The weird things you find in film archives....

Trevor · May 11, 2009, 01:52:12 AM

When we were clearing the building out, I found four of these.....

Four .303 calibre rifles that had been fixed so that they couldn't be used, i.e. trigger fixed, barrel welded shut and action / cocking lever bolted shut.

Fixed or not, I scared the security in our new building by walking around with one of them last week....

they almost called the cops.

Newt · May 11, 2009, 06:25:53 PM

Would they have been film props? Cannot imagine any other reason for them to be made inoperable, unless the are collector's items and it is required that they not be useable?

It does seem odd that they'd be there, and without explanation.

Eyesore · May 11, 2009, 07:30:06 PM

I'm curious Trevor, can you find any markings on them? The lack of a front sight may indicate that these were sniper rifles, and thus better fitted and finished than a standard rifle.

The .303 was the standard British military round in both World Wars.

Trevor · May 12, 2009, 01:24:19 AM

Quote from: Newt on May 11, 2009, 06:25:53 PM
Would they have been film props? Cannot imagine any other reason for them to be made inoperable, unless the are collector's items and it is required that they not be useable? It does seem odd that they'd be there, and without explanation.

I think they are film props but with a little tweaking here and there, they most certainly could be used again as modifications aside, they are real in every way.

Trevor · May 12, 2009, 02:39:01 AM

Quote from: Eyesore on May 11, 2009, 07:30:06 PM
I'm curious Trevor, can you find any markings on them? The lack of a front sight may indicate that these were sniper rifles, and thus better fitted and finished than a standard rifle.

The .303 was the standard British military round in both World Wars.

They have markings on the barrel and there are fold-down sights too, Eyesore. They look and are real ~ real enough to have our security guys scrambling for the phone when I walked around with them last week.

Cthulhu · May 12, 2009, 02:53:45 PM

I guess you didn't expect to find a "movie" of that caliber, right? See what I did there? Huh, I'm so funny..

Argh, sorry.

Trevor · May 14, 2009, 01:45:02 AM

Quote from: Cthulhu on May 12, 2009, 02:53:45 PM
I guess you didn't expect to find a "movie" of that caliber, right? See what I did there? Huh, I'm so funny..
Argh, sorry.

Consider yourself karma'd for that joke.

trekgeezer · May 14, 2009, 07:58:09 AM

Those remind me of the old 1903 Springfields they made us carry around in Navy boot camp. We had to call them a "piece" instead of a rifle because they were incapable of firing.

I think the Navy did away with using them in training shortly after I got out.