[Rod Bellars (RIP)]

while America was neutral in WW1 it acquired a number of French 97 model guns and also made for Britain some 18 pdr mk1 guns as it got closer to war it realized the reliable design of the 18 pdr and designed a version in 75mm French caliber so as to line up with already sourced ammunition supply . The gun was almost identical in every way to the British issued gun and was called 18 pdr MK1 m17 "British". in 1939/40 Finland purchased some 200 of these guns and refurbed them most being fitted with rubber wheels and variations in sighting and enlarged operating wheels .

Three years back my mate in Finland secured for me at government auction an m17 and after a two year struggle with Australian customs I got the necessary permits to import it and other thngs held up by their changing of regulations and other issues many still unresolved. The police on the other hand were supportive of the import and behaved well making customs behavior as usual all the more unrealistic and poor .

On an historical note the forerunner of the 18pdr was the 13pdr in essence a smaller caliber version of 18pdr in fact its 75mm but with a shorter bottle neck case as compared with the longer flat walled French 75mm

The gun landed in Australia in 6/09 and was met with two very agitated unfriendly Australian customs officers on the day with army in back up, later one would mellow but the lower ranked officer was quite nasty up to the end when he said "its released but you will not clear quarantine I will notify Gareth (his boss in Canberra ) it did clear customs" and later that day was home here with the m41 105mm the next day :-)

Customs in Australia are making up new regulations every day to cause us issues and it even amazes local police the silliness of their actions and wasted resources on needless tormenting of lawful people simply if police say you can own it and have no objection to the import of it then that should be it, not then subjected to federal powers making contradictory standard because their managers lack understanding and competence to do anything except bad thngs to be seen to be in control due mainly to a lack of ability an wish to feather one's nest in importance and departmental salary .

I have a number of guns around the world on hold as I wil not do their latest rendering which is nothing short of vandalism and is a mix of all the bad bits on overseas countries guns i have imported and then added to it the army standard for guns going into parks not private museums requiring many un-necessary cuts and welds . On artillery shells and grenades they are worse demanding now even though in past it was not necessary the quartering of all grenades and shells resulting in no one wanting to import that way unless a quartered training aid . Their refusal to discuss it shows their true bombastic nature i am up to third reply on Mr. Williams with regard to a number of recently issued permits they have made conditions I cant comply with ie quarter an armour piercing round to show its internal working mechanism !!!!! when there is none and weld a ball on a 2'' mortar to base plate again where there is none I will not needlessly damage items and risk my license as I do every import for such silly terms by short sighted low caliber staff in high places .

Australian customs complaints section is as hopeless and they now refer me back to ombudsman another next to useless body I recommend all clubs and individuals to lobby their federal members here and the attorney general to stop this vandalism and harassment of a lawful group that is detrimental to the nations stock of relics

Anyway enough of the political side which is important and closely related part of it , my gun is very nice even after two years in open awaiting permits and I need for it two large and two small recoil springs with spacers if anyone has them British and USA are same if not i may have to make them

shots are
one

after a brief skirmish with my customs fan club on the day I was allowed to take a shot of the guns before inspection for my mate in Finland to see his packing had worked


two
18pdr is cleared by my bad agent with words it will not pass quarantine an he will instruct Mr. Williams of this fact and they did and later was home that day with the m41 105mm following next day . wooden wheels on gun have stamp of last service 1/11/18


three and four

the rebuilt breach and chamber mechanism working as it would here i have a British 1915 dated block fitted while USA one is being restored nicely marked for 13 and 18pdr

five
Gun recoil slide repaired and cleaned and drag ropes fitted the red and black lines on top of barrel are recoil guides for no go firing

dont forget i need recoil springs and for my second breach unit an extractor and lock pins and I encourage all Australians and others to lobby Attorney General on poor behavior of Australian Customs in regard to historic relics and Australians to lobby federal members
regards and enjoy
Rod