The Shooting Party (“TSP”) of Shenstone, Staffs, UK, the Shooting & Outdoor Pursuits company, announced today the arrival of the final “Limited Edition” stocks of the AirForceOne® ‘Mosin Nagant’ M1944 CO2 Steel ‘BB’ Rifle.
“The legendary Mosin-Nagant Russian rifle (As featured in use by Sniper Vassili Zaitsev-Jude Law-in the film ‘Enemy at the Gates’) was produced between the 1890s and 1950s. During World War II, a new pattern of carbine called the M1944 was adopted as a Soviet Army rifle. Now the AirForceOne® ultra-realistic version of this classic as a 16-round steel ‘BB’ repeater rifle is back in stock for a final “Limited Edition” run.
Offering impressive velocity of up to 400 fps, the M1944 is equipped with a metal barrel, slide, beautifully engineered bolt mechanism and magazine. It also has an integral folding bayonet with a cruciform blade attached to the barrel. Included in the package is a built-in magazine, and a reproduction canvas and leather strap” said Mike Hurney, Chairman, TSP.
“The rifle is the same dimensions as the original but is constructed with a polymer body and weighs –in at a beefy 8lbs plus. Powered by a single 12-gram CO2 capsule which returns 40+ shots, the rifle is field strippable, has a fixed front sight and a rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation. This unique rifle is a great tribute to a Russian Legend.”
“We were encouraged to manufacture this final run, by customers who were frustrated in their wait for the Lee-Enfield (Guns) Ltd ‘Brothers in Arms’® series of iconic rifles and pistols (in CO2 Steel BB format), that featured prominently in the major conflicts of the 20th century.
The first product in the series is the Lee-Enfield SMLE® Rifle. The Lee-Enfield was the British Army’s standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957.The SMLE®– ‘Short Magazine Lee Enfield’ -or ‘SMELLIE®” as it was affectionately known by troops in the trenches in the first World War, was famous for being able to perform the ‘mad minute’-placing 20-30 rounds in a target in under 60 seconds. Lee Enfield’s were adopted by Commonwealth Forces and are still found in use today by the Taliban and other ‘irregulars’. In all, circa 17 million Lee Enfield’s are said to have been produced.
The “Steel BB” format version of the “SMELLIE”® has taken longer to produce than either the factory or we anticipated. Both parties underestimated the degree of work involved in designing, from scratch, a perfect replica in aesthetic terms, using real wood and metal throughout, that also had the look & feel of the “real thing”, whilst achieving our goals of probably the highest velocity Steel BB Rifle in Europe(450fps) with a full-power shot-count of 25+ plus shots per 12 gram CO2 capsule. I’m delighted to say, we have met our goals on all counts and that the rifle is going through final testing now, with the objective of entering volume production before Christmas.” Hurney concluded.
“At the same time, we have developed a World War I British Lee Enfield SMLE ® Sling
Part of the Lee Enfield (Guns) Ltd ‘Brothers in Arms’® series of products honouring iconic weapons from the major conflicts of the 20th Century, this is a brand-new, high quality reproduction Lee Enfield SMLE® rifle sling, as used by the British and Colonial Armies in World War I.
This sling is an accurate reproduction of the originals used. It is 111cm (43 ½” Inches) in length, and with two strong brass fixtures on each end to attach to the Rifle.
The Brass end pieces of the slings are stamped with the original markings ‘M.E.Co 1913’.
Made from thick cotton webbing, in original khaki, with brass metal fixtures, this Sling is perfect for your Lee Enfield SMLE® Rifle, and is available now” Added Charlie Shepherd, Sales Director, TSP
EDITORS NOTE: –
Lee Enfield (Guns) Ltd “Brothers in Arms”® series of Iconic replica Airguns and AirForceOnetm precision adult airguns are manufactured for the brand owners, and are exclusively distributed to the UK trade by TSP.
AVAILABILITY MOSIN: November 2018
SRP: £ 429
AVAILABILITY LEE ENFIELD SMLE® : December 2018
SRP: £ 429
AVAILABILITY LEE ENFIELD Sling : Immediate
SRP: £ 19.99
*PRESS RELEASE ENDS*
CONTACTS: –
The Shooting Party
Unit 4/C Birchbrook Industrial Park
Lynn Lane,
Shenstone,
Staffordshire,
WS14 0DJ
UK
Tel: 44 + 01543 480 361
Contacts: Mike Hurney, mike@shootingparty.uk
Charlie Shepherd, charlie@shootingparty.uk