Rob442 Posted April 6, 2023 Report Share Posted April 6, 2023 Thought I would post some pics of my near mint Lanchester MK 1* ser # 22014A. This gun is deactivated to UK old spec with fully moving parts and is in unused condition. I have been collecting Lanchesters for about 30 years now and have owned at least 20 of all variations but this one is in the best condition I have yet seen. If you look closely at the finger grooves on the forend and compare it to other guns you will see how crisp the edges are, showing the lack of use. From my records, all guns upto and including ser # 21875A were MK 1s with the Tangent sight so it's quite possible that MK 1* production started at approximately ser # 22000. (Gun # 22028A had a Tangent sight so there was a slight crossover as #22159A onwards had the flip sight) This gun has the simplified 2 position flip sight and what looks like a hand stamped mark in place of the * As one of the very first MK 1*s, this gun may have kept out of service as a display piece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyface Nelson Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 Very , very nice … I love Lanchesters. Thank you for sharing !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 Yes, very nice! What is on the magazine housing? Paint? Or has it been chemically darkened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob442 Posted April 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 5 hours ago, johnsonlmg41 said: Yes, very nice! What is on the magazine housing? Paint? Or has it been chemically darkened? Hard to say, I've seen many with this same finish and it doesn't seem to flake off in any areas the way old paint would. My guess would be chemically darkened but can't say for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted April 8, 2023 Report Share Posted April 8, 2023 Very nice gun. There are a few of us with Lanchesters! Mine is at Andrewski awaiting his magic... Mine is an original C&R. Other forum members have the Egyptian version (you know, with the funny language on the butt stock, that when interpreted says, "point other end toward enemy")! Once mine is back, I'll post pics! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted April 8, 2023 Report Share Posted April 8, 2023 (edited) Actually one side of the buttstock says "for education" or "for training"; the other side is not a word but appears to be a series of initials but I've not had any luck in getting it deciphered. It's probably some Arabic equivalent of "ROTC" Edited April 8, 2023 by StrangeRanger grammar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56hawk Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 Has anyone seen a Lanchester like this before? It has the rivet holes drilled for the tangent sight and trigger group, but the flip sight and trigger group are welded on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 More common than you think. Mine has the holes drilled for the FCG screws but not for the sight base If your serial number has an A suffix added that means that a Mk 1 receiver has been altered to Mk1* configuration and can no longer be services as a Mk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56hawk Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 It does have an A suffix. I figured it was made when they were transitioning from the Mk1 to the Mk1* just didn't see any like that online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APEXgunparts Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 (edited) My Father was a Lieutenant (Sp.) in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and trained on the Lanchester during WW2. He was actually a Civilian working directly for the Admiralty, and being appointed as a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. is a story for another time! He was an electronics repair officer and qualified on all the small arms they had on board the ships he served on. He noticed that R.N. sailors during the Falklands war were escorting Argentine POW's and STILL carrying Lanchesters! Here is the link to the Lanchester that we have photographed on the APEX Archive web site: Lanchester MK1* photo's Richard Edited August 8, 2023 by APEXgunparts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 19 hours ago, APEXgunparts said: My Father was a Lieutenant (Sp.) in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and trained on the Lanchester during WW2. He was actually a Civilian working directly for the Admiralty, and being appointed as a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. is a story for another time! He was an electronics repair officer and qualified on all the small arms they had on board the ships he served on. He noticed that R.N. sailors during the Falklands war were escorting Argentine POW's and STILL carrying Lanchesters! Here is the link to the Lanchester that we have photographed on the APEX Archive web site: Lanchester MK1* photo's Richard I love these guns. One of the last really "nice" open bolt SMG's as far as quality of construction, appearance and overall collectability. Everyone should own one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted August 9, 2023 Report Share Posted August 9, 2023 Plus it's a good excuse to buy a Sten since they share mags, loaders, mag tools and some Pattern 37 web gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 54 minutes ago, StrangeRanger said: Plus it's a good excuse to buy a Sten since they share mags, loaders, mag tools and some Pattern 37 web gear Now there is an idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 I certainly thought so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 I really like your STEN. It looks much nice that what I usually see. Can you post a few more pics and give us some details? C&R? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 It's a Wilson tube gun. The parts kit is an Israeli TMT IV. The third barrel is threaded for a suppressor. Nine mags total at least one of which is a 19 round single stack, I'll find out tonight when I get my first conjugal visit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 Really a good looking gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted August 13, 2023 Report Share Posted August 13, 2023 On 8/9/2023 at 6:19 PM, StrangeRanger said: Plus it's a good excuse to buy a Sten since they share mags, loaders, mag tools and some Pattern 37 web gear What web gear? The straps? The pouches are 32 vs. 50? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted August 13, 2023 Report Share Posted August 13, 2023 Belt and braces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted August 14, 2023 Report Share Posted August 14, 2023 On 8/12/2023 at 8:26 PM, StrangeRanger said: Belt and braces I knew what you meant! Ha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob442 Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 On 8/8/2023 at 5:01 PM, 56hawk said: Has anyone seen a Lanchester like this before? It has the rivet holes drilled for the tangent sight and trigger group, but the flip sight and trigger group are welded on. Yes, I used to own one just like it. My guess is that they found some action tubes from the early production that were unused due to specifications changing and they used up whatever they had as the need increased. I say this because the one I used to own had two pilot holes drilled into the underside of the body to be milled together to make a slot for the tipping lever. These were never joined up so I guess the body had been put aside before completion following the design change to delete this feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekraps Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 ATF just corrected my Form 4 to reflect my Lanchester C&R manufacturer as "Sterling Armaments Company". That took 18 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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