E - Gazette Mk II

New Zealand Antique & Historical Arms Association Inc. # 29 May 2013

The e-Gazette Mk II is a monthly news-letter

circulated free to members of the NZAHAA

and their friends by e-mail only. It may be

copied and forwarded to fellow collectors,

we ask that any material used by others is ac-

knowledge to this publication.

Copyright where indicated remains with the

contributor of the item.

Views expressed here are those of the con-

tributors and do not necessarily reflect those

of the NZAHAA or its Branches.

All correspondence should be addressed to:

The Editor Phil Cregeen at:

oilyrag@xtra.co.nz

To unsubscribe e-mail the Editor.

EDITORIAL

My thanks to all of you who have contributed mate-

rial for this edition.

There has been no shortage of events for collectors in

April. The first weekend was the Auckland Arms

Fair, perhaps a little quieter than past years, but still

plenty of opportunities for buyers. There was also

some interesting displays for those who just wanted

to look. The second weekend saw our Association

AGM held in Invercargill followed by an auction

hosted by Southland Branch which also included a

trading table. The third weekend had Carvell’s auc-

tion in Auckland and the month will be rounded of

with Rogers Militaria auction in Wellington. So if

you didn’t add to your collection this month it was

not for lack of opportunity.

I would like to express my thanks to Dave King for

taking me round and those members of Southland

Branch, who wish to remain anonymous, who al-

lowed me to view their collections and take photo-

graphs.

Phil

NEW ZEALAND ARMS REGISTER

WEBSITE NOW LIVE

VISIT http://www.armsregister.com/

The register includes 114 information pages published to date and a few related articles.

Meanwhile research continues and we are preparing more information pages to upload.

CAN YOU HELP: We are currently researching the Lee Enfield No 5 Jungle Carbine, known to be

used by NZSAS in Malaya in 1955. But did any other NZ services use it and its No 5 bayonet? Are there any

NZ marked No 5s?

Also the use by NZ forces and Home Guard of the Springfield M 1903 rifle and M 1905 bayonet and or the

Enfield M 1917 rifle and bayonet. How was the US bayonet scabbard attached to NZ web equipment?

If you can provide any documentary, photographic or anecdotal answers to any of the above please contact me

at: oilyrag@xtra.co.nz

FROM OUR READERS

After reading that story about the Lee-Enfield's in Afghanistan in the current issue of the e-Gazette # 28 it brought to mind the story

about my youngest son's circa 1942 Lithgow SMLE.

The story begins about ten years ago in Franklin's Gun Shop in Athens, Georgia (U.S.A.) Franklin's is roughly a 4500 square foot

retail store that is kept fully stocked with hunting and fishing supplies. On the right side of the store as you go in is the firearm's sec-

tion. Although I am guessing, I think that they probably have more than a thousand brand new guns in stock-everything from pistols

to rifles and shotguns as well as ammo and reloading supplies.

On that particular trip to Franklin's I and my then 22 year old son, Kirk, were just browsing the guns they had when he spied in the

"Used" rack a beat up, old 1942 Lithgow made SMLE. Obviously, the rifle had seen a lot of use from 1942 onward and when he

handed the rifle to me, out of habit I pulled the bolt back and took a look at the bore. Was I in for a surprise! The bore of that beat

up old rifle was absolutely pristine! I was somewhat perplexed by the seeming

contradiction: a beat up old rifle with a "mint" bore. Recalling my misspent youth in a Southern military academy, I came to the

conclusion that this rifle had probably been used as a "Drill Rifle" more than anything else during its term of military service. Drill

Rifles get handled a lot, dropped a lot and generally beat up-but rarely shot.

The price tag on the rifle noted that it was only $65.00, not a bad deal. When Kirk saw the bore, he suddenly wanted that Lithgow!

He took the rifle from me, went over to the owner of the store and commenced to "haggle" the price down to $60.00 (and even man-

aged to get a free box of .303 military surplus Mark VII ball ammo thrown in on the deal!

We went back home to the farm and he tried out the SMLE. It was definitely FUN to shoot. After the rifle was given a thorough

cleaning, the rifle went into the gun closet and stayed there for a few weeks until Kirk decided he wanted to shoot in a NRA Hi

Power Match at the Riverbend Gun Club in North Georgia. That was fine and dandy until Kirk asked me to "accurize" the SMLE. I

shoot replica P-58's in N-SSA competition and "accurizing" a M/L Enfield is a piece of cake: just do a "Lock Job" to get the trigger

pull down to 3 pounds and glass bed the barrel.

Now, that SMLE was a critter of a different sort. First of all, I had to deal with that two piece stock. I pulled the butt stock off of the

rifle and found a piece of dried out dinosaur skin had been used as a "washer." I replaced it with a piece of neoprene the same size

and "glassed" the butt stock to the rest of the rifle. I let the bedding harden for two days and then tackled the receiver. I took my

Dremel Tool, relieved wood here and there and "glassed" the receiver in the stock. The SMLE has a "thin reed" of a barrel-so I de-

cided to leave well enough alone. We let the glass harden for about a week, then it was a trip to the backyard range. Off the bench at

100 yards the old SMLE threw some beautiful groups. Obviously, my glass bedding and "trigger job" had helped much more than it

hurt! As I do with all my other glass bedding jobs, the only way you can see it is to take the rifle apart.

Kirk and I had decided to go to the Riverbend Hi Power Match the following Saturday. As luck would have it on Friday, the local

Wal Mart announced a sale on Remington .303 rounds. I went to the store and purchased 6 boxes (120 rounds.) Given enough time,

I would have "developed" a much more accurate load for that SMLE, but we hadn't even purchased a set of reloading dies in

.303 by then, so Kirk had to use the Remmie factory ammo.

The Riverbend Match was a standard Hi Power Match with targets shot at 200,

300 & 600 yards. During the match and in all the different stages, Kirk and the

old Lithgow SMLE just kept putting rounds in the black. There were about 20

competitors in the match and about half of them were shooting $3,000.00 &

$4,000.00 "Custom Built Hi Power Match Rifles."

Between relays, when Kirk wasn't shooting, the Lithgow was laid on a blanket

behind the line with the action open and a Yellow plastic action block inserted

in the open action. Pretty soon "the word spread" about Kirk's shooting with

the Lithgow because a steady stream of shooters came walking down to our

position. They would look at the old beat up Lithgow and scratch their head in

amazement and wonderment. That was THE BEST PART of the entire match.

No-Kirk didn't win the match, but he turned in a decent score and this was the

1st High Power Match he had ever shot in. I guess we proved that an old

SMLE, given some TLC and a bedding job can really shoot! Not too bad for a

design almost a Century old!

Since that match Kirk has used that Lithgow SMLE to take about a half dozen

deer at ranges from 50 to 300 yards. I still shoots GREAT! Not bad for an old

war vet.

All My Best

Southron Sanders Kirk and his Lithgow SMLE

AN INTERESTING BAYONET By Phil Cregeen © 2013

This month we have a Volunteer Pattern 1837 Brunswick Bayonet to consider, I bought this one on Trade

Me (a New Zealand auction website) recently.

This bayonet has a 547 mm (21.5 inch) spear point blade with a 260 x 5 mm

(10.5 inch) fuller down the centre, at the cross guard the blade measures 37 x 4.5

mm. The ribbed hilt and cross guard is made of brass and secured by riveting the

end of the blade tang. A locking spring is fitted to the top edge of the hilt and

secured by a screw, its release button protruding from the bottom edge.

Above detail of hilt

Brunswick bayonet bar

There are no marks on this bayonet, those made at Enfield are marked

“ENFIELD”. Scabbards for these bayonets are black leather with a brass locket

and chape.

Reference: British & Commonwealth Bayonets B 112 to B114.

Do you have an interesting bayonet to share?

FROM THE GUN ROOM

by Andrew Edgcombe © 2013

Three restorations and one original lined up for inspec-

tion

A few years ago I managed to accumulate a few First

World War British Grenades, despite the numerous varia-

tions manufactured during this period of time the grenades

themselves remain quite elusive and keenly sought after by

specialist ordinance collectors. Here are pictures of one of

my favourite variants, the Number 19 Percussion Stick

Grenade Official designation is as follows:

NOMENCLATURE: Grenade, hand, No.19 (Trench War-

fare Percussion Pattern)

SERVICE: Land

TYPE: Hand, Percussion, Fragmentation

FILLED WEIGHT: 1lb 10oz

EXPLOSIVE CONTENT AND WEIGHT OF EXPLO-

SIVE: 2.5 oz Ammonal or Bellite

PRINCIPAL DESIGN FEATURES: A pear shaped cast

iron body, segmented and grooved. Brass filling plug in

base. A screwed recess in the top receives the detonator

holder. The striker mechanism consists of a brass socket, a

steel striker, a copper shear wire, a brass or tinned steel

safety pin and a .380 Eley CF Cap. It has a wooden handle

with three webbing streamers.

DATE OF INTRODUCTION 1 June 1917

DECLARED OBSOLETE 29 July 1920

The date of introduction was the “official” date in fact the

grenades were in service late 1915 and would have seen the

most use during 1916. In theory a percussion grenade is a

good idea but in practice throwing one from the confines of

a trench could prove disastrous if one was not careful when

swinging back the throwing arm towards the back wall of

the trench! Also with the pin removed if the grenade was

accidently dropped it didn’t take much of an impact to

break the sheer wire. The No 19 was the last attempt at a

percussion stick grenade by British designers.

The grenades shown actually came to me as two motley

pairs of candle sticks! Trading one set of parts off for each

body so there have been four of these grenades returned to

a more original state. The body’s having been rejected after

casting due to sand inclusion weakening the area where the

threads would be cut. Other examples of recycling reject

grenade body’s exist with the more common “Mills

Bomb’s” ( No 5, No 23 and No36 ) being made into money

boxes, ink wells, book ends etc which were sold as patriotic

souvenirs/fundraisers. I was fortunate to have the loan of a

complete original example to enable me to copy the re-

quired parts to make no 19.After repairing the body’s with

threaded cast iron inserts Some brass stock was sourced

and fuse wells, striker housings and base plugs machined.

A good deal of time and effort went into replicating the

strikers with a couple of dies machined up to enable them

to be pressed to match the original. Then striker stems and

handle connectors made. Copper wire of the correct gauge

for sheer wires and .380 Eley rounds cut down to make

blanks for the igniter. Material for the streamers sourced

after a shopping trip to “spotlight” which were attached to

the oak handle’s (made by a local wood turner) with copper

nails which also had to be modified to suite. All the nice

shiny new parts were aged for a more authentic look and

the end result was well worth all the time and effort. One

body is marked SGB 1916 which is Stourbridge Glazed

Brick and Fire Clay Co ltd, Blowers Green, Dudley and at

Moor Lane Works, Brierley Hill.

Grenade candlesticks

Restored No.19 Grenade showing parts manufactured

during restoration

NZAHAA AGM

Held at the Invercargill Workingmen’s Club on Saturday 13th April the meeting and auction that followed was

attended by about 80 members. It was reported that the Associations finances are in good shape with cash re-

serves of about $82,000. Only 4 competitors entered the National Shoot held in Nelson in March and so no

trophies were awarded. The Postal Shoot attracted entries from Southland and Hawkes Bay Branches and tro-

phies were presented by our President Kath Arnold, see below. The Scott Rose Bowl Literary Award was pre-

sented to Graeme Barber for his article on the Owen and

Austin SMG which appeared in the December Gazette.

There being no other nominations Kath Arnold and Steve

Privett were re-elected as President and Vice President

respectively.

David King who has been Secretary of Southland Branch

for the past 21 years was presented with a Perham Medal-

lion for his services to the Branch and was also made a

Southland Branch Life Member, the latter award being

presented by Wallace Logan a foundation member of

Southland Branch.

The meeting was followed by a well run auction of 589

lots, see the results on the next two pages.

Graeme Barber receiving the Scott Rose Bowl from President Kath Arnold

David King receiving his Perham Medallion from Kath Arnold and Life Membership from Wallace

Logan foundation member of Southland Branch

Postal Shoot Trophies

MSSA Southland 151.5

Military rifle Hawkes Bay 183

Cadet Rifle Hawkes Bay 213

Sniper Rifle Southland 242

Lever Action Southland 166

Rim Fire Hawkes Bay 174

Shotgun Hawkes Bay 175

Overall winners Hawkes Bay 1236.5 (Southland 1059)

Top Gun Tom Cartwright (HB) 236.5

SOUTHLAND BRANCH AUCTION RESULTS FOR 13 April 2013

Lot $ Lot $ Lot $ Lot $ Lot $ Lot $

1 30 56 W/D 111 90 166 460 221 2 276 12

2 30 57 W/D 112 35 167 150 222 8500 277 32

3 25 58 W/D 113 24 168 W/D 223 23 278 8

4 32 59 W/D 114 7 169 W/D 224 18 279 10

5 21 60 W/D 115 10 170 100 225 45 280 80

6 26 61 W/D 116 35 171 W/D 226 40 281 30

7 W/D 62 W/D 117 85 172 60 227 20 282 40

8 45 63 3200 118 45 173 W/D 228 14 283 8

9 45 64 W/D 119 56 174 25 229 21 284 8

10 40 65 W/D 120 40 175 125 230 50 285 60

11 45 66 W/D 121 10 176 W/D 231 25 286 40

12 45 67 W/D 122 10 177 W/D 232 10 287 10

13 50 68 W/D 123 10 178 130 233 15 288 W/D

14 40 69 W/D 124 10 179 25 234 5 289 W/D

15 45 70 60 125 10 180 600 235 75 290 12

16 85 71 W/D 126 18 181 450 236 22 291 75

17 65 72 150 127 22 182 15 237 31 292 15

18 25 73 80 128 14 183 30 238 20 293 15

19 55 74 W/D 129 16 184 300 239 9 294 W/D

20 20 75 W/D 130 40 185 45 240 20 295 32

21 5 76 300 131 12 186 70 241 130 296 5

22 20 77 25 132 75 187 W/D 242 10 297 25

23 20 78 85 133 30 188 360 243 10 298 10

24 40 79 30 134 25 189 50 244 15 299 25

25 50 80 10 135 25 190 300 245 10 300 W/D

26 50 81 15 136 20 191 280 246 27 301 W/D

27 W/D 82 26 137 10 192 250 247 10 302 38

28 20 83 20 138 50 193 110 248 W/D 303 W/D

29 20 84 24 139 25 194 70 249 100 304 30

30 35 85 26 140 80 195 190 250 12 305 25

31 30 86 24 141 36 196 100 251 W/D 306 W/D

32 20 87 24 142 290 197 50 252 W/D 307 W/D

33 36 88 W/D 143 24 198 100 253 125 308 25

34 110 89 W/D 144 70 199 200 254 24 309 28

35 280 90 30 145 50 200 100 255 W/D 310 26

36 120 91 20 146 12 201 50 256 15 311 95

37 80 92 22 147 45 202 105 257 15 312 W/D

38 150 93 160 148 150 203 150 258 50 313 W/D

39 330 94 450 149 260 204 W/D 259 45 314 W/D

40 50 95 W/D 150 36 205 W/D 260 W/D 315 2500

41 35 96 35 151 30 206 W/D 261 40 316 W/D

42 10 97 50 152 7 207 210 262 170 317 W/D

43 120 98 150 153 W/D 208 W/D 263 25 318 W/D

44 100 99 1070 154 140 209 100 264 W/D 319 W/D

45 20 100 20 155 80 210 80 265 10 320 3000

46 32 101 20 156 120 211 100 266 15 321 W/D

47 W/D 102 40 157 16 212 180 267 17 322 3500

48 5 103 28 158 29 213 300 268 W/D 323 445

49 9 104 10 159 12 214 120 269 30 324 W/D

50 W/D 105 10 160 60 215 360 270 50 325 W/D

51 W/D 106 9 161 375 216 200 271 W/D 326 W/D

52 W/D 107 10 162 250 217 220 272 20 327 W/D

53 10 108 10 163 220 218 25 273 15 328 W/D

54 W/D 109 30 164 240 219 840 274 40 329 W/D

55 2300 110 85 165 400 220 35 275 25 330 W/D

Lot $ Lot $ Lot $ Lot $ Lot $

331 W/D 386 380 441 35 496 45 551 85

332 W/D 387 500 442 15 497 80 552 W/D

333 W/D 388 575 443 12 498 50 553 5

334 130 389 W/D 444 10 499 90 554 7

335 100 390 W/D 445 3 500 75 555 32

336 60 391 W/D 446 50 501 10 556 10

337 250 392 W/D 447 2 502 10 557 3

338 150 393 31 448 8 503 10 558 12

339 500 394 40 449 10 504 16 559 30

340 360 395 25 450 14 505 75 560

341 W/D 396 5 451 16 506 90 561 20

342 175 397 40 452 7 507 60 562 15

343 10 398 30 453 15 508 8 563 10

344 10 399 25 454 70 509 20 564 15

345 5 400 20 455 120 510 60 565 55

346 7 401 20 456 5 511 725 566 60

347 9 402 W/D 457 55 512 120 567 40

348 200 403 140 458 300 513 W/D 568 W/D

349 500 404 610 459 50 514 W/D 569 70

350 700 405 75 460 30 515 300 570 70

351 W/D 406 250 461 110 516 W/D 571 20

352 750 407 300 462 W/D 517 W/D 572 25

353 60 408 475 463 40 518 W/D 573 82

354 W/D 409 100 464 W/D 519 W/D 574 28

355 W/D 410 320 465 2000 520 25 575 50

356 W/D 411 W/D 466 100 521 20 576 50

357 50 412 225 467 W/D 522 20 577 80

358 60 413 250 468 110 523 25 578 150

359 75 414 400 469 40 524 30 579 120

360 60 415 W/D 470 5 525 W/D 580 W/D

361 70 416 150 471 W/D 526 W/D 581 W/D

362 18 417 70 472 W/D 527 370 582 40

363 5 418 60 473 W/D 528 30 583 W/D

364 20 419 50 474 90 529 100 584 W/D

365 8 420 110 475 80 530 W/D 585 W/D

366 7 421 5 476 1100 531 35 586 W/D

367 5 422 10 477 50 532 W/D 587 105

368 40 423 60 478 30 533 W/D 588 80

369 10 424 150 479 400 534 20 589 15

370 19 425 W/D 480 25 535 260

371 22 426 W/D 481 25 536 250

372 15 427 35 482 W/D 537 W/D

373 10 428 30 483 75 538 150

374 8 429 30 484 30 539 35

375 42 430 20 485 65 540 W/D

376 25 431 W/D 486 30 541 50

377 60 432 31 487 35 542 18

378 50 433 20 488 100 543 535

379 14 434 20 489 65 544 150

380 15 435 W/D 490 85 545 35

381 W/D 436 20 491 20 546 1800

382 W/D 437 20 492 15 547

383 W/D 438 22 493 30 548 70

384 W/D 439 20 494 30 549 5

385 W/D 440 20 495 80 550 70

A STORY OF LUCK AND COINCIDENCE BY Phil Cregeen

This story was told to me by Wallace Logan as recounted to him by the person involved Major CWH Tripp.

During WW II Charlie Trip was a New Zealand Captain serving with the Fijian troops known as the First

Commando Fiji Guerrillas or Pacific Commandos. Since they were operating in the Pacific Islands with US

Forces they were equipped with American weapons, such as M 1 Carbine and Colt M 1911 pistols. One day

while out on patrol they came across an American Officer who had become separated from his unit, Charlie

was able to direct this man back to his own people and in return the American gave Charlie a loaded M 1 car-

bine magazine. Charlie placed the magazine in his shirt pocket.

Later on while on night patrol Charlie passed through a patch of moonlight in the jungle and was fired upon by

Japs. He was hit by a bullet that fortunately for him struck the magazine in his shirt pocket, thereby saving his

life. Charlie was able to return fire with his Colt .45 and dispose of the Japs, no doubt aided by the rest of his

patrol.

Some years after the war Charlie’s daughter, a nurse, made a visit to the USA where a man sort her out and

introduced himself as the Officer who Charlie had helped in the jungle. Of course he did not know until that

point that his small gift had saved Charlie’s life.

Charlie showed Wallace the magazine with the bullet hole and mangled rounds inside when he told him this

story.

First Commando Fiji Guerrillas

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando

New Zealand formed the Southern Independent Commando in Fiji 1942. Its primary function was to

wage a guerrilla war on any Japanese forces should they attempt to capture the strategically impor-

tant Fiji islands. 200 native Fijians were recruited and organised by 44 New Zealanders. Training fo-

cused intensely on jungle warfare, and many successful 'mock' raids were made on American garri-

sons who awoke to find dummy time bombs placed on their ammunition dumps, or chalk crosses

drawn on the equipment of their guards.

When it became apparent that a Japanese invasion of Fiji was no longer likely, the commando was

deployed to undertake scouting tasks for US forces around Guadalcanal and New Georgia. Recruit-

ing was further expanded to include men from other pacific islands such as the Solomons and

Tonga, and occasionally British or American personnel took part in training or accompanied the

commandos on missions. After many successful operations and engagements, the harsh conditions

of extended jungle living took their toll, and many men began to suffer from ill-health. As a result, the

commando was reduced in strength until it was declared unfit for further service, and was disbanded

in May 1944.

The commando's contribution to the Solomon Island campaign was significant, with senior American officers referring to the unit as "most capable", "invaluable" and "unquestionably ... of great aid in the campaign".

More detailed information will be found at: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz

PACIFIC COMMANDOS: NEW ZEALANDERS AND FIJIANS IN ACTION. A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN INDEPENDENT COMMANDO AND FIRST COMMANDO FIJI GUERRILLAS

BY COLIN R LARSEN

SSANZ News

USEFUL AMMUNITION

Whenever stricter controls on firearms are called for the best way to counter it is with irrefuta-

ble facts. With this in mind we offer the following information courtesy of Inspector Joe Green:

Registration: “New Zealand does not have a universal registration regime, yet exhibits a

downward trend in suicide by firearm comparable to states that have attempted such a regime. In 1983 a radical and

substantial decision was made to move from a registration regime that focused on the firearm to a comprehensive licens-

ing regime that focused on ensuring, as far as possible, that only fit and proper people had access to firearms. Thorp

(1997: 13-16) considered that the pre 1983 registration system in New Zealand suffered from inaccuracy, had indications

of low compliance, did not assist crime prevention and detection, was of high cost with the money of maintaining such a

system better spent on other essential police duties.

Thorp (1997: 178) suggests that in order for the universal registration of firearms to be effective a threshold of 90%

compliance was necessary (In NZ this would equate to a register of at least 630 000 to 1 million firearms – if one sub-

mission to the Select Committee considering the Arms Amendment Bill #2 was correct that databases have an inherent

error rate of 20%, then the 90% threshold would be unattainable). He concluded that ‘at this time there is insufficient

evidence to conclude that the assistance which registration would provide to crime prevention and detection would in

itself support the costs involved in establishing it‘ .

After 10 years of legislated universal registration neither Canada nor Australia have been able to state that they have

reached the threshold suggested by Thorp. The impression I have, after nearly ten years in arms control is that the ex-

perience of other states attempting to implement a universal registration regime somewhat parallels the pre 1983 New

Zealand situation.”

Canada has now abandoned registration of long guns after spending billions of dollars on the exercise, while Australia

doggedly sticks to its draconian gun laws.

A NICE SOUVENIR by Tony Bruce

My daughter gave me this souvenir. She is a Lieutenant in the NZ Navy, and after an

exercise with the Singapore Navy a few years ago they gave her this presentation

box.

LOST BAGPIPES

I'm on the lookout for a set of bagpipes and some medals that belonged to Thomas

Wilson. Thomas Wilson died in WWI on the 28th of May 1916. His bagpipes were

sent back to his mother, Mary Jane, in Flag Swamp. The family have since lost track of their whereabouts and a relative of his, who is currently a soldier himself, and his

son who is Thomas' namesake want to track them down. This is so he can play them at the centennial of his death and honour him when they travel to France in 2016. It would mean the world to the whole family if these could be found.

They have approached Family Secret, a new show made by Eyeworks NZ for TV 3, to ask for help.

Additional information on Thomas Wilson that may come in useful:

Serial number: 8/2765

Lived in Flag Swamp

Part of the Otago Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion

Was killed by a shrapnel in Somme, France as he sat next to Thomas McCone and Thomas Meikle (as described in

A.Aitken's Gallipoli to the Somme; Recollections of a New Zealand Infantryman).

Thank you very much for all of your help,

Amy Currie Family Secret E amy.currie@eyeworksnz.com M +64 (0) 22 082 9318 W: +64 9 379 7867 ext 718

AMERICAN CENTRE FIRE RIFLES IN NZ HOME GUARD SERVICE by Phil Cregeen © 2013

In the early days of WW II with most of New Zealand’s army serving overseas it was necessary to form a defence for

the homeland, because if Britain fell to a German invasion in the dark days following Dunkirk, this country would no

longer be safe from Axis conquest. Thus the Home Guard was brought into being late in 1940 and by the end of that

year 50,000 men had been enrolled. However there was a major problem, there were not enough rifles to arm them all.

By April 1941 2,700 P 14s, 1,410 MLE Mk I, 1,200 Lee Metfords and 1,190 older but serviceable rifles had been issue

to the HG. It was then necessary to call on civilian owned rifles and around 20,000 rifles, mostly old 303s were im-

pressed into service, these were checked over by gunsmiths and about 16,000 found to be serviceable. Unserviceable

rifles were painted with a white band round the butt and used for drill or spare parts.

With Japans entry into the War in December 1941, risk of invasion became even more real, however this also saw

Americas entry into the War. Supplies of American rifles destined for England were diverted to the Pacific among them

Model 1903 Springfield rifles which arrived in Auckland in April/May 1942. Initially some 24,500 American .30 calibre

rifles were issued to the Home Guard and by October 40,000 American rifles had been imported, with the Home Guard

strength increased to 109,226 men, although ammunition for the US rifles was still in short supply. American rifles were

issued to HG units in more isolated areas, while those serving close to Territorial units were issued with .303 rifles, to

avoid ammunition supply problems.

Both the Springfield Model 1903 (top) and the US Model 1917 (bottom) were supplied to

New Zealand under Lend Lease arrangements.

It is understood that both M 1903 and M 1917 30-06 calibre rifles were supplied to New Zealand but so far the exact

quantity of each has not been discovered. The Springfield rifles were manufactured by Remington’s Ilion plant in NY in

late ‘41 or early ‘42 and were marked N^Z with a rack number on the butt, when issued in NZ (example Serial No

3017758 marked N^Z 5488). These rifles are thought to fall in the serial number range 3,017,000 and 3,055,000. The M

1917 were WW I production being the same as Pattern 1914 Enfield manufactured in the US .30 calibre. It is understood

that these surplus Lend Lease arms were shipped to French Indo China in the 1950s or dumped at sea.

An impressed Winchester M 1895 .303 Sporting rifle issued to Home Guard and marked HG 7B

If you own a NZ marked M 1903 or M 1917 I would be pleased to hear about it; make, serial number, and details of NZ

markings would be helpful to our ongoing research.

HOME GUARD DISTRICTS IN WW II courtesy of http://www.allaboutenfields.co.nz/

NMD CMD SMD SMD (Dunedin Office)

1 Auckland 5 Wellington 9 Nelson 11 Dunedin 2 Paeroa 6 Whanganui 9a Greymouth 11a Oamaru 2a Rotorua 6a Palmerston. North 9b Westport 3 Whangarei 7 Napier 9c Blenheim 11b Alexandra 4 Hamilton 7a Gisborne 10 Christchurch 12 Invercargill 7b Masterton 10a Timaru 12a Gore 8 New Plymouth 10b Waikari 8a Hawea 10c Ashburton 8b Stratford 10d Rangiora WHEN IS A BUSBY NOT A BUSBY? Contributed by Tony Bruce Answer: When it is a Bearskin.

Bearskin Busby The Busby should not be mistaken for the much taller bearskin cap, worn most notably by the five regiments

of Foot Guards of the Household Division (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards).

Bearskins were adopted in the 18th century because the brimmed hats worn by grenadiers obstructed their

view when they were hurling grenades. In 1768, it was ordered that grenadiers in the Foot Guards wear caps of

black bearskin, with the motto Nec Aspera Terrent (Not even difficulties deter us) on a silver King's Crest on

the front. At the battle of Waterloo in 1815, the First Regiment of Foot Guards defeated the grenadiers of Na-

poleon's Guard. They were rewarded with the title of Grenadier Regiment, with every soldier allowed to wear

a bearskin.

Today about 100 bearskins are obtained annually from Canadian black bears culled by Inuit Indians, as part of

a government program to control bear numbers. However animal rights protesters want the British Army to

stop this practice claiming it is cruel. Attempts by the MOD have so far failed to find a suitable alternative.

WEBSITES THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST Ctrl +click or copy and paste into your browser

84 Year old WW II Sniper in action "ImposShotTGundy.wmv" .from John Carter.

All about Enfields: http://www.allaboutenfields.co.nz/ from Tony Bruce.

MYSTERY OBJECT (below right), answers please to oilyrag@xtra.co.nz

Graham Barber was first, followed quickly by Peter Cobb in second place to provide the correct answer for

last months object (below left). The answer is a WWII German K98 Grenade Launcher Sight, see also the

grenade launcher below, photographed at the National Army Museum, Waiouru.

Mainland and Militaria Shows Ltd Book Sales

We are the NZ distributor for most of Ian Skennerton published and other titles at the equivalent of AUD

prices (plus NZ GST and plus postage where applicable).

YOU can see the full list of items available at www.gunshows.co.nz or www.skennerton.com

YOU save approximately 25% of the cost of direct purchase from Australia.

We have just received a limited number of Collector #30. This will be the

last Annual printed in this format. Any future Collector will be in pdf for-

mat and available on line.

Featured is a comprehensive 23page article on the New Zealand Lee En-

field Carbine. For many years these carbines have baffled collectors world-

wide. Doug Munro from Baltimore along with NZ researchers John

Milligan and Noel Taylor have demystified these carbines following com-

prehensive research and the gathering of information about real examples

provided by collectors worldwide. If you own one of these carbines or

would like to then this article is a must. The article describes their history

and development, the various types in much detail, their use and disposal

and much more. It concludes with a multi page table containing vital statis-

tics for known rifles by type.

Other articles include: From No.4 to L42 A1, Victorian Volunteer Rifles,

Aussie Mail Service Pistol, Japanese Automatic Rifles, British Naval Cut-

lass, 20-rd SMLE Magazine, SMLE Forensic Inspection.

Special Prices: Collector # 30 Annual - $26 plus GST and postage - While

stocks last.

Collector #’s 1-19 quarterly magazine - Full set $70 plus GST and postage.

Price for individual copies on inquiry.

Collector # 20 -29 Annual’s – Full set $100 plus GST and postage.

Price for individual copies on inquiry.

Save money and combine with other purchases.

Contact Graeme Barber on 027 4351940 or by email graeme.woodend@xtra

UP COMING EVENTS - If you have dates for events in 2013 or 2014 please advise oilyrag@xtra.co.nz

25 May Ruahine Branch Gun Show, Feilding

22 June Whangarei Hunting Shooting and Fishing Show

7 July Auckland Branch Gun Show, Mt Eden

20 & 21 July Wellington Branch Auction, Kilbirnie, Wellington

27 July Mainland Arms & Militaria Gun Show, Christchurch

17 & 18 August Tauranga Arms & Militaria Show

7 September NZAHAA HYGM and Ruahine Branch Auction, Fielding

28 & 29 September Auckland Arms Fair, Henderson

12 & 13 October Ted Rogers Militaria Auction, Kilbirnie, Wellington

9&10 November Armistice In Cambridge

WHERE ARE THE GUNS? Please send details of your local gun to oilyrag@xtra.co.nz

3 Pdr Hotchkiss Gun at Maungataroto RSA by Paul Exler

BUY, SELL OR SWAP

Free to advertise for two months.

FOR SALE OR TRADE : Japanese Type 99 Sniper Ri-

fle in Excellent Original Condition; U.S. Model 1903

Sniper Rifle fitted with Telescopic Sights on bridge

mount similar to Van Wie type; Finnish Mosin Nagant

Sniper Rifle fitted with lit reticule Scope.

WANTED : British Commonwealth Trials Ri-

fles especially Pattern 1913, No I MK VI & No 4 Trials

Rifles; WW I Lattey, Gibbs, Martin, and similar Optical

Sights; Rifle Grenade Cups & Spigots, and Wire Cutters &

Breakers.

CONTACT : Colin Green, 5 Tiffany Grove, Templestowe,

Victoria 3106, Australia.

Phone : ....61 3 98462070. Email : colin-

greenaust@hotmail.com

WANTED: for restoration project – two Martini En-

field .303 upper barrel bands. If not complete that will still

be OK, as it appears that the bands are hardest to find.

Contact: Noel Taylor njtaylor@ihug.co.nz

Phone 021 187 2106

WANTED: .303 5 shot box magazine for a Lee Speed

Sporter /Express, the rifle was made by BSA.

Contact : Peter Murphy sp.murphy@xtra.co.nz

*WANTED …. Genuine WWII era Fairbairn Sykes

knives, First Pattern & Second Pattern. Will pay top money

for top quality knives. Brian McLeary,

hbarms@clear.net.nz Phone 06-843 2209

*WANTED BAYONET to fit Bar on Band model Snider,

Yataghan or straight, any condition considered.

Contact S W Robinson Phone 03 570 5762

THE

NEW ZEALAND ANTIQUE AND

HISTORICAL ARMS

ASSOCATION,

NZHAAA HALF YEARLY MEETING

FOR 2013

To be on

7 September 2013 Hosted by

Central Branch. At

The Rangitikei Club

FEILDING.

Prior to

THE RUAHINE BRANCH ANNUAL

AUCTION

Antiques & Collectables

Road Show

Kawerau Town Hall Islington Street, Kawerau

1st & 2nd June 2013 10am—3pm

Nostalgia, Antiques, Collectables and

Bric-A-Brac

Expert valuers

Auction to be held 3.30pm Sunday (for those wishing to sell items)

Bric-A-Brac sales tables

Gold coin entry Small valuation fee

10% auction success fee All profits to

Eastern Bay of Plenty Hospice

Proudly hosted by NZ Motor Caravan Association Eastern Bay of Plenty