Questions/ Comments regarding British use of wire wrapped grenade launcher rifles

[breakeyp]

I believe it is well established that No.1 Mk1 wire wrapped rifles marked with new serial numbers, Gxxx, were prepared for and issued to the Irish Army.

Numerous examples exist of Indian made grenade launcher wire wrapped rifles.

I have seen, but can't remember where, a note that WWI british grenade launcher rifles were only wire wrapped for rifles used exclusively in training. This implies that rifles used in combat were not wire wrapped. Can anyone add to this? This leads to the question has anyone seen a British use only wrapped rife of the WW1 and post WW1 era? I can't say I have seen one in the years that I have been collecting. Photos or text???

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[Peter Laidler]

Don't know the exact answer but by the 60's or so or the v. early 70's when the last EY's were rebuilt, there was no barrel gauging standard for EY's except that it should be to a comparable standard to that of the sub-standard rifle. That indicates to me that while they could fire ball ammo - as could the sub-standard - if you were really desperate, in reality there would never be an occasion when it would be sanctioned.

I don't remember EVBER range testing any of the load we had. In fact I didn't even know we had a cup to fit to them until I went back to the old workshop a couple of years ago just before it closed for good (it opened as a tank workshop in 1927) and saw the old lathe bed we used to rotate the actions on, a big roll of the wire - AND a cup! Don't even ask.............