The Smith & Wesson 9 mm Model 1940 Light Rifle

in British & Dominion Service

A work in progress narrative

General Arrangement

Did We Commission It?

S&W Patent Application

Filed: 28 Jun 39 – Patented: 24 Sep 40

Contracts LedgerGuns & Ammunition

Contract Details:

Initial Order for:• 20,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ and 100,000,000 • 9 mm rounds on 27 Jun 40

Supplementary Order (for Admiralty) 2,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ and 10,000,000 9 mm rounds on 27 Jul 40

Grand Total: 22,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ 110, 000, 000 ‘9 mm rounds’

Delivery Rates!

• Aug 31st 1940 - 2,000 guns• Sep 4,000 guns • Oct 4,000 guns• Nov 6,000 guns• Dec 4,000 guns

Total: 22,000 by Dec 31st?

Additional orders included:

210 sets Spare Parts Kits @ £137.15.0d/set

420, 000 magazines @ 10/- shillings each

Meeting Customer Needs

• Urgent Requirement to fill ‘capability gap’ in infantry small arms – self-inflicted!

• Thus far, no evidence that intended purchase was ‘stop-gap’ in the first instance pending introduction of Lanchester/STEN into tri-service use.

• Initial (enthusiastic) customer was:-

Central Landing Establishment (CLE)

OB Proc – 9,634 of 27.11.40

Superintendent Experimental Establishment (Pendine)

Cases Wood Packing (CWP)

Making a Point!

Butt -MK IICarbine, Smith & Wesson 9m/m

DD(E) 2594/2

Fabrication of MK II Butt

Butt MK II Components

Ali???

Breakages of S&W Butt Stocks

Butt – MK IIICarbine, Smith & Wesson

DD(E) 3323

Rod, Cleaning CarbineDD(E) 2621

Wasteful Extravagance!

Rod, Cleaning, Machine Carbine, 9m/m MK IDD(E) 2621

British Safety Concerns

Retro’ safety device?

Enter the Senior Service

Admiralty Handbook

Issue - 1942

Handbook Issue - Detail

Scale of Issue

Admiralty - Advisory

Service Use

Carrier Magazine – airborne forces for the use of

End of the Road

South African Defence Forces• Circa 6 Sep 40 - Ordered 2,200 S&W Model 1940 MKI

Light Rifles and 50, 000 magazines (on back of British order for 20,000).

• First 100/200 guns to be delivered by 15 Oct 40, balance by 15 Jan 41!

• Circa 2 Oct 40 Two examples ordered direct (S/No’s 16 & 17) and delivered.. Unit cost US$80.00

• Circa 29 Jan 41 - Negotiations under way with BPC to cancel all orders – ‘No Probs’ - British will take all they can get!!

In Passing… the MK II

‘On'

‘Off’

s/n 2127

Markings

Summary

• 1. Unknown number of carbines actually arrived in the UK. Serial numbers known all below ‘950’ (Range 110 – 950)

• 2. Possibly +/- 1,000 entered service with the Royal Navy as secondary arms from an initial requirement of 2,000?

• 3. Post War disposal remains unknown, deep sea dumping is unlikely!

• 4. Last identified disposal – RNAD Upnor in 1958.

• 5. South African order cancelled.

• 6. Canadian involvement TBC.

Questions

Points of Contact

Alan David alandavid303@optusnet.com.au Richard Jones

richardjones320@hotmail.comIan Patrick

Tel: 001 44 (0)1420 543 871