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Thread: 1" Signal Pistol No.1 Mk.5

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    Legacy Member Hcompton79's Avatar
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    1" Signal Pistol No.1 Mk.5

    I purchased this recently. I know it is a Britishicon 1" Signal Pistol, No.1 Mk.5 and based on the "BE" stamped on the hammer I would assume it was made by I.L. Berridge & Co of Leicester. Can anyone tell me anything else about this, such as what the original finish was or when these were used in service?
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel breakeyp's Avatar
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    Most have a black paint which may have been added when there were refurbished. My examples are in storage and I can't access them right now so I can't comment on original finish without looking through the pile.

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    Legacy Member Hcompton79's Avatar
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    Maybe Suncorite originally? I looked into having it re-Suncorited, but to do so would likely outstrip the value of the gun. I may re-do it with high temperature automobile engine paint, but wouldn't mind any input.

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    I have handled about a million of those little signal pistols. We used to call them 'Berridges'. Cheap and cheerful and they did the job but the side plates were too thin to support the screw threads so stripped threads were the norm and caused plenty to be scrapped. The barrel axis screw could be replaced with a nut and bolt. They were all phosphated and black of course. The action was a one-off in that the hammer worked on the rebound system. Still in irregular use until......, well, probably STILL in use in some small units somewhere. 1" flares always seemed to be in short supply.

    If you want it phosphated and painted with the correct paint, back to original you could try Brian at BDLicon Ltd in SC

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    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    We still use the no.4 pistol in Air Traffic control and in the runway caravan but they are being replaced now. Hopefully the controllers will have a better idea of safety with its replacement.

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    Mmmmmmmm, what was the problem with the safety of the little Berridges BP? We didn't encounter anything too drastic.

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    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    No problem other than operators who have no idea about firearm safety. For example, while live firing red flares (that is all they could spare for training) they were firing horizontal to the ground (they never fire Red flares into the air unless it’s an emergency) when one of them decides to walk off into the firing area oblivious to what he has just done. When someone got his attention he just waved!

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    Ther reason I asked was that the pistol itself had a couple of ingenious mechanical safeties built into its rebound system. Taken incidentally from the 2" mortar mechanism. Not a lot of people know that!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    Not a lot of people know that!
    Well, now we all do...lets see how many of us retain it...?
    Regards, Jim

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