That’s the joke that the sniper rifle was made by three dudes in a garage. The story goes they gave their rifle to the military for testing, they were sure they wouldn’t win the contract with it. They just wanted to see what’s there to improve. But then the army accepted their rifle and they shat their pants. Some logistics dude wanted to check out their workshop, so they pooled in money, rented out a large workshop. They grabbed all the rifle parts, all the rifles they had, disassembled some, just threw it around the shop onto tables etc so it looks like the workshop is being used by a lot of people. The day came and the logistics guy went to see “their” workshop. They invited him at lunch time, so he goes in and asks “where is everyone?” and they go “oh they went out to lunch to a nearby restaurant, they’re celebrating the contract”. Guy is like “oookaaay” but keeps going around, looking at the various rifles broken down on the tables etc.
And then he goes “everything checks up boys, we just didn’t know who you were and we wanted to be sure you aren’t like three dudes in a shed”
SOE: “Ok chaps, we’ve got to free a bunch of resistance fighters in France from prison because we need more information about the V1 and V2. Here’s the prison, now how do we break them out?”
Bomber Harris: Hmmmm (looks at the RAF Mosquito 140 Wing)
I forget the name, but I believe it’s the one where Accuracy International – a company that was 3 guys in a shed at the time – submitted their sniper rifle for military testing just to see how it would do, and they were asked for some impossible number of them because it was way better than what the big established companies offered.
Okay but what is the 2nd one? Who made that?
The classic Sten, made by numerous experienced professionals in employ of one of the most powerful militaries in the world at the time.
Seems a bit unfair to compare a mass manufacturing SMG to a sniper rifle, but it is funny, yeah.
That’s the joke that the sniper rifle was made by three dudes in a garage. The story goes they gave their rifle to the military for testing, they were sure they wouldn’t win the contract with it. They just wanted to see what’s there to improve. But then the army accepted their rifle and they shat their pants. Some logistics dude wanted to check out their workshop, so they pooled in money, rented out a large workshop. They grabbed all the rifle parts, all the rifles they had, disassembled some, just threw it around the shop onto tables etc so it looks like the workshop is being used by a lot of people. The day came and the logistics guy went to see “their” workshop. They invited him at lunch time, so he goes in and asks “where is everyone?” and they go “oh they went out to lunch to a nearby restaurant, they’re celebrating the contract”. Guy is like “oookaaay” but keeps going around, looking at the various rifles broken down on the tables etc.
And then he goes “everything checks up boys, we just didn’t know who you were and we wanted to be sure you aren’t like three dudes in a shed”
The Sten; for when the enemy keeps sinking your shipments of Thompsons and wooden furniture is expensive.
“We must use steel to make gun furniture and wood to make airplanes”
Gotta love the Mosquito.
SOE: “Ok chaps, we’ve got to free a bunch of resistance fighters in France from prison because we need more information about the V1 and V2. Here’s the prison, now how do we break them out?”
Bomber Harris: Hmmmm (looks at the RAF Mosquito 140 Wing)
SOE: Any ideas?
Bomber Harris: (mutters to himself) Bomb Bowling.
SOE: Excuse me?
Bomber Harris: I said BOMB BOWLING!
What’s the first one?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_International_Arctic_Warfare
I forget the name, but I believe it’s the one where Accuracy International – a company that was 3 guys in a shed at the time – submitted their sniper rifle for military testing just to see how it would do, and they were asked for some impossible number of them because it was way better than what the big established companies offered.
Looks like a grease gun.