My 'New' 1916 BSA Mk III* .410

[Aughnanure]

As promised elsewhere here's a few pics of my latest acquisition, a 1916 BSA Mk III* converted just post WW II by the Lithgow Small Arms factory for Slazengers.







Picked it up yesterday the 4/4/2012 (now 9 mins past Midnight )

Fair bit of cosmetic rust which should come off with a bit of TLC and elbow grease; note the nice treatment of the foresight.

I'll post more photos as the clean up progresses.

[Woftam]

I know they're a part of Lithgow history but they are an ugly gun.

[Niner]

Looks a bit like too much barrel and not enough stock. But..... should make it easier to keep the point of impact down when in an unsupported firing stance.

[Aughnanure]

I know they're a part of Lithgow history but they are an ugly gun.

Very true and as Niner says more forend would look better and there was probably a good reason for the odd design.

Once I clean it up I'll do a bit of firing and try it with a longer forend.

I remember seeing some nice English conversions on MLE or MLM actions that had longer woodwork.

Edit:

Just went a Googling and found this Webley and Scott,

[Niner]

Dug up an old Springfield Sporters catalog. It had a Sporter .410 Enfield with a longer forestock. No telling where they got them. These rifles could use standard 3 inch 410 shells. They also had an Isaphore Enfield .410 in standard 1MKIII configuration that had only 2 inch chambers that wouldn't take the standard commercial shell cases. I guess these Isaphores were surplus riot police rifles from some Asian backwater or other.

[PeterN2]

You can still buy 2 inch .410 cartridges here in the UK as well as the 2 1/2 and 3 inch cartridges.
Regards
Peter.

http://www.kirklees-guns.co.uk/page91.html