Lanchester Mk1 SMG

[Peter Laidler]

Just as a matter of interest, you will make your Lanchester more efficient if you insert a grub screw into the side of the breech block, say 1" forward of the rear end, that will lock the firing pin forward so that you have, in effect a 'fixed' firing pin that will give you API/advanced primer ignition firing. Whether you believe in API or, like me, you consider it to be simply a coincidental by-product of the fixed firing pin is a matter for you! We're getting technical now, but if your semi or auto SMG fires from an open bolt (like a Sten or a Thompson M1) why bother with a floating firing pin that relies on its own mass? Anyway.....................

I am lecturing on this subject very soon so will be using a Lanchester to illustrate the point.

[Brit plumber]

Peter, If you ever put some lead down the range using a Lanchester, any chance of someone videoing it?

[Peter Laidler]

Next time we do, I'll call you. But I think that there a Lanchester being fired on the Sten video isn't there - or do you want a shoot?

[Brit plumber]

Which STEN video is that Peter? And your dam right I'll have a shoot, not promising I'd hit the target though.

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, a chance to advertise......... It's called The Sten Gun and other sub machine guns by Tommy Atkins Media. A good buy too from Fultons I believe

[peregrinvs]

Some additional photos that show the finish on this Lanchester.

The reason that I have done this is because the photos of the Lanchester are often so different (as far as finish is concerned) and show this gun in many ways.

I've just come across your photos. My one also has thick dark green paint on the magazine housing. I'd always assumed it was added postwar by the Egyptian army (who acquired a lot of surplus Lanchesters) as it has an Arabic marking that appears to have been stamped prior to the addition of the paint.

Tough paint as well. I tried to remove it many years ago with a view to having a shiny brass magazine housing. However, normal paint stripper doesn't have much effect on it.

Mark

[drm2m]

Mark,

I would like to humbly suggest that you take your time before you try and remove that green finish in order to get a polished brass magazine housing.

This is what I have been trying to understand...what was the original finish on these Lanchesters?

Our available intelligence is "surprisingly" lacking regarding this subject.

In the photo below you can see traces of brass in areas of wear on the magazine housing.

David

[peregrinvs]

I would like to humbly suggest that you take your time before you try and remove that green finish in order to get a polished brass magazine housing.

A fair point, but about 15 years too late unfortunately. I got about half of if off after much effort, gave up and haven't troubled it since. As mentioned, I *think* the paint is postwar Egyptian, but I could be wrong.

I think I remember reading somewhere that the Royal Navy favoured keeping the Brass polished on their Lanchesters, but this may have been only a postwar peacetime practice. The finish on the receiver on my one is quite worn above the wood, but still mostly intact underneath. It looks like satin black paint rather than bluing.

Mark

[Peter Laidler]

I think the mention of the Navy polishing the brass magazine housings is a bit of an urban myth - unless anyone TRULY knows better - because all of those Navy ones I ever saw, and there were only, maybe a hundred or maybe less plus 6 or 8 from an Australian submarine based in Singapore (I think it was the ex HMS Aurochs ?) plus 60 or so from HMNZS Royalist (or was it HMNZS Blackpool........, someone feel free to correct me) all had 'as finished' magazine housings. They certainly had the usual UK MoD paint when we'd finished with them.

That green finish............. Are you sure it's not the usual left-to-tarnish-over-many-years finish or a controlled corrosive finish on the brass?

Has anyone else noticed that the state of the wood finish is absolutely dire, especially the interior. I appreciate that the inside is really a bit academic when the goingis tough but you'd never see a No4 like it.................

[Beerhunter]

1. I think the mention of the Navy polishing the brass magazine housings is a bit of an urban myth - unless anyone TRULY knows better -

2. That green finish............. Are you sure it's not the usual left-to-tarnish-over-many-years finish or a controlled corrosive finish on the brass?

Sorry this is such an old thread but I only just saw it.

1. I had an ex-RN colleague at work who remembered the Lanchesters in racks into the 1980s. He claimed that the magazine housings were indeed "bulled".

2. My Mk.1* has green paint - no doubt about it and is has the Arabic script as well.