Editing Lanchester submachine gun (section)

==Operation==
The Lanchester is an open-bolt, self-loading [[Blowback (firearms)|blowback]]-operated weapon with a [[Selective fire|selective-fire]] option (located in front of the [[Trigger (firearms)|trigger]]) on early versions. A tubular receiver was attached to the front of the wooden stock, which could be pivoted [[Gun barrel|barrel]] down for maintenance and disassembly. The wooden stock was patterned after that of the [[Lee–Enfield|Lee–Enfield rifle]], and a bayonet lug centred below the [[Muzzle (firearms)|muzzle]] accepted the [[Pattern 1907 bayonet|Pattern 1907 sword-bayonet]] as used on the Lee–Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* (previously called the S.M.L.E.)

It used a straight 50-round magazine containing [[9×19mm Parabellum]] cartridges (special pouches were produced to hold three magazines each) which fit into the magazine housing from the left, with spent cartridges ejected on the right. It was interchangeable with the shorter 32-round Sten magazine. A magazine loading tool was needed to load both 32- and 50-round magazines more easily. One of the two magazine pouches had a special pocket on the front for this loader.

Mk.1s featured a front blade sight with adjustable rifle-type sights, marked between 100 and 600 yards. Mk.1* featured a much simplified flip-up sight marked 100 or 200 yards.

Manual safety is made in the form of locking cut, made in the receiver, which engages the bolt handle to lock bolt in [[Open bolt|open (cocked) position]]. It proved notoriously susceptible to accidental discharge if the weapon were dropped.<ref name="Atlas-fr"/> For cleaning, the weapon had a brass oiler bottle and pull through held inside the butt stock (similar to the Lee–Enfield rifle).