Jeez it's hot this year....

[Son]

I've just come inside into the A/C for a rest. It's 41 C outside, that's 106 F in the old money. I'm working in my gunroom in the shed trying to mount a rack on the wall behind the bench. Had to tear half the room apart to fit it in, and don't look like I'll get it tidied up today.
It will be worth the trouble once I get it done. Here's a pic of it in the yard... time to get back to it.
Attachment 18563

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[5thBatt]

Look forward to the photo of it in place & full!!

[Stevo]

-25C when I woke up this morning here. Supposed to be up to -7 by tomorrow afternoon.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I remember those racks. They should come with a steel internal locking bar and a set of timber door panels that can be locked with a padlock attached to an extension tongue on the internal bar.

If you look closely at the photo, you will see two hinged strips for supporting the rifles. In their original trim, these boxes were dual purpose: one way up, the hinged strip with the rounded notches was for SMLEs. If you inverted the box, the second hinged strip with the triangular notches was for L1A1 storage. I have a complete, but slightly battered example which retains the usage markings. Most examples had external handles, however, heaving a full one (20 rifles) onto the back of a truck was no fun at all.

The advent of the AUG/F88 and drastically increased security regulations in the 1990s meant the end of service for these boxes.

Originally they were painted "bronze green" with white text markings. In later years, they copped the ubiquitous "olive drab" look

[Son]

Thanks for the first hand history, Bruce. I have the locking bar, but the door panels were long gone. Other than a few deep drag marks- scratches underneath (in .303 mode, in FN mode they'd be on top so I guess this box carried Lee Enfields at least since it's last paint job) it is in very good condition. The latest designation is stenciled on the end and there is even a hint of over spray around where the stencil sat.

When i have my next safe storage inspection I'll ask the good officer if it would pass Cat A & B storage with new doors (taking into consideration the security on the room...). It might be ok with a couple of extra external locking bars. I just think it would look great if I could use armoured glass doors! I don't really want to do anything that would alter it noticeably though.

5thBatt, I don't think I've got enough to fill it up. I know the couple I have with L butts on them won't fit, the two snipers won't go in properly either- the carbines don't look right, so I'm down to standard SMLE's- even the range rifle won't go in! I think it's destined to be the new backdrop for my portraits- retire the green tarp and the aiming stand, sit the HT transit case in and set rifles on it for pics.

Oh, and Stevo... you can keep your minus 12, mate... I'll suffer happily in the 40 c heat rather than be that cold any day. No more complaints about climate from me!

[5thBatt]

5thBatt, I don't think I've got enough to fill it up. I know the couple I have with L butts on them won't fit, the two snipers won't go in properly either- the carbines don't look right, so I'm down to standard SMLE's

Sounds like you have your challenge for 2011

[xa-coupe]

I think it's time to air condition the gun room myself.

[bearhunter]

I used to pass some time away in a glass bottle making factory. Temps in there ran up to 45 C in the winter time. After 12 hours of that heat, out to the Ute at Christmas time in -30 C temps with a 25 klik wind. The wind was caused by the heat coming off the furnaces/ annealing lehrs and rising through louvres in the roof. The diesel engine in that poor old Dodge 2500 Ute moaned and groaned but always started. The odd time temps drop below - 40 C and there is a bit of a breeze, the fuel gels and they just won't start.

Honestly, I think I prefer the cold over +40C temps. At least I can dress for the cold. Mind you once your body is acclimatised I guess it isn't so bad.

Thanks for posting the pic of the cabinet and the No1 rifles. I never seen a cabinet like that before. Is it unique to OZ?

[Son]

Bearhunter, I think they might be unique to Aus. From what has been said by Bruce and also Lithy before, they must have been used for transportation as well as storage and issue racking. These days of course in this SC PC world we live in a box with twenty rifles at 8+Lbs each would be a manual handling no-no! I have seen other old crates which carried eight rifles with bayonets, but they would not have been useable as racks to issue the rifles from.

[tbonesmith]

If you need a hand reproducing the original type of doors, send me a PM. Should be no worries.
I think you'd be find for A and B storage. Wood is fine and three point locking can be 3 padlocks. I got my "alternative solution" for storage inspected and approved and the rule of thumb my police licenceing guys used..."is it more secure than a properly fixed (to the structure) light gauge high school locker with a 3 point lock" as that's the least secure commonly approved storage vessel. Your rack would murder that for security.