Quote:
Originally Posted by David Dunlop
Based on the information I received from the Enfield Pattern Room, this piece of equipment evolved in the following way.
(Paraphrased)
No. 2 Mk 2: The action was based on the No. 1 SMLE rifle with no modifications to the firing mechanism.
Canada produced a quantity of their own dischargers, based on the British No. 2 Mk 1, utilizing both the Ross Mk. III Rifle actions and No. 1 SMLE rifle actions. I do not know what, if any, numbering convention Canada used for this production. Some were built for cable operation and some had no modifications to the firing mechanism.
David
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David, is there a source document that speaks to: "utilizing both the Ross MK.III Rifle actions and No. 1 SMLE rifle actions" ?
I ask, as examples of the Canadian Ross actions have been observed, but as Canada did not manufacture the SMLE action, outside of a specific serial number or Dominion of Canada Proof stamps, in absence of official documents, how can we identify an SMLE discharger action as being Canadian produced, or should I correctly say, modified?
Ross rifles did not have factory applied serial numbers on the metal parts in a manner we would expect to see similar to other military rifles. The Ross actions used for the discharger conversions have serial numbers applied. Those numbers appear to follow a set sequence or identifiable pattern and location.
Ross discharger actions can be observed specfic to the Canadian Mark of Universal Carrier they were designed for. By example, the MK-I* series carrier used the cable release you identified. No such release cable was required for the MK-II* series carrier. As a result, the modified trigger guard and trigger designed to attach the release cable was redundant. I am thinking you may have some Ford factory images that show the MK-II* U.C. Ross actions in place?
I believe we will find both (original) Ross discharger actions had their safeties disabled by the removal of select parts.