How Original Is Yours...........

[Peter Laidler]

I was browsing through the engineering notes the other day and saw that the fitting of the front trigger guard sling swivel to sniper rifles was authorised on 20th October 1944.

Modification instruction C-507/3 dated 20th Oct 1944

Stores to be removed: SCREWS, guard, trigger, front. Cat No: B1/BB-8166
Stores required: SWIVEL, sling, Mk1(T) No4 rifle Mk1. Cat No: B1/BK-0025

PRIORITY. Class B

Action required: By 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th line REME workshop units.

DETAIL: The front trigger guard screw will be removed and replaced by the sling swivel. It must be ensured that the sling swivel is screwed home tightly when assembled to the rifle.

Rifles of new manufacture will be so fitted during conversion.


There, so before that date, your rifle shouldn't have a front trigger guard swivel. That's going to get some of the purists going!

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.

[Thunderbox]

Related question: did you ever start getting the civilian Parker Hale-marked versions "through the system"?

[Baal]

My 1943 BSA T does not have that sling swivel. I feel so pure.

[arado]

Damn, mine has em. Have to dig out and check the RFI. Gary

[Peter Laidler]

No, I never saw a commercial Parker Hale front trigger guard swivel in MoD service. They were slightly different in style.

[arado]

Checked out the RFI "T". No sling swivel. It too is PURE!!! Mysteries of India..Gary

[Badger]

To build upon Peter's comments there's some interesting feedback from collectors (including Peter), about swivels in various Knowledge Library entries. For example, check this on on the 1944 C No.7 .22 Caliber Lee-Enfield Training Rifle (click here) , which is also duplicated in the 1945 No.4(T) Long Branch sniper article (click here).

You have to check on these rifles if the military version (doesn't swivel 360) was swapped out for the PH version, which is taller and swivels 360 degrees.

Military

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


Civilian (Parker Hale)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Badger

[bearhunter]

If these swivels were supposed to be fitted at four different REME levels, wouldn't it make sense that any rifle going through one of these levels would be so adapted and therefore correct?

[bradtx]

bearhunter, Any pre '44 (T) rifle fitted with the trigger guard swivel (by the REME) is correct, but not original (sticking point for the as manufactured purist collector).

Peter, My N prefixed '44 unfinished/unissued (T) doesn't have the trigger guard swivel. I'm guessing N would be around mid year production (?). Before October anyway.

Brad

[jmoore]

One way to tell if your rifle SHOULD have the swivel is to check whether or not your scope bracket has a S/N on it. If it does (brackets were numbered after WWII), then there should be a swivel. There's other post war mods that will serve as clues as well...