,..,., ' , .,.-' j ~ I ,;· .,- ... a / I .J PROCEEDINGS of the MINIATURE RIFLE COMMITTEE 1905-6 considering the design, production, and introduction of the proposed War Office Pattern Miniature Rifle _________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS _________________________________________________________________ Maj. Gen. W.H. Mackinnon C.V.O., C.B. Chairman - Director of Auxiliary Forces Maj. Gen. C.E. Luard M.R.A.* Brig. Gen. C.F. Hadden Director of Artillery D. of A. Col. J. D. Hopton C.I.S.A. Major, Hon. T.F. Fremantle N.R.A. Maj. Gen. Lord Cheylesmore Chairman N.R.A. Mr. R. Martin Holland M.R.A* ________________________________________________________________ GLOSSARY ________________________________________________________________ C.I.S.A. - Chief Inspector of Small Arms C.S.O.F. - Chief Superintendent of Ordnance Factories D.A.F. - Director of Auxiliary Forces D. of A. - Director of Artillery M.G.O. - Master General of Ordnance M.R.A. - Miniature Rifle Association - (Latterly the S.M.R.C.) N.R.A. - National Rifle Association R.S.A.F - Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield) S.M.R.C. - Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs S. of S. - Secretary of State Super-R.S.A.F - Superintendent, Royal Small Arms Factory _________________________________________________________________ *N.B. Although representing the M.R.A. on the Committee in 1905, these members became representatives of the S.M.R.C by February 1906. _________________________________________________________________ PERSONS OF NOTE RELEVANT TO THESE PAPERS: _________________________________________________________________ Permanent Secretary to the War Office was Sir Edward Ward. The Secretary of the N.R.A. was Lt. Col. L.R. Crosse. The Secretary of State for War was Richard Haldane. Lord Cheylesmore was President of the National Rifle Association. The Superintendent of Ordnance Factories was H.F. Donaldson. In December 1905 the Liberal Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman became prime-minister replacing the Conservative Arthur Balfour. ________________________________________________________________ Hand-written notes and memoranda between committee members and state officials are here in facsimile, with such material followed by inserted pages, in this coloured text, giving an approximation of their content in typewritten form.Register K o. 77/15/4129 •. Minute Sheet No. l Proceeding s of the Miniature Rifle uomm ittee at their meetings on 2nd Au~ust,l905. 21st October,l905. 14th Dc~ember,l905. 20th December,l905. lOth January,l906. 8th February, 1906. l?.th ?ebruary,l00G. are now e~closed in this naper havinR been extrRcted from 77/15 /405?, o: • /4107. ------------------------- .T ,,-;r _. .. /et;/(,)_?-{ '¥-'- r .. I .. ~ - h~'lzfd i~l' 1/t:r J~ ac~a ... .... . ,......,, ... ;.. ~ ' .- [l'.T. Over . The original of the Committee's final recommendations has been sent to General Luard for signature. A copy is attached to the Proceedings of the 12th. inst. herein. (2) Signed 15/2/06 M.G.O. Will you if you approve refer to S. of S. for approval, which. is urgent. C.F. Hadden D. of A. 16/2/06 Secretary of State (3) In accordance with our discussion on this ......... . [PTO] ·. •I \ \ !.' "I L.J'- Ilf/'.r )··,~ ( I ,-' -··.I / /// /!' : I i I ! I I • ~ /~ ".4.-M" ~.t /;. 1, rr , ~ ..... < ,.J 4 J!u- ~ A.4r ~44. ~ /?· 2· rl', ~ ~ ~. '~ k, tU·/r:~ t.: 4 ~ ~ ' / \ \ ....... matter today, I suggest that the recommendations of the Committee be aocepted, subject to the proviso that the War Office reserve to themselves the right to grant to other association similar rights to those accorded to the National Rifle Association, should occasion arise. 16/2106 Signed mmmm approved mm D. of A(?) (4) Original Proceedings with Recommendations dated 12/2/06 returned by Gen. Luard with rider dated 1912106, are now attached. SpokeD.ofA Write NRA as drafted ???? 2212106 D.AF. (Concern) in draft letter? Signed for D. of A / :Hcgistor X o. n4LE k POLDE~, LTD., PRINTfll8 1 ALO,RIIIOT . 82,565. JO OReaw. 9-1Q05. w [931 . 1\.linuto Sheet No. ?. [P.T. Over. ,.. ., r A.3. (7) I concur. H.W. Mackinnon D.A,F. 1/3/06 (8) ????? approved Signed M.G.O 2/3/06 Letter despatched 3/3/06 (9) Letter dated 7th. March '06 from Lord Cheylesmore, chairman N.R.A. Spoke D. of A. Wrote as drafted (Stop?) 12/3/16 (10) M.G.O. From what I have heard since our letter to the N.R.A. I think then it is very probable that if the (within) control of the manufacture of the miniature rifleis left to this assn. only one manufacturer will be given the contract and right to manufacture for --- or --- ---. We have already given Peddie Corporation our assurance that they may manufacture the ..... \ ,, \.· \_____ . -- ·· --- \ \ I I \ ' \ ........... the rifle and I therefore think it would be better for the War Office to keep within controlmof the granting of business to manufacturers. We can then leave the Assn. to make any contracts they like with with any firm holding a license. Our condition of a license would be that the quality is to be in accordance with our pattern and specification, and the firm would have to pay the cost of our marking rifles with the Government mark. C.F. Hadden D.of A. 15/3/06 Seen and approved by G. s. of.S. and M.S.O. 15/3/ With chairman of N.R.A. in reply to his letter of 7th. inst. that it is not considered advisable that any firm should have the monopoly of manufacture. The 'Super L.A.C. has therefore decided to retain control of issue of licenses to firms to manufacture. Only suitable firms will be grated a licencs which will be conditional on the quality keeping up to the approved pattern and specification, and on the firm paying the expenses of upright view and marking by the War Office. The N.R.A. or any association or club can then place their own orders with any licenced firm. C.?.?. 15/3/06 Stamped - "Letter Signed by the Secretary" (War Office) - Sir E. Ward - 15/3/06Next >