Graham Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Did anyone watch an early episode of 'Dad's Army', in black/white, on Friday night? Bit sad I know of me to notice but it showed our pals using a Lewis gun and what seemed at least No.4 or possible No.5 Lee-Enfields, someone will be able to correct me. Added to that Corporal Jones was waving around a 16" Remington bayonet on his Enfield. Must have had friends in high places for them to be issued with the latest, and possibly, future weapons I bet they would have had MkIII* like mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 You stupid boy! You're possibly taking historical accuracy, a touch too seriously! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
43rdrecce Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 No it's a P17 and perfectly correct for HG issue. Dad's Army was generally very accurate as regards uniform and equipment. They even used 37 pattern bino pouches as look alike HG pouches, which were obviously not available in quantity at the time. At least they made an effort which is more than can be said for many TV and film productions. The bayonet was right too. P17 in use by HG below Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Thanks chaps - I am the 'stupid boy' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Home Guard weapons varied over time. At the very beginning it was mostly civilian firearms such as shotguns and hunting rifles. The first service weapons to be generally issued were .303 Enfield Pattern 1914 rifles from reserves followed by lend lease US .30-06 Model 1917 rifles. (Sometimes designated the 'P17' in British service) The US rifles had red bands painted around them to denote they didn't take standard .303 ammunition. As the war progressed, the Home Guard started to get more up to date weapons such as the Sten SMG. Of course, by this time the realistic chance of a German invasion had passed. Oh, and Noel Coward penned a satirical tune on the Home Guard called 'Would you please oblige us with a Bren gun?' Many years later, it was performed by the Dad's Army cast for a Christmas special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHillyard Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 And here it is on the Coward review: [video=youtube;-HnpDJT_gQ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HnpDJT_gQ4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 P17 in use by HG below [ATTACH=CONFIG]57144[/ATTACH] I think that's a P1914 as it has a butt disc and I think I can just make out the end of the volley site dial bolt - neither of which were found on the M1917. The 'LDV' armbands must make it a fairly early picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I think that's a P1914 as it has a butt disc and I think I can just make out the end of the volley site dial bolt - neither of which were found on the M1917. The 'LDV' armbands must make it a fairly early picture. Defo a P14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 No it's a P17 and perfectly correct for HG issue. Dad's Army was generally very accurate as regards uniform and equipment. They even used 37 pattern bino pouches as look alike HG pouches, which were obviously not available in quantity at the time. At least they made an effort which is more than can be said for many TV and film productions.The bayonet was right too. P17 in use by HG below [ATTACH=CONFIG]57144[/ATTACH] Cheers Paul I think I have a LDV armband somewhere, never knew what it meant. Land Defence Volunteers maybe? Damn, but where did I put it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 ... and when Pike got his sticky paws on the Thompson it was the proper 1921 / 28A1 model too, with the compensator and the L drum. The British got a lot of the original Colt-produced 1921 model, some of which were 1928A1 overstamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 The Home Gaurd also got a lot of varied guns and equipment compliments of a US based charity 'Guns for British Homes'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I think I have a LDV armband somewhere, never knew what it meant.Land Defence Volunteers maybe? Damn, but where did I put it. Local Defence Volunteer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) Local Defence Volunteer. Found it!:dancinggirls: I bought a Denim jacket last year and discovered the armband and a mini medal ribbon bar (fruitsalade) with the Victorymedal, warmedal plus the Mons star with a little rose on it. Guess I did a good buy on it! Edited February 14, 2012 by Enigma typo's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Also know as "Look, Duck & Vanish" Hence them being, in the modern parlence, "Rebranded" as the Home Guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Also know as "Look, Duck & Vanish"Hence them being, in the modern parlence, "Rebranded" as the Home Guard. "One evening as an LDV, some German soldiers I did see, they ran like hell, but they couldn't catch me...":D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 so...guessing that there must have been a few million Lee Enfield's manufactured for WW2.??? .what happened to them all??..... ..... the same as anyone of my generation I guess...I recall there being 30 or so de-activated ones at our ATC Squadron in the early 70s and all the Army Cadet units must have had a good few thousand of them too...........but ...that only amounted to a drip in the ocean compared to how many must have been made between '39 and '45... so.......what would have happened to the majority of the rest ????... did the government have a mass destruction programme on them at some point over the last 30 years ??????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 A lot were manufactured overseas, Canada, South Africa, Australia , India. They would have back to the country of origin and a lot of them are still shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 so...guessing that there must have been a few million Lee Enfield's manufactured for WW2.??? .what happened to them all??..... ..... the same as anyone of my generation I guess...I recall there being 30 or so de-activated ones at our ATC Squadron in the early 70s and all the Army Cadet units must have had a good few thousand of them too...........but ...that only amounted to a drip in the ocean compared to how many must have been made between '39 and '45... so.......what would have happened to the majority of the rest ????... did the government have a mass destruction programme on them at some point over the last 30 years ??????????????? Thousands of weapons were put through heavy cropping jaws during the 1950s........... can you imagine the M-o-D allowing that now, they came in by the truck load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 thanks to the UN, the majority of obsolete military guns are destroyed. Theres only the likes of New Zealand and Greece who sell them on now. In 1940 there were only 2 sub machine guns in the UK, a German MP28 and a Thompson 1921 captured from the IRA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHillyard Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 A lot were manufactured overseas, Canada, South Africa, Australia , India. They would have back to the country of origin and a lot of them are still shooting. America also made a fair few. My No4 was made by Savage Co USA. It has US Property stamped on the side of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) My Mossberg has the same. The US was Neutral and there fore could not sell equipment to the British. However as Rossevelt said 'If a man's house is on fire. you'd lend him a hose pipe'. But you cannot Lend or Lease equipment, unless you can PROVE it is yours! Hence the markings (Wonder if we now both get snotty letters from Washington? ) My Mossberg dates to a batch that arrived February 1942, so your Savage must be around that date or ealier. Post 7th December 1941 Germany had declared war on the US so the need to mark did not apply. Edited February 15, 2012 by Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 ...I recall there being 30 or so de-activated ones at our ATC Squadron in the early 70s and all the Army Cadet units must have had a good few thousand of them too... Deactivated? About 1971-2 I live fired 303s in Durham ACF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Deactivated? About 1971-2 I live fired 303s in Durham ACF. The Royal Navy didn't stop using them till about 1970. As the Gunnery instructor told us 'They thought they had plenty of stores. Didn't count on people like me using about two thousands rounds a day for personal use'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Deactivated? About 1971-2 I live fired 303s in Durham ACF. Yeah we used 'live' ones (proper good kick for a small 14 year old!) on the range whenever we had a special 'day out' or were on summer camp but we only had de-activated ones at our squadron hut for rifle drill & stripping practice etc.. ..we mainly used .22 bolt action rifles with a little stick mag that held (I think?) 7 rounds at our local TA range but again we never had these at our own hut... I guess they were kept locked up at the TA range ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 The bolt action .22 may well have been a Mossberg. A lot went to cadet units, that's where mine came from. I also have a .22 Enfeild No1 completet with the toys. That was made about 1903 for cadet units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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