Forestry Commission Rifle (part 2)

[KCLRPC]

Right, I have finally managed to get hold of the rifle I asked about a couple of months ago. The basic story seems to be that it was built as an LE 1* in 1901 by BSA. At some point in its life the military wood was sporterised, the holes for the handguard spring filled, and a ramped bead foresight and 50-150 leaf sight added. It was then issued to the Forestry Commission Game Wardens. I've heard of two gunmakers supposedly making these, but neither appear to have kept any records of the work.

At some point later on the rifling must have worn down, as it was then sleeved (Parkerifled in style, but no stamps), but the original barrel length retained. As such, this is now a .22LR rifle with a 27 inch barrel. The bolt is original (bar the replacement bolt head), and there is serious pitting to some of the covered metalwork, but nowhere that makes it dangerous (rear of the wrist, under the trigger guard etc). Its cleaned up quite nicely, and the bore is in pretty good condition, so should be interesting when I go test it next week

anyway, pictures:

[DuncaninFrance]

KCLRPC. Hope you don't mind but I couldn't see any detail in the last pic so I 'tweeked' it a bit in Photoshop. I can't tell you what it is but someone else might be able to.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... 03_161.jpg[/pic]

[KCLRPC]

Sorry, I tend to manage resizing, but enlarging doesn't always work. So thank you for that

As a side note, there is a corresponding stamp on the forend wood, but I can't quite remember where. The other thing is that the back of the wrist has inspectors stamps, where I've never seen them placed before.

[Woftam]

That's a nice rifle. The Forrestry Commission provenance must make it a bit of a rarity.

You'll get some looks pulling that out for .22 competitions

Can't help with the squiggle, might be related to the conversion.

Let us know how it shoots.

[KCLRPC]

Right, finally managed to get the rifle onto my ticket, as well as the Martini in the other post. Thankfully, I can still get into a .22 range in central London, and so after work took it down to play. Offhand I wasn't shooting well (inability to hold steady), but resting on a high bench managed a 2in group that was at 6 O'clock (aiming at the bottom of the bull), and managed three bulls once aiming at the centre (discounting two flyers that were entirely down to me). It looks like, with practice, I may yet manage some competition shooting with it.

Which is why I had an entry form to a LERA competition shoved under my nose this evening.

Nick

[Woftam]

You mean you aren't ostracised to the countryside if you want to shoot ?

You can actually shoot in London ?

Ounds promising so far. What is the competition ?

[Woftam]

You mean you aren't ostracised to the countryside if you want to shoot ?

You can actually shoot in London ?

Sounds promising so far. What is the competition ?

[Aughnanure]

You hick-up ing or stuttering? For hick-ups; hold your breath and drink a tumbler ef single malt.

Always works for me

[KCLRPC]

There are about 2 or 3 public target ranges that I know of left in London. One, the Marylebone/Stock Exchange, is moving, and I forget quite where to.The others are under Blackfriars Bridge and the Strand respectively, and I know the Strand one has been in or near its current location for over a century. Theres also an OTC range near Russel Square I'm told.

If the question was aimed at me, I was suffering muscle shakes from dragging a fairly heavy case halfway across London. Once on a rest the effects were minimal, it was just freehand that proved a problem

The competition is the Herts & Essex Field Firing match in February, and the target responsible for my partialy enforced attendance is below.

[KCLRPC]

As it didn't seem to work last time, hopefully it will now