Photo of a Lanchester smg from a museum in London relating to the original finish.

[drm2m]

I have been trying to find a source that could confirm how these guns were originally finished.
This took me to a museum in England.

Object details:
ObjectId AAA3152
Description Submachine gun. The stock is wood with a heavy rifle butt (Lee Enfield), steel barrel and magazine housed on the left side of the weapon. The magazine holds 50 cartridges. It is fitted with adjustable sights, 100-600 yards. Blowback, automatic action. The calibre is 9mm Parabellum. It is stamped 'LANCHESTER MK 1* SA M619 5230' and stamped with an anchor. The original magazine missing. Designed by George Herbert Lanchester and manufactured by the Sterling Engineering Company, the Lanchester submachine gun was produced exclusively for the Navy from 1941. It was a copy of the German MP28/II with modifications. Quotation from 'Small Arms of the World' by W Smith (pub 1962) 'The Lanchester is fitted with a regulation type heavy rifle butt and its construction throughout is much more massive than is necessary for the cartridge it shoots, or for the accuracy obtainable from the weapon'. It is fitted with rifle type sights. Like the Russian submachine guns in its class, it lends itself to use as a support weapon'. The Lanchester was replaced by the Sterling in the 1960's.
Date made after 1941
________________________________________
Artist/Maker Sterling Engineering Co.
Place made England
Credit National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London


The finish looks very much like the finish on my Lanchester.
It is very difficult to find photos of these guns that show the original finish.
This gun is dated 1942.

David

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.