REME MUSEUM of TECHNOLOGY

Once British rule ended in India, the traffic of British firearms to the Dhara region (North-West Pakistan) stopped. The tribesmen set up their own arms industry. They often imitated British weapons. This is a copy of a short-mark Lee Enfield rifle. It was originally given to REME Training Establishment by the Pakistan Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Making a Rifle

The methods used to make this rifle were primitive. Equipment was often homemade and hand-driven. Small parts of the rifle were drilled by hand. The tribesmen were skilled blacksmiths and wasted very little metal. All other metal parts are forged, chipped, filed and drilled by hand.

The Barrel

If necessary, after drilling, the barrel is straightened by hand. It is then polished internally with a smooth file, emery cloth and emery powder. The above photographs show chokras (boys) turning a homemade lathe by hand. In the right-hand photograph, the boy is drilling out the barrel. The lathe has a bed, a tailstock to hold the drill and a chuck geared to a six-foot driving wheel.

Rifling the Barrel

The rifling of the barrel is made by a flat-tooth cutter. It is inserted in the end of a rod. The rod is twisted to fit the grooves in the barrel. The rod has two pieces and a male and female five square joint. The rear part of the rod is fitted into a holder. The inside of the holder is shaped to take the twisted rod. The rod is pushed through the barrel around 50 times.

The Finished Article

British officers inspect the finished rifle. Although techniques are primitive, the rifle is very accurate.