Originally Posted by
Chris-S
Hi John
John Knibbs in his latest book gives quite a large amount of detail concerning the BSA GLT. Here he tells us (p118) that "Most of the Teachers made under government contracts were produced from 1938 up to the last one being despatched in 1947". Also (p121) that GLTs were still in use in the 1950's in New Zealand in Valentine tanks as layers for their 2-pounder guns.
In my somewhat limited experience I have never come across or heard of an authentic British officially military inspected and marked air rifle of any kind except the GLT, although it is quite likely that some may have been trialled.
When in my grammar school's Combined Cadet Force in the 1950's we used SMLEs, No 4s, Bren guns, Martini Enfields sleeved for 22, also SMLEs similarly sleeved. We also had a number of BSA Martini Internationals in 22. The government provided ammunition for all of these rifles except the 22s - for these we used standard Eley 22LR cartridges in white boxes with black lettering.
I know many schools had air rifles for the use of their cadet forces, but I believe these were private purchase rifles or gifts and I think it most unlikely that the military would have provided air rifle ammunition for them. As far as I'm aware the military only provided ammunition for their own weapons, with the exception of round ball 12-bore cartridges for the Home Guard in WW2. Of course they may have provided other ammunition in the exceptional circumstances, but this would need detailed research.
It is thus my opinion that the military packets of air rifle ammunition were produced for the GLT, since no other air rifles were approved by the military. Of course they may have been used later for other purposes after the gun layers were declared obsolete. Existing unused stock may well have been sold off as government surplus, probably in the 1960's and 70's.
As far as Amanpour is concerned I don't recall what made me think they came from this arsenal (there were many State Arsenals in India), possibly the letter A along with the India Government mark of a broad arrow over the capital letter I. I'm afraid I didn't take that much notice of them as I don't consider them proper air rifle ammunition. I have also seen these packets bearing a capital letter L, often alongside the issue date, and suspect this may be for "Layer".
It is an interesting thought that this ammo may have been supplied for cadet or Home Guard training in WW2 but I know of no official record of this. Even if it was I would suspect it would have been initially produced for the GLT and then perhaps issued from existing stocks for the GLT - but all this is speculation.
Mind you I'm getting a bit ancient now and memory can do odd things, but I certainly don't recall any official military use of air rifles and ammunition other than the GLT.
Hope this explains my thinking on the matter - ATB Chris.