+ Reply to Thread
Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 40

Thread: The Guns of Degenham, Part 2

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #21
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    09:55 PM
    Thread Starter
    Sterling simply weren't geared up to use ex Fazakerley flanged mag housings as the fixing method differed, i.e; flanged. The basic housing was a very simple and quick item to make. The shape was pressed out in two hits and power-wrapped over an automatic former. The Government were desperate to keep the strategic Fazakerley arms factory open, seemingly at all costs. Alas, no amount of help could help the industrial unrest situation at the strike bound Fazakerley open. Same as many other factories there, before and since..........

  2. Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    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.
     

  4. #22
    Legacy Member Vincent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    02-27-2020 @ 09:22 PM
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,890
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    02:55 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    Sterling simply weren't geared up to use ex Fazakerley flanged mag housings as the fixing method differed, i.e; flanged.
    Thanks, Peter.

    Attachment 99673

    I was wondering if the gaps between the Fazakerley flanged mag housing and the casing was the reason. The Sterling housing doesn’t have them and is clearly better thought-out and made.

    On the Sterling made Mk4 there’s a very small indented ring in the casing just forward of the magazine housing (where the barrel flange sits inside). I am guessing the ring was put there after the inside of casing was reamed to size and then reamed to provide a smaller ID for the barrel flange to fit in?

    On the Fazakerley made gun the ring is much larger and deeper. Also, it doesn’t go all the way around the casing. There’s a section missing in front of the magazine housing.

    Attachment 99674

    On the inside you can see the reamer took off considerably less material on the right side, making the ID of the ring offset to left (where the gap in the ring is). The barrel flange touches the right side of the ring and there’s a small space on the left. How did this happen? Was the reamer allowed to take the path of least resistance? In the Sterling made gun the barrel flange is centered in the casing.

    Also, only the ring appears to have been reamed on the Fazakerley. The rest of the tube is smooth, with no tool marks. The production methods at Fazakerley must have been quite different than at Sterling.
    Last edited by Vincent; 04-04-2019 at 01:13 PM.

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #23
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    09:55 PM
    Thread Starter
    I'm glad that you spotted that Vince. A little known point.............. That ring was pressed into the tube in order to allow a very slightly smaller diameter rear barrel diameter to be used. This was because if the exact diameter was used, even the smallest knock to the casing would/could prevent the barrel being removed or inserted. So slightly smaller inside diameter at the point where the rear barrel seating sits. If you look carefully, it doesn't go right around. Just a small squeeze from the top and bottom.

    This feature didn't appear on the drawings that Fazakerley had acquired. Whether they were reverse engineered or pirated, nobody ever established - and it was a feature of the copyright trial too! But Fazakerley thought that this was a small groove cut around the casing and copied it. Alas, it proved wasteful and costly because the first several hundreds of guns (no figure known but probably 1000 or so) simply bent or broke in service at that point simply because the casing material thickness had been reduced in diameter

  7. Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  8. #24
    Legacy Member Vincent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    02-27-2020 @ 09:22 PM
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,890
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    02:55 PM
    Very interesting, Peter. I bet you have lots more good stuff like that for your new book. I can’t wait to get a copy.

  9. #25
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 03:58 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    30,347
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    01:55 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    the first several hundreds of guns simply bent or broke in service at that point simply because the casing material thickness had been reduced in diameter
    Most disconcerting when your SMG goes to pieces in your hands during firing...
    Regards, Jim

  10. #26
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    09:55 PM
    Thread Starter
    It's noy MY book as such but James Edmistons update of my book plus some. And a LOT more about the shenanigans about the zillions of variations of the Mk6's, and shysters running the dealerships and antics of the importers in the US. It's up and running as we speak and published in the UKicon

  11. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  12. #27
    Legacy Member AmEngRifles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last On
    06-06-2024 @ 02:05 PM
    Location
    Florida
    Age
    64
    Posts
    337
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 PM
    Peter, what has happened to the Bren book? Is it still in the works?

  13. #28
    Legacy Member Vincent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    02-27-2020 @ 09:22 PM
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,890
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    02:55 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    It's up and running as we speak and published in the UKicon
    How do I buy a copy?

  14. #29
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    10-05-2024 @ 05:19 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,568
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    09:55 PM
    Thread Starter
    Dagenham book. We are meeting the new publishers in May
    Bren book, the written work is here plus some of the photos but LMO lost most of them including the rare historic ones..........

  15. #30
    Legacy Member AmEngRifles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last On
    06-06-2024 @ 02:05 PM
    Location
    Florida
    Age
    64
    Posts
    337
    Local Date
    10-10-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    Dagenham book. We are meeting the new publishers in May
    Bren book, the written work is here plus some of the photos but LMO lost most of them including the rare historic ones..........
    Sorry to hear this. (LMO)? I know LMAO, but not LMO....

+ Reply to Thread
Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Number of Americans who Own Guns and the Number of Guns owned by Americans
    By Aragorn243 in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 08-09-2018, 10:35 PM
  2. Mystery part sort of quiz to identify this part
    By RCS in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 01-15-2017, 06:50 AM
  3. Lock 'N Load - Machine Guns (Part 2)
    By Badger in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-01-2011, 07:55 AM
  4. Lock 'N Load - Machine Guns (Part 1)
    By Badger in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-01-2011, 07:48 AM
  5. Upgrading the Ruger Mini-14 the Brownells Way, Part I and Part II
    By Newsfeed Hound in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-24-2010, 11:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts