Author Topic: Medford rifling? (Read 1662 times)

alpini · « **on:** October 21, 2003, 04:57:22 AM »

I've been wanting to know for years but was afraid to ask. I'm always running into references that mention this type of rifling. A friend told me that Arisakas barrels are based on this system.

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2003, 05:41:33 AM »

It's Metford...Medford is my home town out in Oregon...Go Black Tornado's! (From when Medford only ever had one high school over off Stewart Ave.)

Metford rifling is a form of rifling found predominately in English blackpowder rifles. It consisted of seven slightly rounded grooves and lands. (The english love odd numbers for rifling). Most often associated with the Lee Metford rifle which later became the Lee Enfield when the Metford rifling was dropped. Metford rifling suffered from the erossive effects of cordite powder.

My references do not show it's use in Arisakas, but I have been wrong many times before. I do see the term Meiji used with the Arisaka.

alpini · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2003, 01:23:32 PM »

Thanks Double D. Rounded lands and grooves, I thought gain twist or progressive groove depth or.......
thanks again

kevin.303 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2003, 07:47:33 AM »

if i remeber correctly metford rifling was only 2 grooves and was replaced with 7 groove enfield rifling because the barrels where wearing smooth to fast. i could be wrong, guess i'll go peer down the barrel and count em

S.S. · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2003, 05:08:53 AM »

The Brunswick rifling was 2 grooves I think,
I also have a #4 mk 1 * Enfield .303 with 2 grooves.

Strange folks those British gunmakers are !!

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2003, 06:12:30 AM »

Looking at Temple and Skennerton's Treatise on the British Military Martini, refering to LoC para. 5877 of 1-12-1889 which described the Magazine rifle, Mk I

Quote

Calibre: 0.303-inch
Rifling: Metford system
Grooves:
Number: 7
Depth: 0.004-inch
Width of lands: 0.023-inch
Spiral: left hand, 1 turn in10 inches, or 33 calibres.