Range bag curiosities

[mrclark303]

Morning all,

Like many of of us I have a range bag that's rammed full of the "I wouldn't want to be without a kitchen sink at the range" parts we gradually build up over the decades...

Among the obligatory spare magazines for everything I pulled out my spare No4 mag and remembered it it was one of the War time expedite SMLE mags, converted for No4 use, with half the spine machined away.

Apparently 100,000 of these were so converted in 1941 as the lack of the new No4 magazines was threatening to hamper the new rifles production.

All in all another interesting collectable in its own right and possibly one of the rarest.303 service magazines to encounter...

Information

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[Roger Payne]

I hadn't realized we only made 100,000 0f them........I definitely have one, possibly a couple. I'll look after them better now!

[muffett.2008]

Good onya Rog. don't bite your tongue.

[WillSarchet]

Interesting to know how few were made. I have one as well. Good to know the year of conversion as well so I can pair it with the right rifle during rebuild.

[mrclark303]

A couple of images for the Knowledge Library....

[browningautorifle]

Apparently 100,000 of these were so converted in 1941

But "Who done it" would be my question. Was it a company or just a local thing done by unit armorers? That's what I would expect...

[Roger Payne]

Although 100,000 is a modest number in terms of military production, it is still large enough, I would have thought, for the conversions to have been officially authorized. Only my best guess though.....

As an aside, aren't the magazine cases used on UK No7 rifles modified SMLE mags as well? I can only speak for the No7's that I have seen & owned, but as far as I remember all of the mags that I noticed had the vertical flutes running right down to the bottom. Were BSA involved in modifying SMLE mags to No4 configuration, perhaps??

[mrclark303]

Although 100,000 is a modest number in terms of military production, it is still large enough, I would have thought, for the conversions to have been officially authorized. Only my best guess though.....

As an aside, aren't the magazine cases used on UK No7 rifles modified SMLE mags as well? I can only speak for the No7's that I have seen & owned, but as far as I remember all of the mags that I noticed had the vertical flutes running right down to the bottom. Were BSA involved in modifying SMLE mags to No4 configuration, perhaps??

Perhaps BSA Roger, though just about any basically equipped small engineering works or car garage workshop for that matter, could carry out the simple task I suppose.

I can picture a ****ed off 16 year old apprentice and a huge stack of magazines, that's for sure! It certainly isn't done with any great care, just a roughly machined off rib and a quick squirt with suncorite...

100,000 was probably enough to ensure you didn't have a backlog at the factories of completed No4's waiting for magazines....

I wonder if it was actually just a pre emptive measure, rather than an actual requirement?

Update: Looking at my example, it doesn't look like it's ever been fitted to a rifle in its modified form, no typical tell tale signs of mag well markings or cartridge marks on the platform...

How about yours Roger?

[browningautorifle]

I can picture a ****ed off 16 year old apprentice and a huge stack of magazines,

Sounds about right...