Designed in more or less direct emulation of the German MP28-II SMG, the Lanchester was brought to production in the immediate aftermath of the Dunkirk Evacuation; Britain's need for armaments was immediate and dire, and there was no sense in ignoring a perfectly good design that could fill the need. Harkening back to the "heavy metal" generation of SMGs like the Schmeisser and the Thompson, the Lanchester was adopted by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and saw active use through the war and beyond, not completely leaving the Navy inventory until the 1970s. Wartime simplification was limited to restricting the action to full auto only and replacing the SMLE-style rear sight. Protected blade front and two-leaf rear sights, with bayonet mounting hardware riveted to the ventilated heat shield, and a brass magazine well assembly. The receiver is secure to the stock with a hinge and a quick-release lever, and the stock is patterned after the SMLE, with a set of forearm grooves, a tan canvas sling, and a brass buttplate. A SMLE-pattern bayonet is included, 16 1/2 inch OAL, 11 3/4 inch blued blade, wood grips.