Boys Anti Tank Rifle with Pics (Ordnance Tan???)

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agentcq

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Finally some pics. This truly is a project. Thanks to one GunNut I was able to find the bolt. The rifle needs a good cleaning and I still need to receive the replacement original 55 Barrel, which Dough at Ellwood Epps will fit for me. I found a source for modern/shootable ammo, so hopefully by the summer or fall, I will be good to go!

One interesting thing I noticed, is that the wood and carry handle has 10-20% paint which looks like ordnance tan? This makes me suspicious that the rifle was used in Northern Africa. Every Boys rifle I have seen before has a heavily oiled/waxed wood.

When cleaning this rifle up, should I lightly oil as the wood is very dry? Leave it as is? Or because only 10-20% of the paint remains, colour match it and re-finish. I usually don't like to re-finish something unless it needs it. Generally I only like to do what is necessary for preservation.

This is a project rifle, so maybe I should go all the way?

Opinions welcome.

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I would love to come out and see you shoot it.
If you don't mind the odd ogling bystander, let us know.
I could take some pics or video.
And bring coffee and donuts!
 
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Enviously I call you a lucky arse!

What is the story with the bipod, were they later models or what. (excuse the ignorance).
Ones I've seen have the monopod mounts like this one for the Vickers but without the water jacket clamp.
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The BSA MK I Boys rifles had the earlier bi-pod. The Inglis MK II rifles had the later bi-pod. There were a few variations between the MK I and MK II, mainly differences in the bipod, rear sights and muzzle suppressors systems.

I have talked about this rifle before. It was a poor attempt at a DEWAT (years ago) and had obviously been sitting for some time (covered in dirt, dust and grime). I decided that this dragon needed to breath fire once more. The original bolt face was ground, another CGN member found me an un-issued replacement bolt for a reasonable price (If any one has Bren Carrier kit, this helpful CGN member is looking for some - blatant advertisement plug).

I was going to have Doug at Ellwood convert this rifle to 50 BMJ (Costs about $800-1200), however the same week I found the bolt, I found an original .55 barrel south of the border. Due to export/import, I won't be seeing it any time soon (Cost to fit an original barrel $200-300).

I was then stuck with a hard decision. Convert to 50 BMJ and keep the original barrel with the rifle? Or stay with the original caliber, knowing ammo is as rare as hens teeth? I was able to source newly produced .55 ammo out of Australia for about $25 a round (again I won't see it for a few months). I did a cost comparison and if I only shoot 60 rounds at $25 a shell or less, staying with the original caliber is just as economical if not cheaper than converting the rifle. Now, I might regret this decision if the Zombies come, because I would probably need more than 60 rounds, but lets get back to reality.

In a perfect world, what I will do is have Doug form but not fit a 50 BMJ barrel for this rifle while he is fitting the 55 Boys replacement barrel. That way I could switch to the converted barrel if ever so required (hopefully years down the line). If I ever decide to sell the rifle, the extra barrel will add value.

This rifle was part of a larger deal and did come at a cost...
$650 and 1x MP44 (Converted Auto) for 1x Boys Rifle (requiring $1200 in parts, $300 for fitting and $1250 for ammo) , 1x M41 Johnson Rifle and 1x Mint 1943 production M12 Trench Gun (US ordnance marked).

The Johnson needs some slight restoration/preservation and the Boys is in need of quite a bit of care. I will keep people updated throughout!
 
Both types of "pods" were used on the Boys. Most if not all Inglis Boys had the twin legs as shown while the British BSA made ones have the single stem monopod. You will however find a mixture of both types now as no one knows what happened during or after the war with the boys.
 
I'd be careful calling the Inglis a Mk.II. Inglis were marked "Mk.I" but had different features (muzzle brake, handle, bipod, sight. There's even two shapes of shoulder piece but I don't know if this is a Canadian vs. UK thing). Some barrels were stamped Mk.II but the receiver is Mk.I.

On Gunbroker there's a guy selling Boys parts. One of the items is a cast metal pistol grip/trigger group housing. The odd thing is that most Boys have a wooden pistol grip and this item has the housing and pistol grip molded as one piece. I imagine that's a war economy effort saving thing but I've never seen a Boys with one attached.

Mk.II were supposedly lightened, shorted airborne models. Has anyone ever see evidence or a picture of one of these?
 
bogusiii said:
.....Mk.II were supposedly lightened, shorted airborne models. Has anyone ever see evidence or a picture of one of these?
Click to expand...

I was looking at one last week at the NFC/Royal Armouries (Pattern Room as was). Unfortunately, although I took a number of pictures of the Boys rifles I did not take any of the shortened version. When I am back there in early March I will take some.

Here are the different muzzle brakes, original .5 inch Stanchion Vickers Armstrong, .55 inch Boys BSA and .55 inch Boys Inglis.

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Regards
TonyE
 
bogusiii justly corrected me. The BSA rifles dubbed MK I, Inglis rifles dubbed MK I* (but many had a MK II marked barrels) and the MKII was a lighter version of the rifle.

I am still curious about the paint. Speaking to some gents and looking at some pics, some of these rifle frames and bi-pods were painted in ordnance green? As one gent pointed out to me, the rifle will not be matching once repaired, so I might as well make it look as nice as possible.

If anyone else has pics of these rifles that would be great. Even google doesn't provide many images.
 
Tough call, but IMO you're better off not refinishing it. Tempting, but I think you've got some real history there, and your North Africa idea might well be right.

Here's an idea for you: get some clean Q Tips and some rubbing alcohol, and swab out all the nooks and crannies where stuff could hide for 70 years or so. Put the Q Tips in a new ziplock bag when they've dried and take them to your nearest university biology department and ask them if they can ID the pollens found on your rifle. They'll be there, and if you find North African ones, bingo, you know your rifle was there. I wouldn't tell them you have a rifle in mind, but tell them it's some artifact you want to learn more about.

Worked for the Shroud of Turin and it'll work for old guns.
 
Regarding the tan paint. First, can you tell if it's 'desert sand' or faded yellow? Maybe scraping off the outer layer in a thick section of the paint will tell. If yellow, I'd opt for some training or identifying marking. If tan, then possibly desert, possibly anti-rot protection. If camouflage then you have to ask why the rest of the rifle doesn't have traces of the same colour. I'm trying to figure out the benefit of painting only the parts you touch and can't come up with a logical reason. I'd also suggest that very few Inglis Boys made it overseas and any that did probably never came back, ie. if it's here it's because it was always here.
 
nice rifle hope you get to shoot her and if and when i get my dies and press(rock crusher) there maybe a supply of brass,bullets and who knows maybe loaded ammo here in canada

this seems to be a later rifle with the harmonica style break i guess this is also my problem im pickey i want the round one the the ono in the second one in the pic's above
 
How is the project going? I'm looking for some shootable ammo for my Boys and accesories like the 22 sub cal kit and cleaning kit. Where are you getting yours?
 
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