A Strange Pair

[deadin]

Here’s a couple of rifles you don’t see very often. They are from a type called “Drill Purpose” or “Drill Rifles”.
The first one is a British Enfield L59A1 which was built from a No.4 Mk 1 rifle.
The Brits did a pretty good job of “de-activating” this one to make it not worth the effort to try turning it back into a functioning arm. Alterations include cutting off the FP tip, welding the bolt face closed, cutting a big honking hole into the chamber, weakening the various locking lugs on the bolt and in the receiver so they would fail under the pressure of a regular cartridge, plus a couple of other mods that you can read about at: L59A1 and A2 Drill Purpose Training Rifles
The section on the L59A1 starts partway down the page.

The second one is an Austrian M95 Steyr. They didn’t do much other than cut the FP, welding the bolt face closed and milling out a large slot in the top of the chamber. (At least this one would vent upwards instead of taking off your arm like the Brit….)

I doubt that either one of these will pass the ATF’s rules for deactivating a firearm, so they are both in my bound book as C&R’s and if I ever get rid of them they will have to go with a 4473. (or to another FFL).

 

[LVSteve]

I doubt that either one of these will pass the ATF’s rules for deactivating a firearm, ......

Really????

 

[deadin]

The M95 just needs a new barrel, firing pin and bolt head. Of course I have no idea why anyone would go to the trouble.....

As for the Enfield, it's pretty well kaput, but the last ATF "suggestions" require that the receiver be separated into two disparate parts. (i.e. torch cut or sawed in half.) I suppose I could ask for a determination but that would probably require that I submit the rifle to the technology division for judging. (It's really not worth the effort just to avoid a 4473.)

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I remember as a kid my uncle telling me how he was impressed the first time he walked in boot camp for his training(para in Canada in the late '50s)while seing guys lined up at the firing range shooting their .303Br.I can still hear him laughing(he's been gone for 10 years now)when he described me how high the shooters steel helmet would raise up onto their heads while shooting them SMLE.Of course,he would go on and tell me about how good the FNFAL were since he was amongst the first one to have been issued one with.
But about those SMLE,if you can get your hands on a good one,urgently do since they're going quickly.They might be only combat accurate but they are the fastest repeating bolt actions ever devised.
Qc

 

[deadin]

but they are the fastest repeating bolt actions ever devised.

I already have a functioning No.4 Mk1 and if I could find a 10 round magazine (instead of the 6 rounder) for my Swiss K31 I think it would give the SMLE a run for its money.

 

[2152hq]

The AustrianM95's in that condition used to be for sale in the gun magazines for around $10.00. Sold as deactivated training rifles (?) a lot of them were made into floor lamps with the electric cord running up the bbl thru that deact cut..
A spiffy gun room or TV den accessory for the era.
They were still 'firearms' as the action was complete, but things were run a bit different pre '68.

 

[DWalt]

"...and if I could find a 10 round magazine (instead of the 6 rounder) for my Swiss K31..."

Is there such a thing?

 

[deadin]

Is there such a thing?

Not that I am aware of.... (One could wish..)

 

[Arik]

Surplus rifles are fun...... especially when ammo is available!

I have a few Enfields and down to one Mosin. Maybe 15 years ago all these rifles were much cheaper but back then I only had a passing interest in them

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[deadin]

I've been giving a rapid fire contest between a SMLE and a K31 some thought and I'm wondering if, in the long, run the K31 couldn't prove to be faster.

The SMLE magazine holds 10 rounds but has to be recharged with 2 five round strippers. The K31 mag only holds 6 rounds but can be recharged with only 1 stripper. Surely there should be a time advantage here. Starting with a full magazine and firing 30 rounds the SMLE would need 4 clips for reloads. The K31 would need the same. However, extend that to 60 rounds and the SMLE falls behind needing 10 clips while the K31 needs only 9. The more rounds fired, the more advantage the K31 gets.

The SMLE calls for 4 movements to eject and reload the chamber. (Up, back, forward and down). The K 31 only 2. ( back and forward) Another time advantage??
All in all, the SMLE has been proven in combat, the K31 hasn't.
It would be an interesting contest.

 

[moosedog]

Oh those Brit's. No wonder we have to bail their rear ends out every time.