• 10th May, 2008—
     Yahoo or MSN are flagging firearms & knife sites as being POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS in the far-left conspiracy to make problems for us. We've noticed lately that even e-mails from AKC Knife (in Western Australia) as well as Sydney's antique arms auction being logged with red warning signs and notes that they may contain dangerous or harmful links. Websites too, such as www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/leenfld.htm
  Where will it end as this is surely only a beginning. How can we redress this unwarranted victimization? Legal action is so expensive.
     STOP PRESS... Bob Parsons of Fairmont Armourers in Qld. died in his workshop a few weeks ago. We've been told that sparks from the electric welder ignited some propellant which chain reacted into powder store/gas cylinders, demolishing his shed from which he emerged fatally injured. Not noted for tidiness, Bob's accidental death is a lesson to us all.
     Su and I are presently in Thailand printing the new SAIS (British Empire Sniper Rifles) and Handbooks (S&W Revolver, Walther PP & PPK, Japanese Service Pistols, Arisaka T-38, Arisaka T-99, Ruger Mk I & Mk II), Buyers Guide to Lee-Enfields, and 'Collector' #26.
     New pix of the wartime Long Branch factory are now posted on the internet. Just go to
  www.pbase.com/mrclark/long_branch_factory_production_photos : post a message to say thanks to Mr. Clark for posting them too!  And from Afghanistan, another hoard of guns... http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p296/rlanicek/CFD%2002-13-2008/?start=all
     Brian Labudda, myself and a former SAS regiment sniper did a shake-down in a range test of A.I.A. rifles on the long weekend, with some surprising results. In comparison, we used my .308 Savage Mod.10 FLP (tactical, heavy barrel, left hand action). Check out the Field Test page at www.australianinternationalarms.com.au  More out on video soon too...
     New website for collectors arms on the east coast of the U.S.A.... David Prawdzik's new www.antiquegunroom.net is scheduled to be up and running in a few more weeks.
     Auction pages at www.enfieldcollector.com significantly smaller with fewer items left now - Ron Hayes Sale - Don't forget his big, new Handguns book; Ron is in hospital with serious acid burns to his left foot, and infection in his right foot injured while shifting a wood pallet.
     Assassination of Benazir Bhutto, bombings and murders in southern Thailand, Sudan, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon,  Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, Chad, Nigeria, &c. leave us with a heavy heart in the 2007/2008 Festive Season.
     The common denominator... Given security problems in the West now too after 9/11; thousands murdered in New York, London, Spain, Bali, &c., which now affects travel.
  Cults precipitating loss of innocent life in Japan, USA and South America are banned. Should not a cult preaching death to infidels be regarded similarly? There is too much political correctness in this day and age, in the free west at least.
     Online use of credit cards is better than using an account debit card. With a credit card, you can query any charge or billing. If it is automatically taken from your account via a debit card, you've much less protection. Internet fraud is really on the increase with the internet.
     Victoria Cross & George Cross theft from the New Zealand Waiouru museum. Nine VCs and 2 GCs were stolen Monday morning 3rd Dec. at 1am, including the Capt. Charles Upham VC & bar, only soldier to win the VC twice in its 150-odd year history. VCs stolen were: Samuel Frickleton; Leslie Andrew; Reginald Judson; John Grant; Harry Laurent (all WWI); Jack Hinton; Clive Hulme; Keith Elliott; Charles Upham (all WW2). Also taken were George Crosses among the 100-odd medals stolen from two cases. Worth millions of dollars, they are much too distinctive to be sold openly, or fetch their real worth.
     Aussie ex-PM Howard, architect of the gun-grab and intra-state firearms restriction, as well as the GS Tax after promising not to introduce it, fell at the Federal elections. His conservative party demolished, he did not even win his own seat of Bennelong, a traditional conservative stronghold. The new Labor Party rulers (left wing Democrat) have a poor record of economic management, champions of social programs... many gun owners refuse to vote conservative after their betrayal.  America... wait until November 2008.
     We're home in Oz, working on new SAIS and Handbooks, started 'Thin Red Line - British Empire Rifles & Carbines' from Baker to today, in full colour. This covers Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, &c. over a 200-year time frame.
     BSA Shirley FTR'd and converted No.4 rifles after the end of WW2, utilising new parts dated 1954-58. Recently noted in the US, a keen observer logged a number of Mk 1/2 'hung trigger' rifles. The broad arrow mark and finish is a little different to WW2 and immediate post-war production, likely a War Office contract for another country, possibly in Africa. 
     Afghanistan... Report of a US unit coming under fire from afar, pinned down by high trajectory fire. Air support was called in and a lone, white-bearded Afghan took to his heels. When the foot soldiers finally came up to the position, they discovered an old Short Lee-Enfield with sights set on maximum 2,000 yard setting. The old .303 bettered the 5.56mm at longer ranges, and it took air support to equalize the situation. Lee-Enfields still rule!
     L42A1 update... Confirmed with Brian Dick and others, the L42A1 has been seen in Iraq in both wars. Some are carried by security contractors now. The 6x power L13 Schmidt & Bender scoped L42A1 is confirmed at Bisley, courtesy of Fultons. Also confirmed is the 7.62mm Palma match 155gn bullet... 155gn rather than 144gn service 7.62mm L1, L2, &c. & F4 cartridge. Ammunition is applied with the L-prefix designation, as are sights & other ordnance related items. A recent 7.62mm L42A3 RG round is dated 2007. NATO contract packet and headstamp here is RG 19 May 2004, with special bullet for sniper rifles.
     The L42A1 was issued to British units in the 1st Gulf War, some samples have recently been purchased by a collector, the boxes bear Royal Marines Commando members tags and regimental details on them. Proof positive of their issue in the 1990's.
     The Lee-Enfield remains in service after nearly 120 years... longer than any other service arm in history.. the best battle rifle of all time. Many also remain in service with Indian police and the Enforcer is being used by Thai Marine snipers. The Lee-Enfield still rules!
     A.I.A.'s new website home page is at www.AustralianInternationalArms.com.au
  For Canadians, see A.I.A.s on Marstar's site at www.marstar.ca/gf-AIA/index.shtm 
     Simpson Ltd. at Galesburg IL now have one of the busiest websites and some Enfields are often on offer too. So list the www.simpsonltd.com site as a favourite.
     Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd. Stamped on assorted turn of the century British rifles and pistols, many being purchased by officers in service. Army & Navy Co-op. was established in 1871 by a group of Army and Navy officers to supply 'articles for domestic consumption and general use to its members at the lowest numerative rates'. The store was opened on 15th February 1872 at 105 Victoria St., Westminster, London SW.
     In 1873, the co-op commenced trading in firearms. Gun case label reads 'Guns, Rifles, Pistols, Fishing Tackle, Boats & Naturalist Work. Motorist's Lathes, Machinery & Tools of all Descriptions. No.8 Gun & Sporting Department, 3 Hawick Place'. This changed in 1934 to 'Army & Navy Stores Ltd.', then in 1973 was taken over by the House of Fraser.
     The Lee-Enfield's superiority as a battle rifle: British Sgt. Snoxall recorded 38 hits on a 12-in. bull at 300 yards in the space of sixty seconds. Tests where the rifle was rapidly loaded in order to fire as many rounds as possible in one minute, dubbed by participants, 'the mad minute'. No other hand-operated bolt action service rifle can claim such a record.
     Ken Jones' Western Firearms (Sydney) new website: www.westernfirearms.com.au   Lithgow toolroom No.6 Jungle Carbine converted No.4 rifle (see new 'Lee-Enfield' p.350-1) could end up there along with other items from the back of his Beverly Hills gunshop.
     Bisley shoot with Lee-Enfield Rifle Association in late June was named 'The Skennerton'. Others by the LERA include 'The Fulton' in recognition of the family's competition record and their gunshop at Bisley, along with 'The Reynolds' to honour Major E.G.B. Reynolds for the first 'Lee-Enfield' book way back in 1960. The new historical Skennerton shoot is held at 300m & 500m, restricted to No.1 and No.4 rifles. It is planned that ranges will be expanded to 1000m later. Ian is planning to present prizes at Bisley in the summer of 2008.
     New 'Lee-Enfield' chapters include 'Serial Number & Production Ranges', 'Component Parts Evolution' and 'Hybrids'. New Australian International Arms rifles are detailed. There has been disinformation re. new AIA Lee-Enfields, better understood after reading the 2007 'Collector' and new 'Lee-Enfield' sections. Two questions can be answered here however...
  1. AIA rifles are international, wood from America, Laos, New Guinea and West Africa.
  2.  Rifles assembled in Australia with outsourced components; SE Asia, North America, UK & Oz, origin varies, depending upon model and timber.
    Enfield rifle threads? Check out http://freespace.virgin.net/j.franklin/toys/thread-table.htm
    Our new 24 Handbooks ... .303 SMLE, British No.4 Rifle, M17/P14, Mauser Rifles & Carbines, Winchester 12 ga Mod. 97, Winchester 12ga Mod. 12, M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, FN FAL, M14, AR15/M16, 9mm Browning Hi-Power, C'96 Mauser pistol, .45 Colt ACP, 9mm Luger, Walther P-38, 9mm Makarov, AK47, SKS, Mosin-Nagant, Mod. 70 Winchester, Mod. 94 Winchester, .22 Mod 61 Winchester, &c.
     Check our website at www.enfieldcollector.com site; it will eventually have specific pages on .577 Enfield, Snider-Enfield, Martini, MLM & MLE, SMLE, Rifle No.4, &c.
     Proofed Action Assembly numbers confirm the original fitting of a breech bolt & body on many 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 in small engineers stamps underneath 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.

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SAIS #21 .30 Browning Model 1919A4 covers US and Commonwealth issues of the Model 1919 and L3A3 & L3A4 series from US, British, Canadian & Australian sources.
SAIS #20 .577 Enfield Patt. '53 & Snider-Enfield with parts, line drawings, new information on the Nepalese Kathmandu arsenal and East India Co., &c.

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