m3bobby, these give you an idea of what I would very much like if you have time. The problem I have is that I only know the parts either already drawn or where I’m working at the moment. So there’s still a big unknown out there. Here, following, is a general description of my intentions to give you an idea of what might help further.

The aim is to show all visible parts with reasonable accuracy of the gun plus those that can give a general idea of its functioning. I don’t actually want to build one. So photos of any of the internal parts without dismantling would be most welcome.

Thanks a big big bunch for your help.
Mike

I’m making a major move from the countryside to the city. So far it’s taken about nine months, negotiating the necessary resources, finding a house, negotiating with builders etc etc. The move will occur in August followed by more chaos. But I think by Sept I’ll be back working on the Lanc.

The move is almost like time travel: from wood fires, dirt or, after rain, mud roads, to gas heating, hot water and above all half way decent Internet. Shopping will no longer be an expedition.

I thought the RAF Browning .303 would be a simple exercise to keep my hand in. Oh boy, was I wrong!

Mike

The Feed Opening

From AP1641C page 40 Fig 4

My main problem is with the Front cartridge & bullet stop No. 38 above. Here is another view from Walter’s collection:

But this section from the AD1224 below seems to show the bullet nose stop itself as a separate part embedded within the trunnion:

The front cartridge stop can be seen just to the rear of the top hinge part of the trunnion.

Both images of No. 38 are rear views. Perhaps a top view or a hand drawn sketch would solve the problem. It might show No. 38 extending substantially to the front.

Another lesser puzzle, the title of Walter’s photo says that the bottom attachment plate can swivel. The Rear cartridge stop No. 37 seems again from the title of one of Walter’s photos, see below, to be able to be fitted either to the left or right sides of the feed opening. Also the pair of rounded wells in the front of the barrel extension are consistent with this, giving space for the action of the Transporter of the round to the breech. So I assume that to change the direction of the ammunition feed from the left or right of the gun, the only adjustments required is to change sides for No’s 37 & 38 and also the Retaining pawl No. 34.

In the above photo, No. 38, Front cartridge & bullet nose stop has been removed.

Another problem, the feed opening base shown above in the photo has two wings either side of the centre part which, I believe, is part of the trunnion. In AP1641C, page 15, the psection titled “Side Plates” begins with this text:

Here are a couple of photos, again from Walter’s collection, of what I have called the wings to the feed opening base:

I assume that these two parts are the brackets mentioned above in AP1641C.

But how are they fixed to the side plates or feed opening base? The text from AP1641C says they are riveted to the side plates. But here is a side view photo of the area, from Walter’s collection:

There are three rivets shown which might do the job. But the outer edge of the bracket clears these rivets with two cutouts and the third is clear of the front of the bracket.
The two photos of the brackets, second above, do not show any inside lip to fix the rivets.
So how?

Talking through these problems has very nearly produced a solution to all of the them in my mind except the Bullet nose stop.

A couple more photos of Walter’s which may be interest:

Mike

Here a front view to make a bit more sense

That’s good. Thank you, Walter.

And to you, m3bobby. I think I’m going to find the trunnion easier than I feared. Basically, I am trying to follow the original machining of the forging using boolean functions, subtractive rather than additive. Also I’m going to stick to the wall chart AD 1224. There is no perspective or lens distortion and I can calculate unknown dimensions from known ones on the assumption that the chart is well drawn.
My best to you.
Mike

Here is the set of images I am using to puzzle out the trunnion block.
There are at least three variants.

Mike

Thanks, m3bobby. That’s a good start. The actual holes in the trunnion and barrel extension are not too important at this stage as they can be changed easily.
Mike