Any ideas what this contraption is (on a L.E.) (picture happy)

Awsome! So it is an adapter for the 'Sub Caliber Gun Machine'. That is a new one for me.

Now the question is, how should the OP restore this rifle? If mine I would have a dilemma. Clean it up and preserve as is and baffle other collectors whenever I pulled it out for show and tell? Or remove the thingy-ma-jig and put it back into a standard shooting rifle?

Can the rifle still be shot with a live round with that device still attached? It looks like the rifle is permanently altered to accept the assembly?
 
You could make a modern trainer with it. Maybe a laser in the attachment, wired to a switch in the chamber replacing the primer. You can get a cheap dashcam on ebay. Play back the video to score your shots.
Or sell it on the EE, it really is "rare"!

And thanks to the OP for the fun post!
 
Sausage maker. :p

Be sure to let us know if you get some concrete info on it. I wouldn't "restore" it. Carefully clean it up and dazzle your buddies with it. :cool:
 
enefgee said:
Line launcher? Missing a cocking piece and bolt but could be for launching communication lines over a distance, using the rifle sights.
Click to expand...

This is more in-line {sorry:p} with what I was thinking. The back half seems to have a spring loaded rod that would accept a "snap on" type of attachment for a line throw (infantry or naval ship to ship), or...?

Is there any indication that something (cup?) was attached to the muzzle at one point in time? What I'm thinking of would have required the firing of blanks.

Also, what is it made of? If that's cast aluminium it a WW2 thingie ma bob, not 1914.
 
Thanks for all the ideas... my best guess is its part of a sub-target machine. Im still trying to find out more, but for the time being I think I'm going to disassemble everything and if I can remove the 'contraption' part, I'll put it in a box and clean up and reassemble the rifle without it. I'm going to leave the stock cutouts and mods on it alone. I like shooting them, and with that chunk hanging off the side I think it would get a little annoying. Im also thinking I might take it down to a nearby military museum (Brantford) and let them have a peek.
 
Could this possibly have been mounted to an aircraft in '14-'15 before machine guns became commonplace on fighter/scout/bomber aircraft? The spring inside suggests recoil mitigation.
 
shredder said:
Could this possibly have been mounted to an aircraft in '14-'15 before machine guns became commonplace on fighter/scout/bomber aircraft? The spring inside suggests recoil mitigation.
Click to expand...

The spring is to the rear, it wouldn't depress when the gun recoils backwards.

Personally I think its likely some sort of spring loaded mounting system.
 
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