Did this experimental Charlton Enfield see battle? With curator, weapon expert Jonathan Ferguson

Published on March 24, 2021
Duration: 5:45

This video details the experimental Charlton Enfield, a 'last ditch' select-fire conversion of old Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifles designed by Philip Charlton for the New Zealand Home Guard. Approximately 5,000 were produced, intended as a light machine gun or automatic rifle. The design tapped gas from the barrel to operate the bolt, allowing for self-loading or automatic fire with extended magazines. A rarer Electrolux conversion based on the SMLE is also discussed.

Quick Summary

The Charlton Enfield was an experimental 'last ditch' select-fire conversion of Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifles, designed by Philip Charlton for the New Zealand Home Guard. Approximately 5,000 were produced, intended as light machine guns utilizing gas operation to enable automatic fire with extended magazines.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Unusual Firearm
  2. 00:23Reference to Forgotten Weapons Deep Dive
  3. 00:41Purpose and Significance of the Charlton Enfield
  4. 00:51Last Ditch Technology Explained
  5. 01:14Home Guard and New Zealand Context
  6. 01:20Designer Philip Charlton and His Vision
  7. 01:31Utilizing Old Bolt Action Rifle Stocks
  8. 01:35Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield Rifles
  9. 01:48Home Guard Demographics
  10. 02:04Design Logic: Converting the Lee-Enfield
  11. 02:13Self-Loading and Select Fire Capabilities
  12. 02:20Light Machine Gun vs. Automatic Rifle Classification
  13. 02:25Bipod and Extended Magazine Features
  14. 02:34WWI Trench Magazine Usage
  15. 02:40Success of the Charlton Conversion
  16. 02:57Production Numbers in New Zealand
  17. 03:00Electrolux Conversion in Australia
  18. 03:10Royal Armouries Collection
  19. 03:14Rarity of Charlton and Electrolux Examples
  20. 03:22Electrolux Conversion Rarity
  21. 03:29Electrolux: Obvious Originality
  22. 03:32SMLE as the Base for Electrolux
  23. 03:34Gas Operated Self-Loading Principle
  24. 03:44Gas Piston Mechanism Explained
  25. 03:56Bolt Operation Cycle
  26. 04:05Self-Loading Only Version
  27. 04:11Garage Build Analogy (M1 Garand)
  28. 04:16Electrolux as Bren Gun Analogy
  29. 04:27Bold Effort and Production
  30. 04:31Storage for New Zealand Home Guard
  31. 04:35Never Needed in Combat
  32. 04:38Rarity Due to Fire
  33. 04:43Handful Remaining Worldwide
  34. 04:51No Market for Conversions
  35. 05:00Conclusion and Further Videos

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of the experimental Charlton Enfield rifle?

The Charlton Enfield was designed as 'last ditch' technology for the New Zealand Home Guard. Its purpose was to convert obsolete Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifles into a select-fire weapon, essentially a light machine gun or automatic rifle, to arm home defense forces during times of extreme threat.

Who designed the Charlton Enfield, and what was its technical basis?

Philip Charlton, a car mechanic, designed the Charlton Enfield. The conversion utilized existing stocks of old Lee-Enfield and Metford bolt-action rifles. It worked by tapping gas from the barrel to operate a piston rod, which then cycled the bolt for automatic or semi-automatic fire.

How many Charlton Enfield rifles were produced, and what is their current rarity?

Approximately 5,000 Charlton Enfield light machine gun versions were produced in New Zealand. Due to a fire and the fact they were never widely adopted, very few survive today, making them extremely rare firearms.

What is the Electrolux conversion, and how does it compare to the Charlton Enfield?

The Electrolux conversion, produced in Australia, is a rarer variant based on the SMLE rifle, designed on similar principles to the Charlton. Only two are known to exist, and it's described as a semi-improvised version of a Bren gun, though it shares no parts with the Bren.

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