1935 Enfield and 1943 Albion

[Peter Laidler]

No, they were just another set. The photo in thread 6 illustrates the fact that there were only officially 3 mark/types of grip. The sub variants are, I should imagine, parmissable variants allowed in order 'that or to allow contractors/suppliers make best use of their existing stocks or machinery' was the usual phraseology! I had a big box of all of the different types of grips including those in BP's photo on thread 6 which I have in my grubby mitts as we speak!.

The EMER mentions these high wood grips when the modification instructions say that the left side grip should be reduced in thickness at the top sufficient to allow the thumb to operate the barrel catch without hinderance. The right grip on BP's picture LOOKS as though the top overhang has been trimmed/shaved down in the past. Certainly all those wood grips I have seen have the thumb recess.

It might be that those wood high grips like BP's photo were made without an overhang which would add yet another set to the list! But as I said, the EMER and parts list only gives 3 mark/types.

The wood grips looked good but with lots of carrying and use, the screw was constantly having to be tightened and as a result, the screw cup and threaded insert were always being pulled tighter and tighter and deeper into the wood. You couldn't patch them so they were scrap. Not so with the bakelite Mk3 types. Like I always said. Nice tough little pistols and I got to like them but ammo was always in short supply. We had a fair bit because we used to short change the supply we got to range test and keep a little stash. As a sort of currency..............

[Brit plumber]

The unusual grips were on a revolver that World Wide Arms were selling. They were on a near perfect unissued gun (from the same source as my near mint unissued 1929 gun) and had an ink broad arrow on the underside of both grips. They were totally un modified and original, Adam (Of WWA) didn't want to share the source of the very small shipment as there were other potential purchases lined up (I don't blame him). I think he said they came from a military collection, but other than that I've no idea. They're possibly an inbetweeny of marks.

[Peter Laidler]

Like I say, several of the other types don't feature in the parts lists, the VOCAB lists or even rate a mention in the EMER's and yet we KNOW that they were official as we've seen them in service and on ex Army pistols, albeit in limited numbers. No doubt that they are original, a sub-mark of something.

The problem was that when you indented for grips and got wooden ones, you could always ensure that you got odd left and rights. Just like No5 bayonet grips. One side would be one hole and the other side, two hole! Just lifes rich pattern

[A square 10]

very interesting , is it that these were 'replacements' when they came in for 'service work' ? ..... or were they in the original inventory at manufacture ?

[Peter Laidler]

Oooooo, now you're asking Asquare! We just used what was on the shelf providing that it was a matched set. Off at a tangent for a while, I recall that when the project was being undertaken to DP-ise the old No1 rifles still in Cadet Forces into a 'secure' pattern, a stock list was submitted to see what No1 rifle spares were still in Ordnance. Back it came and a few samples came back and among the No1 bayonet grips were hundreds of No5 grips - or vice verca! So stores items did get changed around/mixed up while in the ordnance system. Same as when I ordered a load of new but not regularly used 'christmas tree' type bore brushes, along they came in a big box......... but inside were 10 bayonets! The B2 Ordnance prefix had been read by the Ordnance jockey (or blanket stacker as we politely referred to them as) as B1. So 10x B1-1005-99-960-1234 turned up. And no............, before you ask, I didn't send them back!

Back to the plot.........

[Brit plumber]

The other favourite is to return items to get them off inventory regardless if it was correct or not, after all the stacker doesn't know his arse from his elbow. About 2 weeks ago I noticed my 'Table Occ' (Table Occasional I think it is) was missing and I assume some one had nicked it. I returned an old work bench as my 'Table Occ' and had it removed from my inventory. Job done!

[Peter Laidler]

We had a few good wheezes like that, such as reduced to workshop salvage or just reduced to scrap. Obviously, the more valuable or whatever the item was, the higher up the food chain the condemnation certificate countersignee had to be. So sometimes, it paid to 'delegate' that delicate task........... When we neede a new Bedford Engine for our boat - that we'd taken off some other unit as 'unseaworthy - reduced to salvage' we just ........ Well....., anyway within a week we'd found ourselves the owners of a new, still crated Bedford engine AND a good seaworthy boat with a new engine to boot. Same with a piano that was reduced in a few stages from Piano to Musical Instrument to Instrument to Wood instrument to........ and.......... and eventually scrap wood for burning. Lo and behold, our RAEME workshops was then the owner of a spanking new piano that once languished unloved in the Forces Education Centre!

One day, remind me to mention the scrapped Auster AOP9 spotter aircraft

[A square 10]

i think being a scrounger was in my soul when i was younger , today im scrounging but not with the zeal of those days gone by , [im not certain i know the brit word for scrounger - but im certain ya-all know what i mean ]