.... I've got a Lithgow No.3 dated (all matching# ) 1922, and it still has the magazine cut-off slot in the receiver. Anyone have an idea when the Commonwealth finally did away with the cut-off provision ? I know that during WW1 and afterwards, the actual cut-off tray/gate was removed, but even making a slot in 1922 seems rather peculiar? .... David K.
SMLE No.3 "Magazine cut-offs"
- Thread starter David K
- Start date
Greenfields
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower mainland BC
As far as I know they did away with the cut off as war time expedience. Post ww1 they added it back on, and then took it off again. Some of the trials No4 have the slot for the cut off and may actually have had a cut off installed.
Cheers
Brian
Cheers
Brian
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
David K said:
Lithgow continued to cut the slot into about 1942.
After WWI many operators refitted the cut-offs (to save ammo don't you know
)D
... Thanks Guys ! Didn't realize they continues the "slot" for so long ! Lithgow had evidently discontinued the practice by 1943, as I've got a matching one ,with no sign of the "slot" .... 'must admit that the cutoff tray/gate is nice, when taking one's time on the 'range ! ..... David K.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
slicknick said:
What you saw was a TRIALS RIFLE!!!! Hardly an abortion and worth a lot more than the standard No4.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
John Sukey said:What you saw was a TRIALS RIFLE!!!! Hardly an abortion and worth a lot more than the standard No4.
Nope, not a trials rifle. It was even rarer than that. It was, according to the seller, an early production rifle (1941 dated) which utilized a trials rifle receiver. The receiver was BSA marked, and not Enfield.
I picked up a trials rifle (a 33 if I recall) about 6 years back which had been converted to 4T, and been de-converted with a hammer and screwdriver to pry the (silver soldered) pads off the receiver. It was otherwise fairly oroigional, and had the cut-off.
Greenfields
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower mainland BC
"I picked up a trials rifle (a 33 if I recall) about 6 years back which had been converted to 4T, and been de-converted with a hammer and screwdriver to pry the (silver soldered) pads off the receiver. It was otherwise fairly oroigional, and had the cut-off."
ACKKKKKKK!! The horror!!
Cheers
Brian
ACKKKKKKK!! The horror!!
Cheers
Brian
FWIW, the cutoff was first omitted in 1915 by BSA, prior to even receiving approval from the Ministry of war, for which their fingers were soundly slapped. By 1916, all other makers except LSA (changed over in 1918) had also omitted it along with adjustable rear sights, volley sights, piling swivels, milled rear sight guards and the stock marking disc. some makers re-introduced it on new production in 1919 onward.
In 1919, a good many MkIII* rifles had the cutoff retroactively milled into the receiver and the cutoff fitted. the * was then lined out on those rifles. This explains why we sometimes see the ubiquitous 1917 BSA's with cutoffs, or NRF and SSA rifles with cutoffs, though those makers never amde a rifle with a slot as new production. None of the other MkIII (no star) features were reinstated though and the sealed MkIII pattern was altered to be a MkIII* with a cutoff. Many MkIII's then in service simultaneously had the adjustable sights pinned so they could no longer be adjusted - all rifles must operate uniformly for training consistency, I suppose. Some time in the late 1920's (1929 rings a bell but I don't have skennerton with me), the UK factories stopped fitting cutoffs altogether. Lithgow and Ishapore, on the other hand, stopped fitting it in the late 30's. The odd 1940's Lithy or Ishy are found with cutoff slots, but generally those cutoffs were never fitted in service and the are thought to represent earlier 1930's receivers that for some reason were not assembled until much later.
In 1919, a good many MkIII* rifles had the cutoff retroactively milled into the receiver and the cutoff fitted. the * was then lined out on those rifles. This explains why we sometimes see the ubiquitous 1917 BSA's with cutoffs, or NRF and SSA rifles with cutoffs, though those makers never amde a rifle with a slot as new production. None of the other MkIII (no star) features were reinstated though and the sealed MkIII pattern was altered to be a MkIII* with a cutoff. Many MkIII's then in service simultaneously had the adjustable sights pinned so they could no longer be adjusted - all rifles must operate uniformly for training consistency, I suppose. Some time in the late 1920's (1929 rings a bell but I don't have skennerton with me), the UK factories stopped fitting cutoffs altogether. Lithgow and Ishapore, on the other hand, stopped fitting it in the late 30's. The odd 1940's Lithy or Ishy are found with cutoff slots, but generally those cutoffs were never fitted in service and the are thought to represent earlier 1930's receivers that for some reason were not assembled until much later.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
stencollector said:
The clown who did that would have been a good candidate for RETROACTIVE ABORTION.
Years ago I bought a bubba'd 31 trials T. Fortunatly the only thing that had been done was to "sportyize" the wood and lose the front sight guard and cut-off took about five years to find a No32Mk1 scope and mount plus the other bits. All better now.
