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Updated 24th
May, 2009—
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We
are now printing the 2009
'Collector', SAIS #23 (Lee-Enfield Parts Catalogue), 6 new Handbooks (Carcano,
MAS 36, US Krag, Beretta Pistols, High Standard Pistols & Glock Pistols)
along with Graeme Wright's 3rd edition of 'Shooting the British Double
Rifle' and 'Australian Antique Arms - The Best of John Swinfield'. Ongoing details will be posted here when the
new books become
available, regarding sizes, page numbers & pricing.
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New
book... 'Military Sun Helmets of the World' -
www.militarysunhelmets.com
by Peter Suciu in the USA and Stuart Bates in Australia. A full-size A4 hard
cover of 93 pages in full colour, this makes a welcome addition for the
uniform collector. The British issue is well enough known, but Suciu & Bates
add the French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Belgian, Spanich, American,
Japanese, South American and Vietnamese models too! Reasonably priced at
AUD$45 and $35 in the USA. To order, go to their website, although we have
purchased some stock ourselves for Australia. Contact Ian at
idskennerton@hotmail.com
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Another new book of
interest to many of us, even though it is not specifically about
collecting... Ron Owen's 'The Range Officers Handbook' is much more
than the title.
On shooting, reloading, safe handling and general history of British guns.
Over 530 pages with 1000 drawings & photos, full size A4 had cover. It is
$75 Aust. and an enjoyable read because of Ron's renowned political bias and
wry English humour. A great gift too. Check out the Owen Guns site at
www.owenguns.com which offers much
more too!
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Bushfires in Victoria,
with hundreds of deaths and 1,000+ homes destroyed. This sad loss can be
attributed as much to 'greenies' and environmentalists as to weather and
arson. People are fined for clearing firebreaks. A home-owner with the
only house standing in the village now, was fined for clearing a firebreak
months ago; it cost him $100,000 in fines and legal fees. His house was
spared. To clear undergrowth and timber, Victorians need an 'environmental
impact study' done, to certify that no tree frog, rare insect or marsupial
will be harmed or lose its home! And this costs so much time and money. Like
everywhere else in the civilised world, 'greenies' are pushing their weird
agenda. 'Save the forests'... for bushfires! And regarding the 'carbon
footprint', we've heard that the Victorian bushfires burnt as much as a
whole year's industry in Australia. Should 'greenies' be billed for
their carbon footprint; people and factories are going to be billed for the
amount of carbon they produce.
We have heard that the Qld. Govt. is funding a study of how much greenhouse
gasses are emitted from sheep rectums in this state, to gauge the impact on
the environment of their waste gasses (read 'farts'?). And 'save the sharks' -
they've killed 8+ swimmers in Oz in 2009. And 'save the crocodiles', they've
eaten a few people in Qld. & N.T. this year too.
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Visit a great Machine Gun
Shoot! In northern Arizona, about halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff,
the MG Shooters LLC hold spectacular shoots with everything from sniper
rifles to full-auto pistols, SMGs and MGs, .50 cals, 20mm and even field
guns and AFVs participating in a long weekend of fun. See Collector #23 for
a 2-page spread of their inaugural shoot in October of 2004... with a firing
line over a mile long, shooting at explosive charges, model airplanes and
other targets. You now have an opportunity to visit and participate at the
Wagonbow Ranch on 16-19th Oct. 2009; we have been asked to conduct a tour
with interested collectors and shooters. E-mail Ian at
idskennerton@hotmail.com
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New website of
interest... www.karkeeweb.com for
webbing, bandoliers, &c.
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Another great new website
on Aussie manufacture firearms...
www.sportco.org.au
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New
listing of SALE items,
remainders from GI Services and others, are being uploaded.
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John Wray, former Army
inspection officer at Lithgow SAF and more recent curator of the Lithgow
SmalI Arms Museum, passed away in early January. A keen ammunition,
bayonet and militaria collector, his contribution towards keeping much of the SAF history alive will
be an everlasting memorial. John died after a long battle with a brain tumor.
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Another new
website is Medals Gone Missing...
useful for anyone buying medals.
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New
titles from International Military Antiques NJ, are available in Oz as well as from
Grants Pass. Guns of the Gurkhas, German Makers Codes, Hotchkiss
manual, German Bayonets (Carter), Treasures of Nepal, &c. See our
Reprints & Miscellaneous pages.
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Victoria Cross & George Cross theft from
N.Z. Waiouru museum. Nine VCs and 2 GCs were stolen Monday morning
3rd Dec. 2007 at 1am, including the Capt. Charles Upham VC & bar, only soldier to
win the VC twice in its 150-odd year history. Total of 96 medals.
VC's 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. All medals were returned in February 2008 and two men aged 37 and
39 were charged in October 15. A reward of $300,000 helped resolve the
case and the medals on display again come with much better security now!
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Sizeable display of Lee-Enfields at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center
at Cody, Wyoming. Two floors of firearms exhibits display 3,000 rifles
& handguns, near the Buffalo Bill, Plains Indian and Draper Museum of
Natural History. Near Yellowstone National Park and south
of I-90 and I-25, the Cody Museum is certainly a reason to take a short
detour to pay a visit. We saw a Marlin Model 1893 Musket fitted with
British Patt. 1888 bayonet, Winchester Mod. 1904 musket and bayonet
attributed to Australian Boy Scouts in 1912, and .351
Model 1907 Winchester self-loader with Springfield bayonet sold to France
after the war.
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A.I.A.'s new website home page is
now at
www.AustralianInternationalArms.com.au
For Canadians, see the A.I.A.s on Marstar's
site at www.marstar.ca/gf-AIA/index.shtm
A Polish importer has been appointed for the EEC and New Zealand as well as the USA will join availability soon
too. Acacia Firearms is selling to Nioa Trading, agency will change.
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Another new internet gun
auction site, this time it is in Australia. Organizers, Michael & Nathan
King, are offering an initial 'free-of-charge' setup. Go to
http://gunauction.com.au and see what
is on offer. You might even want to sell some of your own firearms or
militaria.
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New book 'Blue
Berg- Britain Takes the Cape', 207 pages of action-packed history, 18 colour
illust. including battlefield map, early 1800s. Quality production,
leather-bound edition also available. Inquiries:
dominique@awsolutions.co.za
or PO Box 11133, Blaauwbergrant Cape, Rep. of South Africa 7443. Tel.
+27-21-557-6438 (work).
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New sites worth
saving to your favorites list...
www.rifleman.org.uk/Site_Menu.htm and
www.thegarrison.org.uk
Thanks to Alan Carriveau and Dennis Darmanin for the tips.
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For
handgun enthusiasts, check out Hans Horst's site at
www.horstheld.com
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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
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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...
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New website for collectors arms on the east coast of
the U.S.A.... David Prawdzik's new www.antiquegunroom.net is up and running now. Check it out for goodies.
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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.
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L42A1 update...
Seen in Iraq
in both wars, some carried by security contractors now. The
6x power L13 Schmidt & Bender scoped L42A1 is confirmed at Bisley,
courtesy of Fultons. Also confirmed, the 7.62mm Palma match 155gn bullet rather than 144gn service
7.62mm L1, L2, &c. & F4 cartridge. Ammunition is applied with
L-prefix designations as are sights & other items. A
recent 7.62mm L42A3 RG round is dated 2007. NATO
packet and headstamp shown above is RG 19 May 2004,
with special bullet for sniper rifles. The L42A1 was issued in the 1st Gulf War;
a UK collector has a chest with
Marines Commando tags and regimental details, more proof
of active service during the 1990s.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Enfield rifle threads? Check out
http://freespace.virgin.net/j.franklin/toys/thread-table.htm
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Our new
30 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,
Jap Service Pistols, 6.5mm T38 Arisaka, 7.7mm T99 Arisaka, S&W Revolvers,
Walther PP & PPK, .22 Ruger Mk I & II.
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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.
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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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SniperRifles

Buyer'sGuide

S&WRevolver

Type38Arisaka

Type99Arisaka

JapanesePistols

WaltherPP&PPK

RugerMkI&MkII |
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NOW ~~~
Small Arms Identification Series new
releases ... $9.95 ea.
SAIS #21 .30 Browning Model 1919A4 covers US and Commonwealth issues
of the Model 1919, L3A3 & L3A4 series from US, British, Canadian & Australian
sources.
SAIS #22 British Empire Sniper Rifles
with parts, line drawings, mounts & scopes.
New information on the Canadian, Australian & Indian conversions. |
'Collector' # 26... $19.50
'MP-The First In'... $15.00
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CURRENT BULLETIN—
New
MG Shoots in 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
to see
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 and Ammunition Collectors Association)
now posts Journals to members by e-mail pdf (Adobe Reader) files in color.
Available anywhere. Back issues are also available. The range of topics
from antique to modern, rifles, pistols, bayonets, machine guns, ammo, &c. Go to www.saaaca.org.za
Website on Tranter and his
guns at www.firearmsmuseum.org.au
In mid-west NSW, see Kerry & Carol Guerin's museum near Orange.
Our new
Humour
page has some gem questions and hearsay advice!
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.303 converted Carcano M91 long rifles in a
rack (6 of) noticed recently at the Lithgow SAF Museum along with an Italian M94
carbine with folding bayonet, similarly re-chambered and re-bored for .303
British. Contemporary 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 were the subject of an article which is now posted
on our Archives page. The .303 Carcanos and .303 Mannlichers, both previously in
6.5mm calibre, are quite possibly related.
Lithgow SAF Museum campaign to
buy their land and buildings from ADI (no
longer Australian government). Our Lithgow page
details how you can help preserve this fine record of Australian manufacturing
history.
US Army, Navy & Air Force
bases with 'public' museums are off limits to foreigners without prior arrangement
now, after 9/11 and ongoing threats. So Aberdeen, Rock Island, Dayton
AFB and other fine museums are open only
to US nationals as access to US bases is now restricted. Even if you are a
British, Australian, Kiwi or Canadian ally and ex-serviceman!
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Small Arms Identification
Series: exploded parts
drawings, stripping, maintenance, &c.:
SAIS #1 .303 Rifle No.1 SMLE rep.
SAIS #2 .303 Rifle No.4 reprint
SAIS #3 9mm Austen & Owen MC
SAIS #4 .303 Rifle No.5 Mk I rep.
SAIS #5 .303 Bren LMG reprint
SAIS #6 British Sword & Lance Patt
SAIS #7 .303 MLM & MLE Rifles
SAIS #8 .303 Vickers MG Mk I reprint
SAIS #9 .455 Webley Revolver
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 rep.
SAIS #16 British Empire Cadet Rifles
SAIS #17 .45 Thompson SMG
SAIS #18 7.62mm L42A1, L39, 2A &c.
SAIS #19 Australian SMLE Variation
SAIS #20 .577 Snider-Enfield & Patt.53
SAIS #21 .30 Browning M1919A4 MG
SAIS #22 British Empire Sniper Rifles
'MP - First In'
(Australian contingent to
Saigon 1965).
New...
'Buyers Guide to Lee-Enfields'
- 50 pages, 2 & 4 colour print,
a pocketbook reference. Next
on our print list is 'Parts Catalogue for Lee-Enfields' (SAIS #23). 'America's Enfield Rifle' and 'Rule
Britannia' are
hopefully planned ca. 2010.
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Some Computer
Tips...
Good
information, the latest on computers, technology, viruses, &c. is all on the
internet for free. U.S. listeners can hear Kim Komando's great computer tips all
around the country... her weekly newsletter is available into your inbox too
which is easier to copy and download some of Kim's great tips. Check out
www.komando.com/newsletter.asp
Pholix software have just announced the release
of Photophilia 1.9 which we use regularly. Check out their site at
www.pholix.com and for a free software
download which you can use for 30 days before deciding to buy, go to
www.pholix.com/download.htm
For photographers, digital camera users, website and e-mail pictures, &c.,
the album, slide show and storage facilities are great, and very user friendly
compared with other 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
Viruses!!!
Of serious concern to all internet users. Remedies can be almost as much of a
hassle with complaints that Norton or McAffee programs take over your computer; their automatic 'fixes' can
cost users sizeable sums for computer
technicians to fix.
Some good programs are available free, virus
detection and firewalls. Search the web for
Avast,
Solo Antivirus, ZoneAlarm,
&c. You will probably be surprised at the number of free programs out there that are not
intrusive, effectively taking over your computer. We use AVG anti-virus but you must
download new patches regularly (at least each week) to keep your protection up
to date.
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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, reprint in 5 vols. 1860-1926. [Reprints].
'British
Small Arms of World War 2' lists makers & codes on
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 valuable clues on origin
and production. Inspectors viewed and
gauged arms made under contract in foreign countries, Europe &
America too.
Check '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, however stripping
may reveal proofs and assembly marks which would 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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