A Trench Periscope adaptation of the Lee-Enfield Rifle
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Page still under construction
The NRA Museum holds this First World War example of a SMLE rifle
modified for use over a trench parapet.
The unit can be fitted moderately quickly to any SMLE rifle without need of any tools;
the parts clamping in place and being tightened with wing-nuts.
It is of a design patented by J. Chandler in September 1915.
( The two large rectangular vertically orientated brackets, each with two silver screws, are only the display wall mounting supports)
Below and right, the Patent application for the equipment,
granted to J.E. Chandler on 17th. September 1915
( Extract from Patents for Inventions - Small Arms)
Stocks ; sighting, - accessories ; firing -appliances
applicable generally; breech actions, sliding breech-block,-
Relates
to rifles having a set-down auxiliary stock provided with hyposcope reflectors
and an auxiliary trigger connected to the main trigger for firing from cover.
The invention consists mainly (1) in combining with such a stock means for
actuating the breech-bolt, and (2) in special means for securing the auxiliary
stock to the ordinary butt stock. The bolt is operated by a reciprocating
and rotating rod N1 adapted to be rotated by a crank 01, link P, and lever
P', and to be reciprocated by a bell-crank Q, link Q1, and lever R. The
top of the auxiliary stock is provided with a saddle-piece B adapted to
embrace the ordinary stock and to be secured by a screw clamp D. The lower
end of the stock is formed with a pistol grip. The hyposcope mirrors E,
I are hinged to brackets F, J on the auxiliary stock, the top bracket F
being vertically adjustable.
It can be seen, in the image below, how the design permits not only the firing of the rifle from a protected position using a remote trigger, but also the actioning of the bolt; there being one lever to rotate the handle to unlock/lock the bolt, and another to draw the bolt open and push it home.
The arrangement therefore allows of the firing of a complete magazine contatining ten rounds before any necessity to dismount the rifle from its (probably hidden) position.
Below: The main unit is held in place by single clamp on the underside of the butt-stock
Side view of the remote arm
carrying the trigger unit,
bolt operating levers,
and the lower periscope mirror.
The bowden cable, leading to the rifle's trigger
from the remote trigger,
can be clearly seen.
Below: the socket clamp making the connection to the bolt-handle.
It can be seen, above, that the unit is fitted to a Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, No.1 Mark III*
The markings are:
ENFIELD
1918
SHT LE
III*
Above: bolt closed, and clamp shown locking the end of the Bowden cable 'inner' to the trigger.
Above: the rifle's action viewed from above.
Below: the sight picture
1915
There
were a multiplicity of trench periscope designs,
published images would be afforded.