Chris Hall

I like the way the second article calls them Tornadoes! There were 3 Typhoons flying on Saturday night AA, AB and AF as a airborne spare, the first article is quite right in that they are much much quieter than Tornado, not needing reheat to go super sonic, however if they were on a intercept, they need to get from point A to B rapid time so I'd say reheat would be authorised any way. The good thing about Typhoon is that it uses much less runway and can CAP for longer than the old F3 which was just a bomber in disguise.

Well bugger me, is that published some where?

First used in 1956/7 but probably decided upon much earlier. I guess that it may coincide with the introduction of NSNs in to British use.

They are a wire staple used to attach the top and bottom steel parts of the scabbard to the leather sheath. There isnt really much of a market for them.

Ok, Just gone through my books and found the following, The 1st order for 500,000 guns was received in January 1942, they gave them selves 5 weeks to train the increased work force so that takes them to mid Feb. The first order was completed with in 1 year so they had reached gun Serial number E5 (1-99,999 A1-A99,999 etc.) by approx Feb 1943. A second order for 500,000 guns was awarded to LB, however this was cancelled after 376,794 guns had been completed They were producing 1500 guns per day at that time so if I'm correct, your gun would be from the first week in April (Give or take) 1943. Total LB production was 876,794 although official records state 876,886, a 92 gun diffrence. So the last serial number produced should be G76,786 or G76,878 which would make it Mid Sept 1943.

Be aware though that hooked Quillon 1907s have been reproduced by a number of parties, some better than others but a genuine one will be dated 1913 or before and will have a aged look, even the very good examples have some age to them. (Obviously some repros have been aged to but still dont quite look right).

E74169 is the 574,164th Mk3 off the Lines Brothers production line, the S68 is their wartime contractor code.

I got one from here, top of the page. https://www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com/index.php?ix=104&iw=251&iz=0&c=6

Should also say 1907 which is the model number, Pattern 1907 or 07.

Check the LUN, it may be LUQ. Here are some of my Enfields Any my early 1929 Mk1

Possibly for a management radio?

This one is £190 its 1918 dated so late WW1 but looks honest enough. Unfortunatly its welded solid but this isn't the norm. http://www.ukmsales.com/viewphoto.php?shoph=517648&phqu=8 Its had a replacement top for end wood and the spring plate on the safety looks like a later replacement too. This seller also had some Long lees cut down and some have SMLE wood work. These (Seen on other sites too, and sold as 'Genuine') are of recent South African origin and many were welded shut before being exported from SA. Avoid these like the plague! Example: http://www.dandbmilitaria.com/smle-rifle---------sn-915-7074-p.asp Not worth the money and completly wrong. The 3 on this page are interwar BSA commercial manufacture but identical to WW1 examples (With out the markings). http://dwsuk.org/shop/catalog/browse?shop_param=shop_overview_pager%3D2%26cid%3D6%26 This one looks Ok, Enfield made 1917, has some holes in the wood from what could have been a target sight http://www.deactivated-military-weapons.co.uk/image-files/R452_B_SMLE.jpg A 1918 BSA Mk3* http://www.jcmilitaria.com/display_image.asp?ID=7531 Expensive but looks good

Theres a M1, a M1A1, and a T4 used in Armoured vehicles. I can get measurments of the M1 this weekend.

Theres a Denix replica but at this price its a bit expensive for a holster filler. http://www.paratrooper.fr/fr/pages/produit.aspx?cp=633858468465937500&t=cf-77

I used the No.8 and the Martini in .22, I loved the Martini, it was very accurate and just sat well with me. The No.8 just never fit me as well, maybe having my own SMLE at the time meant it was too similar to a full bore rifle. I now nave a .303 martini carbine converted from a .45 rifle in 1903.

Unfortunatly the No.8s are obsolete (Or should be), the No.8 has been replaced with the L98 now. The No.8 action body is based on a No.5 action rather than a No.4 but the 5 action is machined from in the white No.4 bodies anyway so you are correct. Anyone have a No.8?

Its a Pistol grip from a STEN Mk5, the squared section at the top rear has been removed because the wings there used to break off so this area was often made good by squaring off.

Be prepared to pay through the roof, one went on ebay recently for over £1000. I now regret not buying the set of 4 I was offred for £1250.

As RAF Armourers we use the motto " RAF Armourers, providing the enemy the oportunity to die for their country" I'm a Lee Enfield fan and in my collection I have 1898 CLLE Mk1* by Enfield 1898 LEC Mk1* by Enfield 1908 MkIII by LSA 1916 MkIII* by Enfield, Ex Australian D^D 1917 MkIV by BSA 1922 MkV Enfield trials rifle 1942 No.4 Mk1* by Savage 1946 No.5 Mk1 by BSA 1947 No.5 Mk1 By BSA (Unissued) 1962 2A1 (Indian 7.62mm Mk3) 1970s L59A1 Official Drill rifle based on a 1942 BSA No.4 Mk1 The original designations using Mark only changed in the late 1920s to Number and Mark, hence why the early SMLE are marked as such. I also have a Relic CLLE with really good metal but no wood found on the somme and a 1918 dated MkIII* by BSA found in a Dunkirk sand dune, left behind by a RASC soldier in 1940. I like to think it was my Grandads as he told me before I got this rifle, that he burried his in the sand. Going back to the SA80, I really like this rifle, I've used it for 15 years in all sorts of areas of operations and found it to be very good. I've also used the AK47 in 7.62 and the Ak74 in 5.54mm and although rugged, they arn't paticularly accurate at longer ranges, I've seen a MOD video of comparison trials of a AK and M16 and the AK barrel visably bends as the projectile travels down the barrel. I've also used the M4 carbine and its very similar to a L85 in performance but the M4 is bit easier to bring into the shoulder in my opinion. They both use the same Stoner Locking Mechanism so both suffer with the bolt not rotating fully (I've not experienced this with the L85A2 though) and require a forward assist.

I think it must be from a precision optical instrument as the hook under neath is for a weight to steady the tripod

Hi John, Can you post photos when you get it.

There were about 10 on one of the militaria sites but I've just checked and they've all gone. I take it yours is missing or is it incorrect for your gun?

There is a ww2 .5 M2HB for sale on a well known site for £3250, a bit expensive, the guns usualy cost about £1000 to £1500 for a M2HB but I dont see any at the mo. I know where there are m3 50 cal tripods for 575 euros (+ post) so if you see a m2 sans tripod let me know and I'll point you too there site. p.s. there is a M2AC for sale at spitfire spares but no price is quoted.

Just to add to the quoted deac guide lines. I also have a copy of those guidelines and I know there out of date. They date from about 1997 and have now changed in some details i.e. the magazines, they no longer need to be deactivated, I think they saw sence! There are some more changes on their way, I have 4 deactivated Bren barrels, all legal with deac certs, they were part of a small batch put through Birmingham proof house by a well known company. They currently arn't putting any more through untill the new guideline is finalised which should be soon.

They cant be a section 5 part, its a spring. I've got 5 old spec STENs and the springs can be removed.