Lanchester sub machine gun
We start our week with one of our lesser known sub machine guns – the Lanchester – so named because it was “designed” by Mr. George. H. Lanchester
In fact it wasn’t so much designed as a copied from the German Bergmann MP28, manufactured by the Sterling Engineering Company between 1941 & 1945.
The Lanchester was made in two versions, Mk.1 and Mk.1*. The latter was a simplified version of the original Mark 1, with omitted fire mode selector, and thus firing in full automatic mode only.
Chambered for the 9mm cartridge & with a rate of fire of approx. 600 rpm the Lanchester was a heavy weapon, weighing in at nearly 10lbs. Most were issued to the Royal Navy where it served until 1970 & to the Royal Air Force for airfield defence.
... oh yes, apparently they also had a nasty habit: it could accidentally discharge if the gun was dropped or knocked on a hard object while cocked and loaded. This is generally not consideredc to be a very good feature in a fully automatic weapon
Comments
Looks similar to the Sterling 9mm sub machine guns the Canadian army used to use.
Those damn things would fire if you sneezed the wrong way.
They were only safe when you had the magazine and the bolt removed.
(still, they were fun)
Posted by: pdwalker | April 14, 2009 4:12 AM
You are probably referring to the ability of open bolt guns to fire if dropped due to bolt bounce-they don't even have to be cocked, just have a loaded magazine in place. This is why the Uzi has a grip safety that also locks the bolt when not depressed.
Posted by: Hughjimbissel | April 14, 2009 4:07 PM
Hugh is correct. The German MP38 was also not drop safe. The first fix applied was a leather thong that went around the cocking handle to keep the bolt from bouncing back. Final fix as seen on he MP40 was a cocking handle that could be pushed in to lock the bolt in place.
Posted by: Walt | April 14, 2009 4:54 PM
The Lanchester was as good as any first generation SMG. They can all fire unless the bolt is locked back in its safety notch, and even that's not 100%.
I never quite understood why it was issued with a 50 round magazine, but it was Britain's first SMG, so I expect there was a bit of a learning curve. I didn't know the RN kept them until 1970; a shame the Frightened Fifteen didn't have a few when the Iranians took them prisoner, they might even have made a bit of a fight of it.
Posted by: John K | April 14, 2009 6:54 PM
I think the reason that the Royal Navy kept them until the 70s was the brass mag housing. The Senior Service has always been sucker for brass!
Posted by: Mr Free Market | April 14, 2009 8:27 PM
Check out the lugs on the barrel jacket for use of a SMLE type bayonet.
BTW, nice blog. One of the gang over at www.subguns.com put up a link to it. Come over some time and say hi.
Posted by: Brad | April 24, 2009 10:02 AM
How much does a full auto one cost and who sells them?
Posted by: Pat | June 2, 2009 6:36 PM
I just go one and its awesome :D
Posted by: waqas | June 11, 2009 4:49 PM