From Bolt Action Lee to LMG: The Charlton Automatic Rifle

Published on July 26, 2019
Duration: 19:41

This guide details the disassembly and internal modifications of the Charlton Automatic Rifle, a unique conversion of the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle. It highlights the extended receiver tracks, modified bolt, gas piston system, and protective shield, as explained by Ian McCollum. Advanced knowledge of firearm mechanics is required for this procedure.

Quick Summary

The Charlton Automatic Rifle was a rare and successful conversion of the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle into a select-fire light machine gun for the New Zealand Home Guard during WWII. Developed by Philip Charlton and Maurice Field, it featured an external gas piston, a scroll cam bolt unlock, and could use 10, 20, or 30-round magazines, with most intended for converted Bren mags.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Origins
  2. 01:31Prototype and Military Trials
  3. 03:08Conversion of Obsolete Rifles
  4. 04:35Gas System and Cooling Fins
  5. 05:47Bolt and Scroll Cam Mechanism
  6. 08:16Controls and Ergonomics
  7. 09:20Magazine Compatibility
  8. 11:43Disassembly and Internal Modifications
  9. 16:54Historical Significance and Rarity

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Charlton Automatic Rifle?

The Charlton Automatic Rifle was a unique conversion of the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle into a select-fire light machine gun, developed in New Zealand for the Home Guard during World War II by Philip Charlton and Maurice Field.

How did the Charlton Automatic Rifle work?

It utilized an external gas piston system to operate the modified bolt, featuring a scroll cam mechanism to unlock the bolt and individual cooling fins on the barrel for heat dissipation.

Why is the Charlton Automatic Rifle rare?

Most of the approximately 1,500 Charlton Automatic Rifles produced were destroyed in a post-war warehouse fire, making surviving examples exceptionally scarce and highly sought after by collectors and museums.

What magazines could the Charlton Automatic Rifle use?

The Charlton Automatic Rifle could accept standard 10-round Lee-Enfield magazines, rarer 20-round trench magazines, and most commonly, converted 30-round Bren gun magazines.

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