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

green said:
It is part of an electric training device ,there was a switch mounted on the side of the body activated by a rod mounted on the cocking piece. Similar to the old arcade shooting games and shown complete in the above pic.
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That would certainly make sense....I wonder if it has any collector value ?
 
Robert Nicholson said:
This is interesting! I was wondering if all artillery practice was done with full size rounds which would be really expensive. Anyone care to tell us more?:wave:
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The FNC1 sub-cal was .22 LR. Simply remove the breach block and carrier and slide the new assembly into the barrel. It was a blowback action semi with its on full size mags. The C1 Howtizer sub-cal was a 14.5mm bolt action system that fired out to 500 mr with a chalk round. You remove the breach block and the sub-cal barrel slide into the breach.
 
Post 51 shows the switch that goes with the item from the op which is the mounting bracket which attaches the rifle to a moveable arm. As the arm moves it makes contact with electrodes. Contact mechanism is similar to an auto distributor. When the cocking piece falls it closes a switch and if the arm is correctly aimed the circuit will close and score a hit. The complete mechanism or a similar one is shown on the first page of this thread. Dates c1900-10.
I have saw this switch and bracket mounted on a Long Lee, a US Krag and photo of one on a MkI* Ross.
 
Ok, so I'm convinced that I AM simple. Let me understand this contraption in simple terms. The training aspect of the mechanism is as above? The receiver on the rifle is changed to what we see in the pic, and the attachment which is bolted to the barrel is intended to mount the rifle (which is DP'd) to some sort of stand?
So, no live ammo, no blank ammo, no bolt, just a mounted rifle with an electric motor that pulls the firing pin to ####? Why? To train the youngin's sight picture...we were all using no4's by the time this thing was up and running (unless it's for the Aussies?)

Oh, and to the OP...don't use live ammo with this rifle! you may get an unexpected and negative surprize.
 
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12655441
As you see, the machine consists of an upright pillar supporting in any of the three positions -i.e.', lying, kneeling, or standing-an adjustable headpiece. This consists of a" cylindrical metal barrel carrying a delicate rod with a universal movement, and having a needle at the end. The rifle is connected with this rod by means of metal brackets, through which every movement of the rifle, no matter how small, is transmitted to the rod, and through the rod to tho needle.Immediately in front of the needle is a small cardboard target upon which every movement of the needle can be observed ; and so, also, of the rifle in relation to the target at which it is aimed. When the trigger is pulled the sub-target, actuated by electricity, jumps forward, and is impaled upon the needle. The mark on the sub-target corresponds exactly with the spot where the target would have been hit had live ammunition been used in the rifle.

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Thus you get the same result as, would be obtained on a full-sized range.
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This may be a different model, but needle holes in a card make sense.
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/S-Mauser_sub-tgt_adapter.htm
almina%20top.jpg


My own laser trainer is here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...7-My-Homemade-ShootOff-Laser-Shooting-Trainer
 
Last edited:
Plinker777 , Dumb question maybe, but why does 6 sided nuts give it away as being 40's+ ? I don't think I like the idea of studs into the barrel either as far as firing it goes.
 
For a full description google "rifleman.org.uk"
click menu
scroll to Wilkinson Sub Target Machine and click
 
wd113 said:
Plinker777 , Dumb question maybe, but why does 6 sided nuts give it away as being 40's+ ? I don't think I like the idea of studs into the barrel either as far as firing it goes.
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There was a point in time when all threaded fasteners were square 4 sided nuts. (they actually began as a wooden fastener for wooden threaded pins!) The greater surface area of 4 sided fasteners means that they still have a place holding stuff together (think furniture, caged fasteners etc.), but they are no longer generally used. Sometime (?) in between the first world war and the second, manufacturing and tooling changed to using 6 sided fasteners for everything but specialized fasteners which may remain square. (swagging spanner fasteners...uber big stuff).
I would not shoot the rifle if I were you wd113. Out of curiosity, does the bolt# match the # on the wrist? With the info from Green and clarification from Juster (If I'm to properly understand it), what you have should be considered a training aid (the efficiency/effectiveness of which is questionable) rather than a rifle/firearm. Not to take away from its intrinsic value as a point of interest, but not a gun.
 
green said:
It is for an electro mechanical training fire simulator.
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Shhhh - telling them the answer will make it boring :p



WD113 - if you want a shooter in that make/model, I'd suggest maybe selling that model to a collector at a profit and buying a cheaper same model gun? The problem I've seen with disassembling rare guns is that eventually parts get lost or damaged and they cease to have historical value. I know that someone on the forum would give you a good price for that gun, and you could have your shooter and spare cash in the process. Plus it's my suspicion that the gun may have been converted due to excessive headspace or worn bore, so shooting would be pointless anyways, nevermind if the alterations didn't do something to make it unshootable.
 
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