M.L.E.S.HT M.K1 cut-away chamber |
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Gys
Newbie Joined: May 12 2020 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: May 12 2020 at 10:37am |
Good day to all.
I have this cut-away chamber barrel with chamber dimensions, but have no idea about who made it where it came from. can someone maybe identify some of it for me? I would greatly appreciate any help. It is in very good condition and would like to know more about it. Thank you. |
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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Very interesting and a great 'talking point' but I'm sorry I have no idea of the answer to your questions.
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Could it possible be a job done by an apprentice Armorer as part of their training?
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Offline Points: 6539 |
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They stamped the chamber dimensions on it, a training aid?
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Whitjr
Senior Member Joined: September 09 2018 Location: Piedmont, NC Status: Offline Points: 426 |
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can’t help with identification, however, welcome to the forum from North Carolina, USA!
I’m guessing here: a “absolutely correct” measuring tool for ammo manufacturing? With so many stamps on it, you’d think one of them would have been a date!
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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It's from a MLE barrel so I will make an assumption and say it was made before 1900.
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paddyofurniture
Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 5255 |
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Cartridge testing gauge?
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Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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The Armourer
Senior Member Joined: June 23 2019 Location: Y Felinhelli Status: Offline Points: 1246 |
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I don't think so. A chamber is always going to be oversized compared to a cartridge, and if it went in easily, or was difficult to enter how would the 'fail' be recognised ? Surely a cartridge gauge would be Go / No go and would slide into a 'tube' rather than 'half-a-tube'. The stamped dimensions would not be needed, it either fits or it doesn't. I'm of a mind that it was an apprentice 'test piece'. |
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Makes sense a test piece. You've got machining, finishing, measuring and hand stamping all on the same piece. A nice piece for any collector; I like it.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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englishman_ca
Senior Member Joined: September 08 2009 Location: Almaguin Status: Offline Points: 1089 |
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The stamped marking says M.L.E. S.ht.M.k.1. A wee bit off the official designation S.M.L.E. Mk.1. or Sht.LE Mk.I
The stub of barrel has had the top half of the barrel reiforce removed taking the nocks form flat and any marked information with it. But I can still identify it as a Sht.LE barrel as opposed to a MLE unit because of the extractor ramp at the breech face. The MLE ramp was at a steeper angle, so I can peg this one as SMLE. So if it is from a Mk.1, it will be circa 1903 to 1907. Pretty neat item. My guess is that it is a display item or training aid for an armourers' school. Possibly made by an apprentice, yes, it is typical of the kind of training projects that they find for apprentices to do. BSA factory inspector view marking suggests the original maker of the barrel.. J2 is something to do with barrel batch or a control number. I have seen it repeated on other rifles. Actual meaning unknown to me, it might even be just a sub-contractor's initials. The barrel does have a double broad arrow mark quite evident. That denotes sold out of British service. Not sure as to how that would fit in with the story other than to suggest that the display piece was cut from a surplus barrel. But it is one of only few clues and worth considering, but it might well have little significance if any. SoS might rule out that it was made by an apprentice in British service. Maybe at a South African school? Just throwing ideas out there. If it did at one time have any kind of govt acceptance marking, it probably was lost along with the piece of barrel that was the sectioned half over the chamber. |
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WilliamS
Senior Member Joined: March 30 2020 Location: Camas WA USA Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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The 1913 handbook i just acquired repeatedly refers to ShtLE rifles as MLE, Short rifles so I would not be surprised if this dates to around that timeframe? The sold out of service mark is a bit odd, unless it was possibly sold and marked after conversion?
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scottz63
Senior Member Joined: November 08 2021 Location: Mid Mo Status: Offline Points: 829 |
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That is very cool! Makes a nice conversation and display piece.
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14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
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