< PreviousI I : marked by the Government inspectors. Even if the War Office bought and issued the rifle there would be nothing to prevent an inferior rifle being manufactured and sold. Clubs &c. would buy to suit their purse and could not be compelled to take any pattern or quality of rifle. Unless 1 t were covt::red by patent and this would only be possible to a lin1ited extent 1 if at all,they could not prevent manufac- tt~t'e:r-s turning out a rifle on similar lines and selling it at any price they pleased. The design might be registered to prevent any one calling a rifle the Government pattern unless strictly in accordance with the pattern. General Mackinnon was of opinion however that it made all the difference whether the rifle were first ieeued by the Government in coneiderable numbers and then copied by the trade or whether it was from the beginning purely a private matter between the trade and the purchaser. It was most desirable that iss t- z..e ~p h ~~e .:1, 12 ~7" 1120,000 or 30,000 ,~'~i'lM ...iaaney! should be of quality and issued at a fixed price. the first standard The M.G.O. then saw the Committee at their request with reference to the question at issue. He pointed out that the question of policy was hardly within hie province. He thought however that there would be ' ' considerable ... · ·' ··:':" , ,,., (11· considerable difficulties if the Government were to compete in any way with the trade in a question of this kind. Major Fre~mantle pointed out that it was very desirable that the purchaser of the rifle should be guaranteed a weapon of standard quality at a fixed price which would not include the middleman's profit. General Luard, Colonel Hopton and Mr. Martin r Holland were in general agreement with General Mackinnon and Major Freemantle. It was eventually decided to ask the Secretary of State to consent to see the Committee at an early date with reference to the question of the supply and issue of the miniature rifle which had been recommended for adopt ion. !I . ,. Proceeding s of the Miniature Rifle Committee, /0~ jl./(/0- :Jlth January, 1906 • ------------ - Present. ~ajor-General W.H. Mackinnon, c.v.o., C.B.,) Director of Auxiliary Forces. ) Chairman. li I . ' ., Major-General C.E. Luard. t... ; " I R. ~. i .t.'\eJ\•"'• "> I' . Brigadi er-General C.F. Hadden, C.E. D. of A. Colonel J.D. Hop t on. c.r.s.A. Mr. R. l.'i:art in Holl.n.nd. -, u 0 A. (J (\\ ,_ . J,...,.. • ""' '\ . ..._ Absent. Major-General Lord Cheylesmore. M.R.A. Major Hon: T.F. Freemantle. l'T.R.A. The Committee examined the o.F. rifle modified as desired by them at their meeting on 20th December, 1905, i.e. with the fore-end further shortened by 3 inches, the upper swivel fitted at 32 inches and the lower at 5 inches from toe of the butt, a.nd wi t h a fore- sight protector l1av ing the pivot parallel with the barrel. The foresi ght protector was e.pproved and a slight modification in the position of the swivels decided upon - the upper swivel being lowered about one inch. ' .:"": ' l I ( It was also decided that the fore-end of the two ! models l..'.nder manufacture should be eloped off, but the total length was not to be reduced. They considered that endeavours should be made to produce a satisfactory design of magazine for eubse- quent adoption if found necessary. ~-1 ~ .l I j Pn,.~ c .;;: c:;dinp ~ of th t: IHni ~ ture Rifle Committee held at W ~r Office, 20th December, l~Oj. Prelien t. Us.jor Gtmeral Vl.H. Me.ckinnon, c.v.o., C. B.,) ) Ch9.irman. T'ir<::ctc·r of AuxilL:. ry Forces. Major Genercl, Lord Cheyleamcre. U. B. A. Major General C.E. Lu a rd. Erigndier-Genural C.F. Hadden, C.B. D. of A. Colonel J.D. Hopton. C.I.S.A. :'!9J or, Hon: T. F. Free::!l:m tle. N. R. A. !!r. R. ;>'\' artin Holland. V R • ( I . 111(. I-C). ~ "'o• • 1\• ' " The Co~mittee con~idercd the reports of the C.I.S.A. 2-nd th~ Superintendent R.S.A.F. Enfield, d a ted 1~ th De cember 1 ~0!:>, t::.n d tiSk ed i..h ~~ t th e for(::•end of the O.F. riflo uhould b 6 further Bhortened by ~ inches and th e d ti ivels fi ttod a a s uerrEH;t e d by c. r. S.A., tho upp [;jr to b e 3 2 inche s ~'nd t he lO 't;er 5 inche a from t h e r. oe of th e butt. Also t h a t t ;.o rifles L>hould be: pn:pared in O. P ., t h e ft~ atures underlin e d in blue on a nnexure b e ine: emhcdie d, r•.l s c. th t,;; follo •'lin g :- a . Br~ ech me ch:~i am on lin e~ indic~t~d by c.r.s.A. in h i s report d :~ ted 19th Dt:c t.~mbt:r 1~0 5 . b. Y.ncr.) () !"' ·b ol ;.:. t o bt; Ei ., f : .. r b u.ck a~ p o:>ts ible ~m r. net in fron t o f m ~fCl.Zi n e . . -- ·-- - - ·----- - ------ - ··-- ------------~ •.,0: · , ~ •· ... ~-• -·17-'• " P I Pn,.~ c r:.: c:;dinR ~ of th t: },'ini ~ ture R1fla Co !nmittee held a t War Offic e , 20th December, l~O b . Prt:~ent. !! a.jor G~neral Vl.H. Me.ckinnon, C.V.O., C. B.,} J'lirectc·r of AuxilL.:. ry Forces. ) Chairmun. Major Gener ~l, Lord Cheyleo~cre. U. R. A. Major Gener a l C.E. Lu a rd. Brignai e r-Gencral C.F. Handen, C.B. D. c f A. Colonel J.D. Hopton. C.I.S.A. uo 4 or Hen: T. F. Frtt::!l!.Ul tle. -~~ ' U. R. A. l!r. R. :l art in Hell a nd. The Co ~mittee con~idtrcd the rev ~rta of the c.I.S.A· ~nd th~ Superintende nt R.S.A.F. Enfield, d a ted l iJ th De c ember l~Or>, !:.n d a~k td Lh ~d. t h e for(;;;- e nd o f the o.P. rifle ahould b6 furthb r ahortened by ~ inches and th e d ..-; ive l s fitt e d a a suerr~G t e d by r;.r.s.A., tho u ppfol r t o b e 3 2 inches ~~n d t he l o·:;er 5 inche a frc m t. h e t. c e of th e but t. Al s o t h a t t :.o rifl e s ;.>houl d be; prt:fia.Ted in o. P., t h e fe atu res un de r l in e d in blue en a nnexure b e ine: ~mhcdie d, <:•.l s c th i:; follo •'lin g :- a . B r~e ch me ch :~i 6m on lin e~ in d ic ~ ted by C.I.S.A. - in h i o r ep ort d ~~ t e d 19th Dt:c t'Jmb t: r 1~0 5 . E.:_ .Yn c'r> (J f b ol t-to bt; r..~, .; f c~.. r b ~ck at:> PO:>t:i ible ~~n r. ne t i n fro n t o f m::tfuz i n e . c. - I ~ I ~ i ' / c. e. ~. - Yindgauge as in Short rifle. Butt trap of p~ttern recommended by C.I.S.~ S wivels as in C.I.S.A's report. Rifling- O.F.groove, the twist to be 1/lG in on e case and in the o t her 1/19. They also asked C. I. s. A. to prepare a fore- eight protector as explained to him by the Committee, and to submit it at next meetin g for ap p roval. l I ~ Meeting of Minia.turta Rifle Committee, 20th Deoember,l905. Points selectsd for embodiment in proposed miniature rine. 1.. Butt '- Grip. As in Web1ey. 2. Trigser ~ !..l!.l!-E~)· 3. Trigger guard. · , ~ .... ~..-~- .... ~_.. .. ....., __ ,,.·.#- • . ..r .......... ~ ·-··· •. •• 4. Fore-snd. 5. Pull Off. -----~ ......... Al/1' ~~~ ( Lea:f. 6. :Sacksight ( ··~~ ... :.. ~~ .,.,.. .. ~ .. - ( (Slide. tHorns. '1. 'Windgauge. a. ]'ort:tsigb.t. Q. Foresight protector. 1.0. Act ion. 1.1. :Butt plate (shape). ~· .-.. ~ --, ·~~-: -.- ~"'loo~- -. -- ...... ~:-:.. ...... _ '· ·". 12. Butt trap. 13. Knob of bolt. 1.4. :Barrel. · .• • &! .#»>. li. • ...... 15. Band. do -do - O.F.shape arranged for inner band but 3 inches short er than model. As in Webley, if this is possible with action selected. As in 'Webley but with ramp sloped as recommended by c.r.s.~ As in Vlebley but rear face of oap vertical.. As in 'Webley. As in Short L.E. rine. As in :S. S. A. (unless patented). As in B. s. A. but to be adjustable as in SerTioe pattern. As in o. F. or similar but pivoted fore and aft. Either B. S. ~ or lrebley modified. As in :B. s. A. As in Webley, or if cheaper and efficient, a circular trap would be preferred. Not to be in fron·t of trigger. Shape as in Short L.E.rifle. Webley or O.F. according as barrel and body are made in l or 2 pieoea. One (inner) 2 or 3 inches lower than in o.~. mode1. I ~ I 16. 17. 18. Swivels. Wood. Magazine. Upper as in 0. F. , lower as in B. s. A. loop and lug being the same size . and swivels to take 1 inch sling. Walnut. None need be fitted at present. \ . I / /• - -----=----------- --- . ( I - - 7 Proceedings of the Miniature Rifle Committee held at War Office 14th December, 1905. Present. Ma,jor General W.H. :Mackinnon, C. V.O., C.:B.,) ) Chairman. Director of Auxili~ry Force~. Ma jor Gener~l C.E. Lu&rd. i ,, ) ~ • ~ • "• ·., I ' \ . J \ . }~ rie; adier r:eperal. c. F. Had den, c. B. D. of A. Colonel J.D. Hopton. c.r.s.A. .M:o:.jcr, Hon: T.F. :Freemantle. n. R. A • ?.~ r. R. Mart in Holl5.nd. Absent. Major General Lord Cheylesmore. N. R. A. The Cornmi tt ee de sired that Colonel Ho,Pton "hould c :;;.rry out a firin g trial with t he Webley and B.s.A. Company's rifles, and asked tha t they might be furnlahed by the c.s.o.F. with an estimate or t h e time and coat of producing a rifle embodying the various points mentioned in annexed sheet A. They al so desir e d to know ,,.,hethe r a serviceabl e circul ar butt trap could be fitted a t a less cost than the Webl ey p a ttern. I As no suit able p ~t t ern of magaz ine was before the I I I Next >