COVER, VENT

Description: LIGHT BROWN CANVAS COVER WITH BRASS SNAPS AND LEATHER TIE. RECTANGULAR PIECE OF CANVAS WITH STITCHED EDGING THAT HAS HAD ONE END FOLDED AND STITCHED TO MAKE COVER FIT AROUND RIFLE, ALSO HAS ROUND PATCH OF CANVAS SEWN IN MIDDLE TO REINFORCE IT. DOWN ONE SIDE ARE THREE BRASS SNAP COVERS AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE ARE THREE SNAP LUGS. AT END OF COVER ARE TWO BRASS EYELETS WITH BROWN LEATHER CORD STRUNG THROUGH THEM. CORD HAS KNOTS TIED ON OTHER SIDE OF EYELET TO KEEP CORD FROM SLIPPING OUT. CANVAS IS VERY DIRTY AND STAINED WITH A COUPLE OF GREEN CORROSION CIRCLES FROM SNAPS. BRASS EYELETS AND SNAPS ARE CORRODED.

History: BREECH COVER WAS USED ON LEE ENFIELD RIFLES WHICH WERE STANDARD ISSUE FROM CA. 1915 TO 1950. COVER WAS FOUND IN STORAGE AT ARMOURIES AND WAS DONATED BY 18TH AIR DEFENSE REGIMENT. *UPDATE* IN 2012 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT DAVID SMITH CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. HE WAS UNABLE TO DISCOVER NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE OBJECT BECAUSE IT WAS COLLECTED IN THE INTEREST OF REPRESENTING TYPOLOGY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP. NO UNIQUE MARKINGS TO HELP IDENTIFY ORIGINAL OWNER.