Parachitists Rifle Valise?

[stencollector]

I picked up one of these recently. Both Shilo and Rivers Manitoba were jump schools back in the day, so a lot of the surplus was sold off locally. The box mentioned it was something for a parachutist, but it didn't really ring a bell with me. I grabbed one, and when I got home, noticed that the loops and grommets kind of turn it into a rifle sized case. But what rifle (if it's even for a weapon)?
Photos attached. There is one of the 50s style Cdn inspection stamps on it, so it is post war.

 

[stencollector]

I tried a Bren too, and also attempted to fit a M2HB into it. Bren was fine, but the M2HB was a no-go.

None of the guns seemed to match with the supplied holes in the cover. And one of them has any accessory that will fit in the flap on the side.

So any jumpers out there have any idea what these were?

 

[Lee Enfield]

Try a Garand.

Alternately 3.5" rocket??

 

[R711]

The American weapons bag is rectangular like the SARPELS Bag, this looks like the British version. There is a FB page which goes into detail about the equipment used by the British Airborne

 

[stencollector]

I have a 3.5, but there is no way this will fit it. I don't have a Garand in the gunroom these days for some reason. I can try a BAR.

I have several of the US version of their drop bags, agreed this is nothing like them. The NSN on the boxes was Cdn, as is the inspecters stamp and the company that made them. But I'll try and find that British facebook page, thanks.

 

[homeboy1]

After looking at your collection, it's clear that I have been doing it wrong all these years...
As for the jump bag, I have never seen one like it, not even in a picture. Pretty interesting find. Is it possible it was for the Jungle Carbine? Just a thought.

 

[Lee Enfield]

I have a 3.5, but there is no way this will fit it. I don't have a Garand in the gunroom these days for some reason. I can try a BAR.

I have several of the US version of their drop bags, agreed this is nothing like them. The NSN on the boxes was Cdn, as is the inspecters stamp and the company that made them. But I'll try and find that British facebook page, thanks.

Ex1, 3"? shorter than c1...

 

[stencollector]

I could try the EX1 and 2, but neither really has any features that would justify some of the openings on the valise. There was nothing wrong with the length of the C1A1 in the valise....3 inches shorter won't make things any better.

I took the valise in to work today to try and clean some of the mold off the canvas. The HEPA vacuum should get most of it.

 

[R711]

I put up the pics in a UK para FB, they think it’s a trial’s item. Never issued in the British system

 

[shredder]

Possibly a No 5 "Jungle Carbine"??

IIRC the No 5 Mk1 Enfield was originally intended for paratroops.

 

[stencollector]

I put up the pics in a UK para FB, they think it’s a trial’s item. Never issued in the British system

Thanks for that.

At some point there will ba an "ah-hah" moment with this cover where it will all make sense. If I get bakc out to my source this weekend, I'll copy the NSN off the boxes and look it up for more information. I do recall it was a fairly old Cdn NSN.

 

[MIRAMICHIER]

Its only a bag but what a nice piece of of History I like old things.

 

[37patt]

If you post the NSN I have one of the old microfiche sets that may have it in it.

 

[stencollector]

If you post the NSN I have one of the old microfiche sets that may have it in it.

You packrat....but actually so do I. I used to have a set dated 1984, and another set 1988, and for some reason that I can't explain I disposed of the 1984 set. What a mistake.

I have never burned out a bulb in that old fiche reader yet. Hopefully when that day comes, they are still available.

 

[stencollector]

I went back to the source and picked up a couple more, including one in a much browner material. Many of them had tape on them with rank, name and units on them. I also grabbed the label off the end of one of the boxes. It reads:
Catalogue section 4A, Catalogue number 307823, contents: VALISE A/B COMB. BODY ONLY. Dates were in the late 50s. Next time I am out there I'll have to see if there are earlier dates, otherwise, with t he dates of late 50s, it means FN family of rifles I suspect. They predate the NSN system, and when I tried to look those numbers up on the old Canadian government catalogue from the 80s, it did not show up. I was not able to find any of the boxes with a NSN...just the above part number.

The valises were made by Irving Air Chute Company , Fort Erie, Ontario

I also dug a little deeper through some barrack boxes. A stack of 4 boxes proved quite nice. First box was full or regular mk2 helmets. The second box had some jump helmets, and a number of various dispatch riders helmets, ranging from early Spalding to the all steel version. The third box had more of the same, including one WW2 para helmet. The fourth barrack box was disappointing....stowed on ground level, everything inside (including a number of para helmets) were badly rusted.

Photo of the tag. Still looking for info on these.