Hello, since I couldn't find any information with my previous post about specifically Australian smle grenade cups, I figured it might be better to get a survey of known maker's marks and work from there. So if anyone has grenade cups, I would appreciate if you could reply with any marks found on them and their location. Sorry if this is the incorrect way of going about this (I'm new), and thank you to anyone that submits information. From what I can tell cups and adaptors were manufactured separately in many cases so check for markings on both. I may put together a spread or reference sheet at some point. Also I would like to add, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject but am eager to learn, so any resources you know of would be helpful.
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
Thought these might be of interest, though not cup dischargers. The one in the poorest condition is also the rarest. I have never seen one before exactly the same. It is fabricated from two separate pieces of steel riveted together. I was led to believe by a French collector that it is an early example of the 'launcher' for the No23 Mk1, 2, & 3 grenades. The chap who found it lives in Bernafay Wood on the Somme, & he found it in the wood, which his family own.
Photo's taken in the kitchen, hence the pack of hot cross buns in the background!
Last edited by Roger Payne; 04-02-2020 at 04:17 PM.
Thought these might be of interest, though not cup dischargers. The one in the poorest condition is also the rarest. I have never seen one before exactly the same. It is fabricated from two separate pieces of steel riveted together. I was led to believe by a French collector that it is an early example of the 'launcher' for the No23 Mk1, 2, & 3 grenades. The chap who found it lives in Bernafay Wood on the Somme, & he found it in the wood, which his family own.
Photo's taken in the kitchen, hence the pack of hot cross buns in the background!
Very cool, I've never really looked into that type. Do you know any good books for it besides Ian Skennerton's the Lee Enfield?
---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------
Also I think I'll also include dates in the spread sheet, may as well.
There are a few books that contain a little information, but none that I am aware of that contain a lot! There's bound to be something in The LES, but I doubt there'll be the comprehensive info that you're seeking. Both of the books shown in the photo's contain a little info on launchers of various types, but no detail on who the manufacturers were, save for Darryl Lynn's book does say that two of the UK manufacturers of the cup discharger during WW2 were Adams Brothers, & Burnley & Lightfoot Refrigeration. The emphasis is of course more on the grenades than the means of projection. Much the same to be said about a Text Book of Small Arms 1929, I'm afraid.
There are a few books that contain a little information, but none that I am aware of that contain a lot! There's bound to be something in The LES, but I doubt there'll be the comprehensive info that you're seeking. Both of the books shown in the photo's contain a little info on launchers of various types, but no detail on who the manufacturers were, save for Darryl Lynn's book does say that two of the UK manufacturers of the cup discharger during WW2 were Adams Brothers, & Burnley & Lightfoot Refrigeration. The emphasis is of course more on the grenades than the means of projection. Much the same to be said about a Text Book of Small Arms 1929, I'm afraid.
Its unfortunate that there is no complete set of information on them any where. Ian Skennerton's book has a number of the contractors, but he doesn't have what markings they used. I'll have to read through that section of the book again to see if there is any useful information in regards to this.
The bracket was fitted to the end of a Short Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle and held a No23 Grenade which was fitted with a rod screwed into the base plate.
The No 3 Grenade Launcher was adopted to enable the launching of a No 23, or a similar bomb from a Lee Enfield Rifle, it’s base had a threaded hole into which a rod could be screwed, this was fed down the barrel of the gun after the launching bracket had been mounted. The former was then fired using a blank cartridge.
No5 Grenades had no hole in the base plate, but a No 23 base would fit a No 5 Grenade.
So it follows that many No 5 units can be found with No 23 bases.
The launchers intention was to hold the safety lever in place, after the pin had been removed, until the unit was fired.
Details on using the 'Cup-Launcher'
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
Alright, I really messed up some of the nomenclature on this post and might have to restart it but here is what I am looking for;
Manufacturer marks on cups
Date on cup?
Any other marks on cups
Manufacturer marks on bases
Dates on bases
Any other marks on bases
From the research I have done these are all the manufacturer marks I am aware of;
RFI
S&B
SA
Bourn Brook
Farmers
HL-(possible refurb or other marks, as it was seen on an S&B base)
SIR
Now these are the contractors I could find for the cups in reading material;
Adams Bros. & Burnley-wwii
Lightfoot refrigeration-wwii
Lines Bros ltd-unknown
Metro Gas Co. (Australia)-unknown
National projectile factory-wwi
Components Ltd-wwi
S&B-wwi
Bowden wire Ltd-wwi
W.Ward & co Ltd-wwi
There are also 4 more WWI contractors not listed, and possible others for wwii, including some of the WWI contractors. It is also possible some of those manufacturer only made components, it's all a little iffy.
Also do y'all think I should restart the thread so it's more clear what info I want and what I know?
smle grenade cups, I figured it might be better to get a survey of known maker's marks and work from there. So if anyone has grenade cups, I would appreciate if you could reply with any marks found on them and their location. Sorry if this is the incorrect way of going about this (I'm new), and thank you to anyone that submits information. From what I can tell cups and adaptors were manufactured separately in many cases so check for markings on both. I may put together a spread or reference sheet at some point. Also I would like to add, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject but am eager to learn, so any resources you know of would be helpful.
PM
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