Old Tom Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 I caught up with the Quizeum BBC programme at the Imperial War Museum. Mildly amusing. It exposed a gap in my knowledge; a matter of names. I have long been aware that Enfield was the location (perhaps still is) of the Royal Small Arms Factory and that the Lee Enfield followed the Lee Metford. Should I be ashamed to admit that I know nothing of Lee or Metford. Can anyone help, briefly? Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 Well, if you are not an arms buff, then no! No need to ashamed to admit you know nowt about Lee or Metford. But yes, important names to know about for their works on the workings of rifles, and James Paris Lee and William Ellis Metford both have Wiki entries for a suitable starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 18 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2015 Thanks I should have thought of that. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 James Paris Lee was the person upon whos designs both rifles were based. The Americans claim him as an American becasu he did all his design work as an American Citizen. The Canadians say that he is Canadian because he was brought up there. The English say that he was British - because he was actually born in Scotland. The key technical difference between a Lee-Metford and a Lee-Enfield is the rifling in the barrel. The Metford rifling is designed to cope with the black powder load used by the early British .303 cartridges. The Enfileld rifling was designed for the later Cordite loaded rounds and was named after the RSAF Enfield Lock, Middlesex were it was developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 . I have long been aware that Enfield was the location (perhaps still is) of the Royal Small Arms Factory Old Tom As far as I know, there is nothing left of the original factory at enfield, I would like to be wrong in this, can members assist?? khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 There are a few buildings remaining, some derelict, one of the major workshops is a supermarket, there was at one time a tiny museum. I was told by a friend who took me around the site, that it was almost as if the local council was embarrassed by its past, and are quite keen to erase it from memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 ... it was almost as if the local council was embarrassed by its past, and are quite keen to erase it from memory. What a shame! The place is an important part of our British heritage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 There are a few buildings remaining, some derelict, one of the major workshops is a supermarket, there was at one time a tiny museum. I was told by a friend who took me around the site, that it was almost as if the local council was embarrassed by its past, and are quite keen to erase it from memory. That's a real shame given the history behind Rifle, i would imagine that other Rifle manufactures have held there history in a better state. Remington,Winchester etc. None the less. I will try and keep history alive. Cheers all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 What a shame! The place is an important part of our British heritage! You think that's bad ? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020022/Birminghams-historic-Gun-Quarter-renamed--PC-critics-say-glorifies-crime.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 18 November , 2015 Share Posted 18 November , 2015 Further confusion can arise if you ponder that Enfield is actually on the Lee (or Lea if you prefer), so you could say the Lee Enfield was made in Enfield on Lee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 19 November , 2015 Share Posted 19 November , 2015 You think that's bad ? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020022/Birminghams-historic-Gun-Quarter-renamed--PC-critics-say-glorifies-crime.html Now, that IS crazy PC! Best summed up by the person who mentioned the distinctly unlikely chance of re-naming the 'Black Country' as something else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 19 November , 2015 Share Posted 19 November , 2015 Further confusion can arise if you ponder that Enfield is actually on the Lee (or Lea if you prefer), so you could say the Lee Enfield was made in Enfield on Lee. Ah but it is on the correct (Middlesex) side of the Lea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 20 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2015 I did not know the RSAF was no more. I recall that it had a collection of small arms and assocaiated pieces of equipment in what was called 'the pattern room'. I visited RSAF once or twice in the 60's and was told that the pattern room was closed. I wonder what happened to the exhibits? The Royal Armories Museum at Leeds ? Does anyone know? Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 20 November , 2015 Share Posted 20 November , 2015 IIRC at one time it went to the School of Infantry Warminster, then there was a plan to sell it off (out of the UK), I believe the bulk of the collection now forms the National Firearms Center, Leeds http://www.royalarmouries.org/projects/research/nfc G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 20 November , 2015 Share Posted 20 November , 2015 The pattern room moved to the Royal Ordnance Factory Nottingham when the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield closed in 1989. It later moved to the new Royal Armouries in Leeds where it resides still The School of Infantry collection was in fact from the Small Arms School collection at Hythe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 20 November , 2015 Share Posted 20 November , 2015 Thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 21 November , 2015 Share Posted 21 November , 2015 For those who have the talent & skills I would love to see some of those 'then & now' merged photographs of what's left of the RSAF facilities. khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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