Need a picture from Skennerton books about the Lee Enfield rifle

[Peter Laidler]

Sterling SMG - early 50's is the first use that I recognise from our small arms. Does anyone disagree that the photo does show a hexagonal allen key recess? We had a little joke, saying that the Military should have stopped using allen keys the moment Leatherman/Gerber started putting them on their utility knives!

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[Sentryduty]

We had a little joke, saying that the Military should have stopped using allen keys the moment Leatherman/Gerber started putting them on their utility knives!

Comedy gold! And a truth too, you haven't seen fury until you've seen a Sergeant discover a Elcan C79 sight disassembled on a troop's bed in the shacks. (barracks)

I agree, the photo does look like a pair of hex key heads.

[RRPG]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I feel like we might be getting closer!!

Smellymakrfive - Do you mean a clearing plug? If so, it isn't one of those with bits corroded off. I have one and it is way too big and doesn't match. I thought, like you, maybe something Lewis.......but can't find pics of anything like it.

Sentryduty - Many thanks for looking. However, the first number is almost certainly a 6, not an 8.

Peter - I agree......probably an armourers tool that never left the depot and probably never even got used. If only I could be sure!

[Peter Laidler]

Does that arm swing out and back on the pin? Spring loaded? Does the hex tube part rotate within the main block?

Talking of the crunchies and their ability to take anything apart....... They bring stuff back that's missing bits and clearly been tampered with, assembled back to front and........ Then they just tell the Arms storeman that '.........nuffink to do with me....., I got it like this....'

[Sentryduty]

So the hex piece is a hollow tube with male threads on the outside, that suggest that it was meant to thread into something with female threads or that there was a nut or another part that would connect to it. The hollow tube could mean something was meant to pass through the item when installed, a rod, another tool, a projectile, gas, light?

The hex head suggests that a tool was needed to obtain a certain torque or tightness value for installation or removal.

The small arm was able to swing on the axis pin with a 180 degree sweep.

The small arm has a triangle pointed end as opposed to a squared, or round finish, suggests it played a role in the item's use.

How big are these items?

---------- Post added at 04:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:27 PM ----------

The one on the right of this photo has a cross pin that appears to stake the hex head into a fixed orientation that would prevent it from rotating independent of the body of the item.



I think the item would thread into something, and then the "arm" would be flipped over 180 degrees to act as a lever lock or mechanical stop to prevent the item from backing out.

[Smellymarkfive]

Will measuring the threads throw any light on it?

[Peter Laidler]

Is it a thread or ribbed....., say, to grip onto a rubber hose? What about part of an enema machine for use in the doctors when feeling a bit, er....., bunged-up!!!!!!!

[Smellymarkfive]

My brains bunged up thinking about this one. Maybe it was just ribbed for pleasure?

[RRPG]

It's a thread. Measurements are 4 3/4 inches from tip to tip, 2 1/4 inches wide.

The 'arm' certainly would have originally swung through 180 degrees nd the cam inside the arm would have rotated on the rod through its centre.

[Sentryduty]

RRPG actually knows that it's a blank firing attachment for a Mk6 2-PDR Lightweight Underground Trench Mortar but is enjoying himself too much playing guess what this is with the forum members.

Of that I am nearly sure.