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Post by missingsomething on Feb 28, 2010 8:15:35 GMT 1
;D Had a kind of neat find.... A training SMLE rifle... made of a solid wood stock, cast iron trigger mech, cast nose piece, lead weights inserted... strange rear sight.... Any ideas as to providence... Only has K.A.W.S. marked on butt by steel butt plate....  Trigger group.. solid cast iron with lead insert painted where magazine should be:  Rear sight:   Cast nose piece (SMLE bayonet fits perfectly):   Inserted lead weight (making rifle actual weight):   Only markings:  None of the parts appear to be actual SMLE parts including the sling swivels. |
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Post by Richard Fisher on Feb 28, 2010 9:53:51 GMT 1
Brilliant find! I think the items like that are great - I've always wanted one of the training Vickers or Maxim MGs built in a similar fashion.
Rich
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Post by andrewupton on Feb 28, 2010 14:27:14 GMT 1
Brilliant find! I think the items like that are great - I've always wanted one of the training Vickers or Maxim MGs built in a similar fashion. I'm struggling to get a picture to work properly, but they do exist - there's one still in situ at Nothe Forth at Plymouth, and I have seen a photo from WW1 of troops training with a mocked up Vickers/Maxim made of wood, with a little stool to simulate a tripod! www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx9CdXr&code=2 |
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Post by Kev on Mar 1, 2010 1:09:34 GMT 1
 Andrews pic |
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Post by Kev on Mar 1, 2010 1:12:18 GMT 1
Very nice find Craig, items like that are a must for every collection.
ATB Kevin
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Post by andrewupton on Mar 1, 2010 1:46:54 GMT 1
Andrews pic I've got my link working now, and at the present time this one's dead ;D What you can't see is the amazing view the position commands over Plymouths sandy beaches - had it been a real gun it would have caused massive casualties to anyone attempting to land on the beach. |
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Post by woodsy on Mar 1, 2010 7:16:12 GMT 1
A fellow collector mate here has a similar 'rifle' that was NZ made for Home Guard training prior to their issue of rifles. He also has a 'Lewis' simulator which has a rotating side handle and ratchet to produce the noise. It is only about two feet long with a pan on top. If you squint with one eye from 100 yards on a poorly lit evening it almost looks the part! ;D
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