Lee Enfield stocks wrapped with copper wire ?

[usabaker]

I was looking at the website of a gun shop I do a lot of buying from and I saw that they have a British Enfield Mark III .303 that has copper wire wrapped around sections of the furniture.

It says that "Lee Enfield stocks were commonly wrapped with copper wire in an attempt to strengthen the stock for launching grenades with blanks."

I don't see how wrapping the wood would help with this, but I vaguely remember someone talking about this someplace. Was this really done for this reason?

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[Alan de Enfield]

Was this really done for this reason?

Yes..

[Micheal Doyne]

Someone one in the know please chime in, I’ve seen a few photos, but never really questioned it, other than to confirm the grenade launching, strengthening point.

I thought they normally rapped the stocks as well?

Is this not more often seen on the P14/P17s?

Was there any kind of official guidance for doing this, or was it more or an unsanctioned field modification?

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, no and yes!!!

[Micheal Doyne]

Thanks Peter, you generally seem to have, what my family at least, was referred to as a DS solution; I had no idea it was a military term until recently.

A brief google and watch you tube (forgotten weapons mostly) seems to suggest this was a 1940s factory modification for rifles with shot out bores that where otherwise sound. Is this correct?

Some suggestion seems to be made that similar modifications with “pull through” cord where an earlier rifle fix for the same issue?

[Alan de Enfield]

Someone one in the know please chime in, I’ve seen a few photos, but never really questioned it, other than to confirm the grenade launching, strengthening point.

I thought they normally rapped the stocks as well?

Is this not more often seen on the P14/P17s?

Was there any kind of official guidance for doing this, or was it more or an unsanctioned field modification?

To save me cutting and pasting it - have a read of one of Peter's articles (goes all the way back to 2008 and the old Jouster Forum)

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...ter-Laidler%29

[Buccaneer]

I was looking at the website of a gun shop I do a lot of buying from and I saw that they have a British Enfield Mark III .303 that has copper wire wrapped around sections of the furniture.

I think the example in the picture appears to be an RFI Indian produced rifle looking at the nose cap and the fact that it has the famous "Ishapore" reinforcing screw. I have seen these rifles with manufacturing dates as late as the 1970's.

[breakeyp]

The British Textbook of 1939 discusses the wire wrapped grenade launching rifles. The first ones were wrapped for grenade launching training and non wrapped were used at the front. Continuous use as launchers had recoil issues where the constant pounding tended to move the forestock back into the receiver, splitting the back of the forestock. Eventually GL rifles were dedicated with wire wrapping. India/Pakistan (one or the other, I have yet to find out definitively) used sheet steel wrapping held together by screw. This allowed wood switch out with out have to unwrap the wire. This was done just before the No.1 was phased out.

If any one cares, I can photograph a No.1 MkI*** where the foresstock side is gone from excessive grenade firing. I think its neat.

[Alan de Enfield]

Continuous use as launchers had recoil issues where the constant pounding tended to move the forestock back into the receiver, splitting the back of the forestock. .

I guess the fact that the butt was driven into the ground would mean there was no 'give' and all of the recoil went thru' the woodwork.

[Micheal Doyne]

I’d love to see what accuracy you could drop them at the full 200 yards, but I have a suspicion the NRA mighty not smile too fondly one deploying mills bombs on short Siberia....

Has any one used them?

---------- Post added at 05:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 PM ----------

To save me cutting and pasting it - have a read of one of Peter's articles (goes all the way back to 2008 and the old Jouster Forum)

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...ter-Laidler%29

Cheers, apologies I should have started here!