No1 MkIII Grenade Launcher Cup.

[GunnyUSMC]

Back in June I got a nice wire wrapped No1 MkIII Enfield for dh1633pm. We made a good trade that we were both happy with. But there was something missing.


The wire wrapped No1’s were used for launchers. So I felt that the rifle, as nice as it was, was just incomplete without a grenade launcher cup.
My friend Matt and I worked out a tread, I think it was for some ammo, and he ordered a launcher cup for me. He was going to bring the launcher cup when he came down last month to visit and work on stocks, but it didn’t arrive at his house before he left to come visit.
Yesterday the launcher cup arrived in the mail.


It’s marked HL 1942


I put it on the rifle and it fit great. Now the rifle is complete.


But, boy was it filthy.



But after a little cleanup and oiling it looks great.
Now to get some blanks and tennis balls.

 

[Conelrad]

Don't forget canned tomato paste...

 

[Duster340]

Love it!!!!

 

[lemaymiami]

Always an education... Thanks Gunny. If I'd wandered into a store and found an Enfield wrapped like that I'd have thought someone had been fooling around with it...

 

[792mauser]

Neat.
Looks like its time for some tennis lessons.

 

[FL-NC]

You just made tennis cooler x 10.

 

[CapnMac]

How does the bore look?
The original British use had a long rod screwed into the base of a #36 Mills Bomb.
Post war, they skipped the rod, and put a flat base on the Mills.
Although most of the wire-wraps went to Home Guard and just had regular Mk 7 ammo run through them.

 

[mokin]

Very cool, Funny.

Somewhere out there is Labrador waiting to fetch tennis balls.

 

[dh1633pm]

My old rifle never looked so good. Thanks for sharing Gunny. Your old rifles, Carcano's also have a nice home next to a K98 and a Spanish Mauser. Can't wait to hear how far it can launch a tennis ball. My lab would go nuts trying to follow a tennis ball out of that rifle.

 

[Old Stumpy]

Got a bayonet and pattern 37 web gear and a canteen and a helmet?

 

[WestKentucky]

You just made tennis cooler x 10.

But if he gets any ideas about tennis skirts then we will all need eye bleach and counseling.

 

[H&R Glock]

Now you need a dummy Mills bomb. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive on the collector market. Great pictures and super collection.

 

[Robert]

Got a bayonet and pattern 37 web gear and a canteen and a helmet?

I do. And P08 gear and an original WWI helmet.

Gunny, what make and vintage is your No1 MkIII?

 

[Conelrad]

Does anyone still have those cups for sale?

 

[indy1919a4]

Does anyone still have those cups for sale?

https://www.apexgunparts.com/enfield-nl1-mk3-grenade-cup-config-gd.html

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=10634

 

[Old Stumpy]

What would be interesting is a projectile with a little parachute.

 

[indy1919a4]

What would be interesting is a projectile with a little parachute.

 

[792mauser]

Hmm I wonder...
A 3d printed mills projo.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

How does the bore look?
The original British use had a long rod screwed into the base of a #36 Mills Bomb.
Post war, they skipped the rod, and put a flat base on the Mills.
Although most of the wire-wraps went to Home Guard and just had regular Mk 7 ammo run through them.

The bore is pretty good. It has light pitting, but strong rifeling.
The rod type Grenade were used in WWI and used a different launcher. Here’s some pics I found.


The rod Grenade had a problem with causing rings in the barrels. This was one reason for going to the cup launcher. The Mills bomb for the cup launcher used a flat disc instead of the rod.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Got a bayonet and pattern 37 web gear and a canteen and a helmet?

I have a bayonet. The British web gear I have is modern, that I picked up in Kuwait.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I do. And P08 gear and an original WWI helmet.

Gunny, what make and vintage is your No1 MkIII?

It’s A 1918 BSA. Here’s some more pics.

 

[dh1633pm]

The back story from the original owner. I purchased the rifle in 1992 from someone I worked with in Albuquerque NM. He was from Texas. He traded me two Enfields this one and a No 4. When I got this one we made the trade in the basement of the building Parking Garage at 111 Lomas Ave. We parked next to each other and out of his trunk and into mine. When I got home I noted that the rifle was cocked. I thought for a moment just to hit the trigger to uncock it, but then I thought better. I opened the bolt and out popped a round. It was fully loaded. Free ammo is good. Driving around with a cocked and reach to shoot Enfield is another story. As I remember this one doesn't have an import mark and I have never fired it. The No 4 I got was fired many times. This one not at all. So Gunny if you fire it, it hasn't been fired from at least 1992. I got the two rifles for one SKS and very little cash.

 

[kBob]

Rubber dummy Mills Bombs are around $15 US and can be found by googling.

You would have to cobble up a lauching plate I guess.

"Just for show, not for go"

-kBob

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Rubber dummy Mills Bombs are around $15 US and can be found by googling.

You would have to cobble up a lauching plate I guess.

"Just for show, not for go"

-kBob

I was just about to order two for $31 but shipping was $13. I think I will wait.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The back story from the original owner. I purchased the rifle in 1992 from someone I worked with in Albuquerque NM. He was from Texas. He traded me two Enfields this one and a No 4. When I got this one we made the trade in the basement of the building Parking Garage at 111 Lomas Ave. We parked next to each other and out of his trunk and into mine. When I got home I noted that the rifle was cocked. I thought for a moment just to hit the trigger to uncock it, but then I thought better. I opened the bolt and out popped a round. It was fully loaded. Free ammo is good. Driving around with a cocked and reach to shoot Enfield is another story. As I remember this one doesn't have an import mark and I have never fired it. The No 4 I got was fired many times. This one not at all. So Gunny if you fire it, it hasn't been fired from at least 1992. I got the two rifles for one SKS and very little cash.

I might bring it with me Monday when I go to the range. It’s an indoor range that’s only 25 yards.