Explore the equipment issued to Auxiliary Units

The ‘American’ Enfields – a British rifle design based on a Mauser-style action but with Lee-Enfield features, such as a ‘cock-on-closing’ bolt. It was originally designed to take a high-powered .276in rimless cartridge but was eventually produced during the First World War in both .303 (Pattern 1914 Enfield) and .30-06 (M1917 Enfield) calibres by Winchester, Remington and Eddystone under contract by the UK Government. It was also issued during the Second World War to units focusing on home defence.

Made between 1938 - 1945, different versions with different marks made in the UK and Canada.

Calibre - .303  (post WW2 made marks, were rechambered for the NATO 7.62 mm round.)

Magazine capacity - 28 rds or 100 rd.

Rate of fire - 450 RPM

They were used by the British Military 1938 to 1980's from WW2 to the Falklands War in 1982, including members of the Auxiliary Units, Scout Sections, and Resistance units in Europe during WW2.

Browning Automatic Rifle – a rifle capable of fully automatic fire, designed by the firearm maestro, John Moses Browning. The rifle, firing the Springfield .30-06 cartridge, saw action all the way from the last months of the First World War to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Some of these revolvers were surplus to the requirements of the New York Police Department and came in black leather police holsters.

Colt Police Positive 6 shot Revolver. This is one of the much needed weapons that came over from the USA, to re-arm the UK, in early WW2, against a possible enemy invasion.

made 1907 - 1947, in the USA

calibre - .38

The Colt Automatic pistol. M1911 & M1911A1 also known as Colt 45 was made from 1911 to the present day in the USA as different models and versions.

calibre - .45 ACP

magazine capacity -  7 rds

Made from 1933 to 1955 by the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, UK. These service revolvers were produced in 3 versions during WW2 and used by the British Military, for use by, eg - Officers - Tank crewmen - Military Police, etc.

Calibre - .380

Capacity - 6 rds

Made between 1907 - 1944, different versions were made in the UK. 

Calibre - .303

Magazine capacity - 10 rds

This was the standard British Army sniper rifle used throughout World War Two. They were issued to the Scout Sections of Auxiliary Units, with documents dated 1942 showing that each section of 12 men had 4 such rifles.

They were converted from standard Lee Enfield No.4 Mk 1 rifles, with the majority being undertaken by Holland and Holland, the famous gunmakers of London. It was a highly skilled task to fit the mount for the telescopic No.32 sight and ensure it completely aligned with the rifle bore.

In 1940 Smith & Wesson began production of this .38 revolver to chamber the British .38 cartridge.

British Marked Smith & Wesson .45 Revolver. Some of these big revolvers were converted to chamber the British .45 rounds.