Cleaned up British Rifles in Astan

[Combat Diver]

Got three Enfields in this week here in the armory.


Top Down before going back to the team that captured them.
SMLE BSA 1915
SMLE BSA 1918
No.4 Mk1 BSA 1943


Group collection with those in my shop. (no Khyber Pass guns in group)
SMLE Enfield 1914 with mag cut off
SMLE BSA 1915
P14 Remington est 1917
SMLE BSA 1918
No.4 Mk1 BSA 1943
No.4 Mk1* Longbranch 1944 (muzzle cut back due damage)
SMLE GRI 1955



CD

[PAT303]

With 16 years experience in theatre I hope you write a book, and those rifles command serious dollars here in Oz.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

That's quite a variety, when one thinks about it. Early WW I through WW II, British, American, Canadian, Indian.
Amazing how these old rifles continue to soldier on, and remain effective weapons.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Now you`ve got my mouth watering over those rifles, particulary the P 14 and those No 4 Mk 1`s.Robert

[bruce drake]

None of them will be able to be returned to the States. Last time I went over there, the legal restriction by the US and NATO was that only items that classified as an Antique under the BATFE definition (Pre 1898 designs) would be allowed to be shipped home after the soldier got approval from their local Command and the JAG office. in the last 8 years, I'm sure its probably gotten more restrictive.

Bruce

[RED BEAR]

Now thats a darn shame. Maybe send it as scrap wood and metal. Or maybe finished machine parts. Just kidding don't want to get in trouble.

[bruce drake]

I agree, I would have left my 09-10 Kandahar deployment with a Winchester-made .303 P14, a 7.62x51 Ishapore Enfield and a couple of old SMLEs if the rules had been different. Regular US soldiers have not really ever had a chance to bring back war trophies since the Grenada/Panama era.

[Speedo66]

None of them will be able to be returned to the States. Last time I went over there, the legal restriction by the US and NATO was that only items that classified as an Antique under the BATFE definition (Pre 1898 designs) would be allowed to be shipped home after the soldier got approval from their local Command and the JAG office. in the last 8 years, I'm sure its probably gotten more restrictive.

Bruce

Start looking for 1896 Swedish Mausers.... lol

[higgins]

What became of all the magazines? I'm sure removing them is part of the official process of clearing them, but I hope they've been stored somewhere that they can be reunited with the rifles; some of the magazines may even have the rifle SN stamped or engraved in them.

[Combat Diver]

What became of all the magazines? I'm sure removing them is part of the official process of clearing them, but I hope they've been stored somewhere that they can be reunited with the rifles; some of the magazines may even have the rifle SN stamped or engraved in them.

Of about 18 Enfields I've seen in the last year, only one had a magazine. Most of these are captured in caches where the magazine was removed elsewhere.

CD

[Bloodman14]

Could they not be brought back as DEWATs? (Deactivated War Trophy)

[Texas by God]

Horse hockey that our fighting men can't bring back captured non -automatic weapons! Where's the trust?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[reddhawkk]

Too bad, those are good rifles. Sad statement about our political climate.

[Combat Diver]

Could they not be brought back as DEWATs? (Deactivated War Trophy)

Service members can put in to have them demilled and brought home. Contractors can not.

CD

[bruce drake]

Not worth the headache to deal with destroying perfectly functional firearms. And yes, it is B-S that the BATF has gotten to the point of removing overseas war-trophy rifles from service-members.

[Combat Diver]

Not BATFE but Congress with Arms Export Control Act of 1976. Its in 27 CFR § 447.52 and then DoD regulations to the domino effect. At least in Afghanistan pre1898 can be mailed home. No dice on those in Iraq. Had a French 1886 Lebel made in 1895 there. Just located a Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk1 over here that I'm working on obtaining. Still in very good condition to include volley sights and cleaning rod.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/447.52




CD

[Markopolo]

did I mention, I love your pictures... yes the rifles are awesome.. but some of the other stuff is your pictures is also cool.. stuff that most of us havent seen or touched for 40-50 yeats turns up..



what I would love to see, is a short video of your "shop"... messy and worked in, on any given day.. just kinda looking around. describing what we are looking at? that would be very cool... kinda a "whats in my shop today" sorta thing, posted for us old retired military folk to drool over and remember... i would subscribe..... i remember that video of the Bren you had and shooting it.. i watched that 3 times and showed many old buddies...

can you do something like that CD? for us old dogs?

marko

[Combat Diver]

did I mention, I love your pictures... yes the rifles are awesome.. but some of the other stuff is your pictures is also cool.. stuff that most of us havent seen or touched for 40-50 yeats turns up..



what I would love to see, is a short video of your "shop"... messy and worked in, on any given day.. just kinda looking around. describing what we are looking at? that would be very cool... kinda a "whats in my shop today" sorta thing, posted for us old retired military folk to drool over and remember... i would subscribe..... i remember that video of the Bren you had and shooting it.. i watched that 3 times and showed many old buddies...

can you do something like that CD? for us old dogs?

marko

I'll see about a video. The items you circled top left are the bottom stocks of a Romanian PSL and SMLE. Far right is a M2 HB .50 cal and bottom is a 84mm M3 Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle.

CD

[fgd135]

[QUOTE=Combat Diver;4680170]Got three Enfields in this week here in the armory.


Hey,Nice!

[corbinace]

I too, was marveling at the other stuff in the images. I spent more time ogling the stuff on the benches, than I did the centerpieces.