posts here frequently.