Mk1 rifle rests

[RichardT10829]

Thanks for the phone call Shaun. 50mm x 50mm it is.... will get some stock ordered toot sweet.


Cheers

[Lynn Eades]

I did a post for you yesterday only to find its not there.
I have a a Brit one (TL13099) which would be imperial sized 2"x2" x 1/8" thick.(51 x 51 x3mm)
The Battery box lid is 3.7mm Nominally 4.0mm. the sides and rear are 6.0mm. If you want any photos, sing out.

[Ben]

It's the wooden part that i think will be the tricky bit to get to look right. Were they bolted on with counterbored holes to let the head of the bolt sit flush? also was the wood left natural or painted to match the carrier.

I'd imagine the wood needs to be pretty hard to stop it denting and marking too easily.

Ben

[Lynn Eades]

As far as I know, they were all rubber until the change over to the Mk II.
The rubber rests have a counterbore with cheese head screws in them. The rubber has a steel base to it. The wood is a good substitute for a rubber rest which is a hard to get item, here at least.

[RichardT10829]

I had thought the rails on the Mk1s were wooden (except the early ones which were rubber) so I am glad you shouted up Lynn... i was going to make them out of wood but I may have to have a re think. i beleive if i recall correctly the carriers with the rubber rails also had rubber step pads on the rear steps (rather than the diamond plate)

mine being a 42 carrier may be considered later production so perhaps i will get away with the wooden variant rails.

[Ben]

I thought early ones were wood!

Nigel's book (not to hand) shows a very early British MK1 on the first MK 1 page and i'm sure the rails are wood. Eddy's Canadian carrier has the small pressed trays and rubber rails from memory. Perhaps it's a British/Canadian thing?

Ben

[Lynn Eades]

No Ben, its not a Brit / Canadian thing The British rubber rests are a higher profile than the Canadian ones. I'm not saying wood was not used. It may have been a rubber shortage thing. The steel tube on the MkII was an obvious answer.
For someone doing a restoration, I would suggest the wood as a good option. easy to do, durable and looks the part. A bit of polished Jarrah would be great!
I have posted on the differences, but can do photos if someone wants them.

Rich, I do have a used rubber step insert. Until you just mentioned it, I never knew anything about a "checker plate" (grip tread) metal step insert.
We are all learners.