Ring by the Mag on an Enfield?
- Thread starter mkonecny
- Start date
- Location
- land of f-cktards
hey I didn't know that !
neet
neet
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
I always thought that the ring infront of the magazine well was where the magazine was attached to the rifle. The magazines were ment to be stripper clip fed and only removed from the gun for repair, most people think that they were supposed to be removed and a fresh one inserted like a modern battle rifle, but that is not so.
Started that way with the long Lees. They were equipped with sliding breech covers attached to the bolt. Some one probably had the bright idea to retain the loop for the canvas cover on later marks which did away with the metal breech cover. Who knows?
The original Lee-Enfields had a small chain that kept the mag with the rifle in case the troopie inadvertently pushed the mag release.
"...those action covers..." I've seen them advertised Stateside for $25US. It looks like all that kind of stuff I have around here is going to be my retirement fund. I have two in brand new condition. No, I'm not retiring anytime soon. As sad as that is.
"...those action covers..." I've seen them advertised Stateside for $25US. It looks like all that kind of stuff I have around here is going to be my retirement fund. I have two in brand new condition. No, I'm not retiring anytime soon. As sad as that is.
The early Lees had the magazine linked to the rifle to prevent loss. They were loaded with loose rounds. Later some were altered for charger loading. Many SMLEs have a swivel mounted in front of the magazine; the action cover could have been attached there.
I have no knowledge of a specific Ross action cover. I will experiment and see if one for a SMLE will work. One would expect that there would have been such an accessory for the Ross.
I have no knowledge of a specific Ross action cover. I will experiment and see if one for a SMLE will work. One would expect that there would have been such an accessory for the Ross.
I bought a C Broad Arrow one on ebay. It's smelly though...wanna buy it???
What does it smell like? Dirty feet? You know you're not supposed to store it in your gym bag
tiriaq, I cannot remember if I saw any photographs of Ross's with action covers in that press photo album I was going through... Next time I'm in Peterborough I'll take another look through it and see if there are any. Plus I want to get a copy made of those Canadian snipers with their cut down Ross rifles
As others have already confirmed, the original purpose of the ring was to serve as the attachment point for the magazine retainer.
The "Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield" (SMLE) was introduced in 1903 to replace the "Rifle, Magazine Lee-Enfield" (MLE, commonly referred to as the "Long Lee") with a number of modifications arising from the insight and experience gained during the Boer War. The integral bolt cover was one of the features eliminated from the SMLE design ... but canvas action covers were not introduced until some 12 years later in mid-1915, as a partial response to the abominable trench warfare conditions being experienced in the Great War ...
I'd have to refer to my books to confirm if the ring on the front of the action remained through the intervening period, or if it was perhaps re-introduced to use for attaching the action cover.
The War Department "List of Changes" entry in 1915 which details the officially adopted action cover pattern specifically mentions that the covers are for use with the Ross rifle and Patten 1914 rifle also, IIRC.
The "Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield" (SMLE) was introduced in 1903 to replace the "Rifle, Magazine Lee-Enfield" (MLE, commonly referred to as the "Long Lee") with a number of modifications arising from the insight and experience gained during the Boer War. The integral bolt cover was one of the features eliminated from the SMLE design ... but canvas action covers were not introduced until some 12 years later in mid-1915, as a partial response to the abominable trench warfare conditions being experienced in the Great War ...
I'd have to refer to my books to confirm if the ring on the front of the action remained through the intervening period, or if it was perhaps re-introduced to use for attaching the action cover.
The War Department "List of Changes" entry in 1915 which details the officially adopted action cover pattern specifically mentions that the covers are for use with the Ross rifle and Patten 1914 rifle also, IIRC.
