SAWN-OFF RIFLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 November 1938, Page 8

SAWN-OFF RIFLES

CORONER STRESSES DANGER FATALITIES IN MARLBOROUGH (Uritefl Prr»»B Aflsoeiatlonl BLENHEIM. This Day The danger of carrying a sawn-off rifle w s stressed by the coroner. Mr E. J. Hill, at the inquest at Picton yesterday afternoon into the death of Alan Steele Bunt at Endeavour Inlet. Returning a verdict that deceased died of the effects of a bullet wound in the neck as the result of a shot accidentally fired by a companion on a pigshooting trip, the coroner stated that too much emphasis could not be placed upon the danger of the practice of some shooters of using sawn-off rifles reduced to pistol size. Two such weapons had been recently the cause of fatalities in Marlborough and a warning should be issued as to the menace of such weapons. In the present case the pistol was of amateur construction, according to the report of the Government arms expert. There was no trigger guard and the safety catch had been removed. The trigger pull was very light. The weapon was extremely clumsy and awkward to load. Even with considerable care the operation of loading would be dangerous. The evidence of deceased's companions show' i that shots had been fired at a pig. One of the party was reloading when the pistol went off, the bullet striking Bunt, who was in front, in the neck.