Update 14th February 2014— 

• An Avast anti-virus response on our sites with a virus threat is incorrect. After a Telstra line update, www.skennerton.com, www.enfieldcollector.com and www.sparrowforce.com had an Avast virus warning; anti-gun? If friends use Avast, advise that our sites are fine. We now use Kaspersky anti-virus... like many things, free is often not the best.

•  Our first Small Arms Series Live DVD & computer resources CD is getting closer to release... The first issue is '.303 SMLE with Brian Labudda', a 1hr 23min DVD with history, models & markings, safety, live fire, field cleaning, armourer stripping & maintenance, range shoots and collecting segments.
  
  The accompanying interactive CD has out-of-print books as .pdf files, old and new photos in model folders, armourers charts as .tiff & .jpg files, research material such as manufacturing specifications, et cetera. Price for the 2-disc set will be $35; copy protection will be installed to prevent illegal copying.
  
  Next in the series will be '.303 Rifles No.4 & No.5 with Brian Labudda' , expected to be available later this year. The planned series will include pistols and machine guns of British, U.S. and German origin. We are moving away from publishing now due to declines in readers and a smaller number of new enthusiasts along with increased restrictions on firearms and edged weapons collecting and ownership. DVDs and computer related media seem to be the future way to go now. As they say 'A picture is worth a thousand words' -  details on movie and DVD is even better.

• New US postal address for A&M Press... 1638 Beverly Dr. NE, Grants Pass, OR 97526, USA. Our post office sub-station closed end of 2013.

• A new sniper record? Aussies this time. Delta Coy., 2 Commando Regt. in Helmund province. Two SAS marksmen fired simultaneously with .50 Barrett M82A1's at Taliban; GPS recorded 2.815km, killing the commander. Bullets were 6 seconds in the air; targets did not hear the shot. The 'Telegraph' story quotes 2 men firing simultaneously so unknown who scored the kill. From our experience, a little unlikely as the chance of having targets ID'd, verified and permission to engage, then ranging and confirmation by the spotter, and two troopers squeezing off at the same time is tall odds. Maybe SAS anonymity, not wanting to be named. But this beats the earlier British record of 2.47km.

• More on Sparrow Force now with a new website promoting a British aspect, 79th Light Anti-aircraft Bofors batteries that arrived on West Timor only a few days before the Japanese invaded, bombed as they unloaded the guns. Grant McLachlan in NZ posted details of his grandfather, has written a book available through his new website www.sparrowbook.com 

• New www.sparrowforce.com website is updated as more photographs come to hand. Our DVD & computer CD sets 'Footsteps of Sparrow Force' and 'Guns & Gear of Sparrow Force' are available now, see top left of our home page. Our dear friend Dr. Harry Medlin, ex. Lieut., 2-i-c 2/1st Fortress Engineers in Sparrow Force, passed away 6th March. R.i.p. Harry.

• 
  'Never Meant to be Heroes' by Maj. Neville Noakes, A.A. Intel. Rtd.
  Privately published 2013. The personal story of Sgt. Brown of the 2/1st Heavy Battery on Timor, Sparrow Force, researched and penned by his son who was adopted out during the war. Neville never knew of his father until more recent times. A touching story... 113pp with colour pages. $29.50 incl. post.

• Our 'Enfield Pattern Room' DVD is available now. With its specialised content, the copy run is limited. $19.50 plus $5 p&p in Australia, $8 p&p to N.Z. and $10 p&p to America & Europe.

• The Singleton Infantry Centre Museum has re-opened after a multi-million dollar, double-storey rebuild. Situated at the Singleton army base, it is open to the public on Thursday thru' Sunday from 9am to 4pm, except for public holidays. There is an Infantry Corps shop and Lone Pine Kiosk and entry is $8 for adults, $5 for pensioners and children under 16 are $3. Ankle-biters (nippers under 5) are free. A discount family rate is $20 and groups of 20+ are discounted to $4 each however groups need to make a booking. Their website is found at www.infantrymuseum.com.au and e-mail is info@infantrymuseum.com.au Their telephone number is (02) 6575 0257, fax (02) 6575 0239. Revamped displays and worth a visit.  

• See the Lithgow SAF Museum new pages at www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au Quoted as the premier on-display military small arms museum in Oz today.

• More websites for gun shops and dealers in Oz. The latest is Barry's Firearms in Perth, West Australia; check it out at www.barrysfirearms.com.au

• New book: Barrack Hill, A History of Anglesea Barracks 1811-2011 by John Lennox & John Wadsley celebrating the 200th anniversary of this Hobart institution. 258-page hard cover, 180+ images. Funds to Legacy and Australian Army Museum Tasmania. $50 ea. plus p&p, e-mail John at jolona@netspace.net.au for orders. Pack & post is $11.20 within Australia.

• Another website dear to our heart... www.birminghamgunmuseum.com 

• New 7.62 NATO Sharpshooter rifle for the British Army? The L129A1 made by Lewis Machine & Tool Co., Milan, IL has been purchased to meet current requirements. As knowledgeable gun nuts (soldiers too!) have said all along, 5.56mm is a 'poodle shooter'. The first batch of 500 Stoner type rifles was delivered and more are likely to follow, if not already acquired. One piece upper with full-length Picatinny rails, quick change stainless steel barrel in 305, 406 & 508mm lengths on a one-piece upper. It looks like an AR10 with M16 shorty butt. So the wheel has turned back fifty years. We told you so... 

• Milsurps ... go to http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=25606 to check out updates on our Sparrow Force project. The Milsurps site from Canada has forums, information and posted pages of interest to all collectors and historical shooters with keen members and posts from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

• The Lee-Enfield's superiority as a battle rifle: British Sgt. Snoxall recorded 38 hits on a 12-in. bull at 300 yards in sixty seconds. The rifle was charger-loaded to fire as many rounds as possible in one minute, dubbed 'the mad minute'. No other turn-bolt service rifle can claim such a record. Enfields rule!

• 40 Handbooks now: US Krag, Carcano, MAS 36, Beretta Pistols, Hi-Standard Pistols, Glock Pistols, .303 SMLE, British No.4, M17/P14, Mauser Rifles, Winchester Mod. 97, Winchester Mod. 12, M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, FN FAL, M14, AR15/M16, Browning Hi-Power, C'96 Mauser pistol, .45 M1911, Luger, P-38, Makarov, AK47, SKS, Mosin-Nagant, Mod. 70 Winchester, Mod. 94 Winchester, .22 Mod 61 Winchester, Jap Service Pistols, 6.5mm T'38 Arisaka, 7.7mm T'99 Arisaka, S&W Revolvers, Walther PP & PPK, .22 Ruger Mk I & II, Schmidt Rubin, Ruger Mini-14. New: Ruger 10/22 and the Model 1892 Winchester as these new titles have been requested by customers and dealers.

• Check our www.enfieldcollector.com site; there will eventually be pages on .577 Enfield, Snider-Enfield, Martini, MLM & MLE, SMLE, Rifle No.4, &c.

• Proofed Action Assembly numbers confirm original fitting of a breech bolt & body on SMLE actions, especially Lithgows. This number was stamped prior to the serial number, upon the body, barrel and bolt groups being proof- fired. The PAA (Proofed Action Assembly) number was stamped with small engineers stamps under the bolt handle and on the corresponding area at the rear, right of the action body. However, not all SMLEs are PAA marked; this is yet another indicator for an overall picture in the markings scene.

DVD & CD $35

DVD & CD $35

DVD only $19.50

Sten Mk V, VI & II(S)

WinM1892

Ruger10/22

SchmidtRubin

Mini-14

US Krag

NOW ~~~  Small Arms Identification Series   last releases ... US$10.00 ea.
SAIS #22 British Empire Sniper Rifles with parts, line drawings, mounts & scopes.
New information on the Canadian, Australian & Indian conversions.
SAIS #23 Lee-Enfield Parts Catalogue shows MLM, MLE, SMLE, No.4, No.5 & .22 rifle parts by items. Side by side comparisons: bodies, bolts, sights, nosecaps, furniture, &c.
SAIS #24 9mm Sten Mk V, VI & II(S) to complement SAIS #11 on the Mk I, II & III Sten models. This is the final booklet in our Small Arms Identification Series manuals.