brummie76 Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 i am looking for a pic of a ww1 Enfield breach cover.....can anyone help please? Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Ere. How about this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Try again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Or. And this is one of my favourite WW1 Photo's. At Albert i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Just Google "Lee Enfield breech cover" and click on images. There are plenty, this one is a sample. Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Onthe above pic, note the 303 round in the sling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 20 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Thanks guys! I was not sure of the colour and if it is ww2 or ww1....is there any difference? When i googled it only ww2 pics appeared despite entering ww1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 21 April , 2013 Share Posted 21 April , 2013 I could well be proved wrong, but I've always understood the WW1 versions were in the khaki brown coloured material, which is similar to the material used for the groundsheets and later the capes of that period. Both of these become a distinct khaki green by WW2 as does the breech cover. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawley Jockey Posted 21 April , 2013 Share Posted 21 April , 2013 Onthe above pic, note the 303 round in the sling... I was always of the understanding that the 303 round in/on the sling was to ensure that it was tight 'didn't slip' whilst carrying your rifle slung over the shoulder, it was also an 'emergency round' if required in the heat of battle apparently Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 23 April , 2013 Share Posted 23 April , 2013 I used to own about 4,000 breach covers - all WW2 dated. They were from numerous British & Australian manufacturers. The colours were a very pale green, a mid-green with raw-white canvas lining, dark green and a wide range of khaki from light to a mid-brown. I bought them from a Government auction in 1977, disposing of Royal Navy reserve stores held in Sydney, Aust for about $100 (about GBP40) at the time. The gear was all WW1 & WW2. The rest was all bought by the disposal store cartel. Much of it never appeared on the Australian market, I have often wondered what happened to it all. Anyway the point is that there is a huge range of variation in WW2 manufactured breach covers for the .303 . Just because a cover is khaki does not make it a WW1 cover. Regards Ross T. PS I see WW1 dated examples turn up regularly on ebay - be careful, it can be easy to fake the dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 24 April , 2013 Share Posted 24 April , 2013 PS I see WW1 dated examples turn up regularly on ebay - be careful, it can be easy to fake the dates. Indeed - especially if they purport to be by ME Co and are stamped in thick, square sanserif lettering; ditto 37 pattern large packs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 24 April , 2013 Share Posted 24 April , 2013 I've never had one that actually fits correctly, they are usually too tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 24 April , 2013 Share Posted 24 April , 2013 Indeed - especially if they purport to be by ME Co and are stamped in thick, square sanserif lettering; ditto 37 pattern large packs. Ah yes: the 'Art Deco' stamping style. Joe had some detail on the pattern a while back - I'll try to find it. I have one to a casualty in the, IIRC, Essex Cyclists and will try to dig that out. It's certainly not anything like cape material as referenced above; and is really quite flimsy compared to the later ones with the dodgy stamps. Cheers, GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 24 April , 2013 Share Posted 24 April , 2013 Joe had some detail on the pattern a while back - I'll try to find it. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19230 "The Breech cover is fully described in LoC 17368, 24 June 1915. "the Cover is made of Double texture waterproof drill, and is fitted with 3 press studs on the left side of the rifle. Two eyelets are fitted in the cover for a lace which is knotted on the inside to retain it in position: The cover is attached to rifle by means of the lace as follows- Rifles Short MLE-- To the guard sling swivel, or through the swivel screw hole in the lugs on the trigger guard." There are also instructions on how to fit it to the Ross and long LE. LoC 18301 23 Nov 1916, slightly changed the covers nomenclature to: Cover Breech, No. 2 MK I---for P14 rifle Cover, Breech No.1 Mk I--All other patterns Description is nearly identical except the No' 2 is stamped with a figure 2 on the outside of the pleat. No'1had a figure 1. Joe Sweeney" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eparges Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 Hi, I was allways led to be believe, that to distinguish an undated WW1 from a WW2 were the presstuds: with a 'pattern' for WW1, smooth WW2 (although WW1 can also be smooth), is this correct? The only visible marking on my exemple below is a rather large Gov.Arrow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 Eparges, your example is undoubtedly WW1 as it has the 1910 patent date on the press-studs. I have one identical, with the same leather bootlace. I can't find any markings at all on it. Rgds, W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 Regarding not fitting correctly - disagree, they do fit but are very tight. They usually shrink a little in storage and with handling do stretch back to the correct size. However if they are at all rotten, they tear or the press studs pull out. So be warned. Regards Ross T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 As I say I have never had one that fits correctly, WW1 or WW2 types, and the shrinkage issue needs to be thought about if you want one to use, especially if laying down real money for a genuine WW1 example, so either try before you buy or have pictures sent of it insitu. Another issue I noticed at the weekend were 4 web slings stamped 1916 on the brasses, no maker, all the same stamping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 25 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 25 April , 2013 i ask about these covers as i have a replica version and i was wondering if it is ok to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 25 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 25 April , 2013 These are the repro covers i have...are they ok for ww1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Sweeney Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 All, Here is a 1918 dated cover for the Enfield. Identical to Eparges. Note no oval piece and the location of the eyelets --they are much farther back than later WW2 ones. brummie76--based on the photos you'll have to make the decsision of whether good enough youreslf. Hope this helps Joe Sweeney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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