Will it float? ( a military rifle, that is... ) SMLE?

[CINDERS]

Perhaps if MikeVee has a a SMLE MK III in full trim he could hurl it in a lake or their pool if they have one and report his findings pretty sure we all know the answer so Mike if you do not have a Mk III throw any rifle you have into the drink and report back oh do not forget to close the bolt would not want any water to get into the barrel would we now............................!!!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[villiers]

Even if he means barrel clearance .... it was obviously never designed to `float´. So what´s the point?

[Flying10uk]

Somewhere in the past, probably in a museum, I've seen a SMLE or the remains of that has been "washed ashore" on a beach somewhere. I can't remember the details or of exactly where I saw it but I think that, at the time, I assumed that it must have been pushed along the sea bed by underwater currents. You do hear of various types of historic munitions being washed ashore onto beaches from time to time that clearly haven't floated ashore.

I've got an open mind as to whether or not an SMLE will float or not and I somehow think that Mike is going to come back to us all and say that it will floatl. I kind of think that MikeVee already knows the answer to this and he is about to produce a "Loch Ness Monster" style photograph. The obvious answer is that it will not float but if Mike already knows this in answer to his question I don't see why he would have bothered asking the question in the first place.

[30Three]

Plenty of SMLE's went overboard in the scramble to escape from Dunkirk! If they had floated; the Germans would have had a great supply of rifles to use.
This one was found on the beach at low tide; apparently just a small part was visible and spotted by a keen eye who dug it out. It was under water for over 70 years.
Attachment 77083

[Flying10uk]

If MikeVee already knows the answer to the question which he set us in Post 1, which I suspect he does, I don't think that he is going to come back to us and tell us that a SMLE will sink if dropped in the drink. This leaves the alternative possibility that the SMLE does indeed float.

[browningautorifle]

This leaves the alternative possibility that the SMLE does indeed float.

?????

[CINDERS]

Jeez BAR the bolt would be stiff on that one

[browningautorifle]

Just a bit of work and she'll be fine...

[Flying10uk]

After 3 pages of debate on this matter is it not surprising that MikeVee has not come back to us with anything on this matter, not once as far as I can see???

[browningautorifle]

After 3 pages of debate

No, of course not...