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Update 25th
April 2013—
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ANZAC DAY is of special significance to
Australians and New Zealanders, it is encouraging to see more youngsters
embrace the tradition each year. -
New
www.sparrowforce.com website is up now and will be updated as more
photographs come to hand. DVD & computer CD sets 'Footsteps
of Sparrow Force' and 'Guns & Gear of Sparrow Force' are
out 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, new. This is the personal story of Sgt.
Brown of the 2/1st Heavy Battery on Timor, a member of Sparrow Force,
researched and penned by his son who was adopted out during the war years,
and never knew about his blood father until more recent times. A touching
story... 113pp with colour pages too. $29.50 incl. post. We have copies.
-
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.
-
Emu Gully Land & Air Spectacular annual show
and re-enactments is on again, 18-189 May. Go to
www.airandlandshow.com.au for
details of the venue where hundreds of re-enactors, vehicles and aircraft go
on show each year with special displays for the public. Take the family and
don't forget your cameras.
Helidon is about an hours west of Brisbane.
-
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.
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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.
-
Collector & Sporting arms,
edged weapons & militaria are available online locally for SE Queenslanders.
The long-established Toowoomba gunshop Shoesmiths are offering this new
service at
www.shoesmitharmsauction.com.au Because of its location at the top
of the Darling Downs, many collector have scored desirable items in
Toowoomba over the years.
-
Another new website close
to our heart...
www.birminghamgunmuseum.com
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Queensland floods &
cyclone. Many insurance companies refused to pay out on flash/river flood,
water overflow get-outs. Regarding government aid, in 2010-2011 Australia
allocated $458.7 million to Indonesia, $457.2 million to PNG, $225.7 million
to Solomon Is., $123.1 million to Afghanistan, $119.8 million to Vietnam,
$118.1 million to Philippines, $102.7 million to East Timor, $64.2 million
to Cambodia, &c. Total $1.669 billion giveaway this year, but only $17
million for tens of thousands of taxpayers who had homes, businesses and
livelihoods ruined. But PM Gillard plans to give nearly $500 million to
Indonesian schools to moderate radical Muslim teaching. Remember from our
observations after the Indon and Thai tsunami, $ millions to those countries
did not filter (money and aid) down past the political elite. We spoke to
fishermen who lost boats, vehicles and houses, but they got NOTHING.
-
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 (and 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.
-
New sniper record.
British army member of the Household Cavalry in Helmund province, taking out
two Taliban machine-gunners at 8,120 feet (2.47 km) with consecutive shots
from an Accuracy International L115A3 in .338 Lapua. Craig Harrison had
returned from hospital in the UK after earlier being hit by a roadside IED,
breaking both arms. Likely had a score to settle? This surpasses the
Canadian record in March 2002; an Al-Queda gunman at 7,972 ft.
-
The
Lee-Enfield's superiority as a battle rifle: British Sgt. Snoxall
recorded 38 hits on a 12-in. bull at 300 yards in only sixty seconds.
Proficiency... 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.
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 site
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 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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DVD & CD

DVD & CD

Sten Mk V, VI & II(S)

WinM1892

Ruger10/22

SchmidtRubin

Mini-14

US Krag |
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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. |
Collector #30: $19.50
Siamese Portal: $5.00
New HANDBOOKS #39 (Ruger 10/22) & #40 (Winchester M1892);SAIS #24 (Sten Mk
V, VI & IIS) |
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CURRENT BULLETIN—
New
MG Shoots north Arizona.
The range at the Wagonbow Ranch turn-off near Wikieup on state 93, 42 miles
south of Kingman and I-40, 130 miles from Vegas or 150 from Pheonix.
The high
desert range in the Aquarius mountains has four shoots each year, the MG
Shooters website is at
www.mgshooters.com Postal address is: MG Shooters LLC, PO Box
5672, Scottsdale AZ 85261. Or call Ed Hope in Flagstaff on (928) 527-9171.
The SAAACA (Southern Africa Arms & Ammunition Collectors Association)
now posts Journals by e-mail .pdf files in color.
Available anywhere. Back issues are also available. The range of topics is from
antique to modern, rifles, pistols, bayonets, machine guns, ammo, &c. Go to
www.saaaca.org.za
Planned for printing are 'America's Enfield Rifle' and 'Rule Britannia'.
However we have no timetable yet and not likely for a few more years. |
Small
Arms Identification Series: exploded parts drawings, stripping, maintenance,
&c.:
SAIS #1 .303 Rifle No.1 SMLE rep.
SAIS #2 .303 Rifle No.4 reprinted
SAIS #3 9mm Austen & Owen MC rep.
SAIS #4 .303 Rifle No.5 Mk I reprinted
SAIS #5 .303 Bren LMG reprinted
SAIS #6 British Sword & Lance Patterns
SAIS #7 .303 MLM & MLE Rifles
SAIS #8 .303 Vickers MG Mk I reprint
SAIS #9 .455 Webley Revolver reprint
SAIS #10 .303 Patt. 1914 & Snipers
SAIS #11 9mm Sten Mk I, I*, 2& 3 rep.
SAIS #12 7.62mm L1 & C1 FAL
SAIS #13 Special Lee-Enfield (DeLisle)
SAIS #14 .303 Lewis Machine Gun
SAIS #15 .450 & .303 Martini reprinted
SAIS #16 British Empire Cadet Rifles
SAIS #17 .45 Thompson SMG
SAIS #18 7.62mm L42A1, L39, 2A &c.
SAIS #19 Australian SMLE Variations
SAIS #20 .577 Snider-Enfield & Patt.53
SAIS #21 .30 Browning M1919A4 MG
SAIS #22 British Empire Sniper Rifles
SAIS #23 Lee-Enfield Parts Catalogue
SAIS #24 9mm Sten Mk V, VI & IIS
Handbooks... we now have 40 in print.
'Buyers Guide
to Lee-Enfields'
- 50 pages, 2 & 4 colour,
pocketbook reference. |
.303 converted Carcano M91 long rifles in a rack (6 of) noticed
at the Lithgow SAF Museum along with an Italian M94 carbine with folding
bayonet, re-chambered and re-bored for .303 British. Dutch 6.5mm Mannlichers converted to .303 at SAF Lithgow for the Dutch
East Indies were reportedly sunk by the Japanese en route to the Dutch
East Indies. These are the subject of an article posted on our
Archives page. The .303 Carcanos and .303 Mannlichers, both previously in 6.5mm
calibre, are possibly related.
Lithgow Small Arms Museum campaign to buy the land and buildings from
Thales (no
longer ADI or Australian government). To contact the Museum write to LSA Museum,
PO Box 564, Lithgow NSW 2790, Australia. Check our site at
www.enfieldcollector.com/lithgow.html and help to preserve this fine record of Australian
history.
US Army, Navy & Air Force
bases with 'public' museums are off limits to foreigners without prior
arrangement, since 9/11. Aberdeen, Rock Island,
Dayton AFB and others are open only to US nationals as access to US
bases is restricted. Even if you are a British, Australian, Kiwi or Canadian
ally and ex-serviceman! So much for their allies whose men have also made
sacrifices for the cause. Politics again...
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Some Computer
Tips...
Good
information, the latest on computers, technology, viruses, &c. is all on the
internet for free.
Pholix
offer Photophilia 1.9, we use
it regularly. Go to www.pholix.com and get a free software
download that you can use for 30 days before buying:
www.pholix.com/download.htm
For photographers, digital camera users, website and e-mail pics, &c., the
album, slide show and storage facilities are great, very user friendly
compared with the Adobe, Microsoft and Corel products.
Search
engines: Ever 'lose' a file on your computer?
Copernic Desktop Search
will find your files, photos, e-mails and everything else, when you just can't
find it!!! Try
www.copernic.com
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Graham Priest's comprehensive 'Spirit of the Pike' (20th century British
spike bayonets) is now available...
graham@halofive.co.uk or write to
Graham at 2 Little Challows, Biddestone, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 7DU,
England.
Prime references 'List of Changes in British War Material',
were monthly issues, reprinted in 5 vols. 1860-1926. [Reprints].
'British Small Arms of World War 2' lists makers & codes for small
arms, edged weapons, MG's. An advantage to know more than fellow collectors! |
MOD
Pattern Room custodian, Herb
Woodend, passed away at the Welwyn Garden City hospital in July of 2003.
Thanks to those who contributed and brought him another year of life, and closer
to friends, family and collectors.
South
African Military History Society posts can be found at...
http://rapidttp.com/milhist/index.html
Add them to your Favorites.
Joe Salter's website offers lots of quality goodies, go and check out
www.joesalter.com |
Examination of proof & view marks gives clues on origin and
production. Inspectors viewed and gauged arms made under contract in Europe & America too.
See 'The Broad Arrow'.
Scrutiny of proof & relevant markings on turn of
the century Cadet Martinis reveals that a prominent British maker did not
necessarily make them all, even though they may be marked as such... WW Greener,
Westley Richards, Braendlin Armoury and W.W. Greener distinctively marked cadet
trainers which they sold, but stripping may reveal proofs and assembly marks
which indicate manufacture of some parts in Belgium or by other members of
the Birmingham trade.
Simpson Ltd. site has lots on offer to. Go to
www.simpsonltd.com
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