smleenfield Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 OK Lads! Time to go over the top. Got your kit ready. One 1905 SMLE #1 MkI*** by London Small Arms. One Pattern 1907 hooked quillion bayonet. One modified pattern 1903 bayonet to a fighting knife. One trench mace. One nine pocket bandoleer with ammo. Ready Lads!!!!! Over the top in 5---4---3---................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 I would have thought shouting like that might have warned the Germans you were coming. Happy New Year TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smleenfield Posted 2 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Sorry, could you speak up a little. I lost most of my hearing to a grenade. It's a bit noisy here in the trench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Sorry, could you speak up a little. I lost most of my hearing to a grenade. It's a bit noisy here in the trench. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Lost most of your grenades, too by the look of your kit. Was it going to be a very quiet trench raid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark88 Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Lost most of your grenades, too by the look of your kit. Was it going to be a very quiet trench raid? Perhaps they were just after a prisoner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Possibly, and they could always have talked their way out if the Germans didn't want to give up a man or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark88 Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 Nice one! I love this forum!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 I think it was normal practice to take mills bombs as a kind of currency, or bartering goods, in most well-planned trench raids. At least, they were supposed to leave their own trench with bombs and return with a prisoner or two. Prices varied from raid to raid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom W. Posted 2 January , 2012 Share Posted 2 January , 2012 You could also take your pocket SMLE to the party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark88 Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Gentlemen - I think there is absolutely no excuse - no matter what the level of our own knowledge - for not learning daily from this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smleenfield Posted 3 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Considering the stock disc shows this rifle assigned to the Royal Engineers, I would assume we would be carrying something more potent then just a few Mills Bombs. Mills Bombs are just firecrackers to an Engineer. We're out to do some real damage. Let the rankers play with their little bombs and leave the men's work to the Royal Engineers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smleenfield Posted 3 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 3 January , 2012 You could also take your pocket SMLE to the party. Obviously a dressing down by the RSM is in the works for your poor weapons maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom W. Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Obviously a dressing down by the RSM is in the works for your poor weapons maintenance. You don't think he'd congratulate you for creating so much less to maintain? A quick wipe with an oiled cloth and you're done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Starlight Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Destruction of governemnt property is regarded as a very serious offence! All trench stores must be accounted for - remember to return all fragments of Mills bombs for salvage purposes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark88 Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 "Gentlemen - I think there is absolutely no excuse - no matter what the level of our own knowledge - for not learning daily from this forum." To say nothing of the sheer entertainment value!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 You could also take your pocket SMLE to the party. That is the firing mechanism for the 2 inch Trench Mortar. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom W. Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 That is the firing mechanism for the 2 inch Trench Mortar. Actually, the firing mechanism for the Two Inch Medium Mortar consisted only of the Lee-Enfield bolt mechanism and chamber, which was screwed into the top of the barrel near the base. It didn't have any of the wooden stock. This kind of shortened rifle was used in trench raids and by tunnelers. In fact, it was often called a "tunnel gun." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smleenfield Posted 3 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Actually, the firing mechanism for the Two Inch Medium Mortar consisted only of the Lee-Enfield bolt mechanism and chamber, which was screwed into the top of the barrel near the base. It didn't have any of the wooden stock. This kind of shortened rifle was used in trench raids and by tunnelers. In fact, it was often called a "tunnel gun." Firing something like this inside a tunnel would be unbelievable. The flash and muzzle blast would be stunning. One might just a well chuck a grenade down the tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Firing something like this inside a tunnel would be unbelievable. The flash and muzzle blast would be stunning. One might just a well chuck a grenade down the tunnel. Hardly. None of the bullet is likely to hit anyone behind the gun whereas a grenade was a lot less picky about its victims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Actually, the firing mechanism for the Two Inch Medium Mortar consisted only of the Lee-Enfield bolt mechanism and chamber, which was screwed into the top of the barrel near the base. It didn't have any of the wooden stock. This kind of shortened rifle was used in trench raids and by tunnelers. In fact, it was often called a "tunnel gun." It is the firing mechanism for the 2 inch mortar. Wasn't the 'tunnel gun' a fantasy piece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 A revolver would have been far more effective, I can't imagine any armourer, and they did have them, allowing a rifle to be converted and passing a piece like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 Try firing the ruddy thing. I've fired 30-06 as a long range pistol at Bisley, and that had a 600mm heavy weight barrel, t'was fun, but that beast no-way. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom W. Posted 3 January , 2012 Share Posted 3 January , 2012 It is the firing mechanism for the 2 inch mortar. Wasn't the 'tunnel gun' a fantasy piece? The firing mechanism in your drawing is different from the weapon in my photo. The photo shows a weapon with a deliberately carved butt grip and a grip in front of the magazine. Enough wood has been retained on the weapon for the purpose of holding the crazy thing when shooting it. The firing device in the drawing also doesn't have a magazine. A single blank cartridge was used. The weapon in the photo retains a magazine, has a butt grip, and a grip for holding the barrel steady. It's different than the mortar firing device. Here's a sawed-off Moisin-Nagant rifle: http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=34485&postcount=16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 4 January , 2012 Share Posted 4 January , 2012 The point where the cut is made in the stock will have to be further back than the Stock Bolt, which will take it to the point in your picture. I don't believe that it would be practice to cut a rifle down to make a pistol because of the difficulty chambering another round once one has been fired. It would be a very difficult to handle one shot pistol. I'm sorry but I think it is romantic tosh, like the Mosin-Nagant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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