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  1. #11
    Legacy Member Sniper1944's Avatar
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    I remember reading somewhere (can't for the life of me remember where though) that cutting the fore end down was more a trait of the 1st contingent battalion snipers through experiences of the wood getting wet and warping early in the war.






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  3. #12
    Contributing Member Ax.303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jmoore View Post
    Wonder if they cut them back for some reason other than accuracy? Couple of thoughts sprang to mind.
    They likely cut the for-ends back so they could stick the barrel through smaller holes in the parapet.

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    Legacy Member Sniper1944's Avatar
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    Perhaps, but the hole would have had to be fairly big to accommodate the offset W&S scope anyway?

    Also of particular interest in the photograph, the sniper second from right (Martin Peglers "Out of Nowhere" sites the photograph as the 21st Battalion, and the particular sniper is Private Paudash), notice how the W&S sight has a large elastic band around it and the stock? Apparently a way of securing the scope once the dovetail started to wear and slop set in, upsetting the zero. Another method described by Herbert McBride I believe was to tap slithers of razor blade between the gaps to lock the scope in place (the trouble being removing it again from the rifle).






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    Many US issued W&S scopes have had holes drilled and a screw added in the front, to fix it in position.

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    In Iriam's book, he describes cutting down a Brand New 1917 dated MkIII Ross. He too, was puzzled at the date and remembered this detail specifically.

    He immediately took them and cut the fore ends down. He described cutting the nose cap in half and splitting it for removal without having to take off the front sight base. His reason was that the full wood versions did not fit through the holes in the sniper plates. This was also a complaint of his for the Lee-Enfield, which he really didn't like.

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    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    I believe the two new Ross MkIIIs that Iriam recounts being issued in mid-1918 were in fact 1918 dated rifles, which we know from surviving examples were made.

    As for smiling, I don't think by then they had much to smile about. McBride drank himself to death, probably to help forget his "hundred file". Iriam provides plenty of detail on the realities of the life.

    There are photos of groups from a number of battalions with cut down MkIIIs and A5 scopes. Whether it was allowed would probably depend on the battalion OC or on orders from Brigade or Divisional HQ. The bull and blanco type OC's probably wouldn't have permitted it. Somewhere I read the 3rd Division did not, for example.
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    Contributing Member Ax.303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Surpmil View Post
    I believe the two new Ross MkIIIs that Iriam recounts being issued in mid-1918 were in fact 1918 dated rifles, which we know from surviving examples were made.
    Iriam specifically stated 1917 dated rifles, and that makes far more sense to me.

    I would think that 1918 rifles would be far rarer than 1917 dated rifles especially on the Front.

    It also makes sense that the boys on the Front would assume that production ceased in 1916 when the MK III was traded for the Lee Enfield.
    Last edited by Ax.303; 12-18-2016 at 10:58 AM.

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    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ax.303 View Post
    Iriam specifically stated 1917 dated rifles, and that makes far more sense to me.

    I would think that 1918 rifles would be far rarer than 1917 dated rifles especially on the Front.

    It also makes sense that the boys on the Front would assume that production ceased in 1916 when the MK III was traded for the Lee Enfield.
    Fair enough, you've read it more recently than me perhaps.

    Yes, 1918 dated rifles would be rarer as there were probably fewer of them and fewer would have been needed in Franceicon in 1918 as there were no new formations, only replacing losses and wear & tear to the existing stocks of rifles.
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