Bent Enfield Front Sight Protector

[sfx]

Got a nice No 4 Mk 1* that has a bent wing on the sight protector. Is it possible to get this straightened without ruining it?

I do have a replacement but I'd keep things original if possible.

Thanks!

 

[points]

Easy to bend it back. They can take a lot of abuse.

 

[sfx]

Hmm, what's the best way to do it would you say? I assume a vise would need to be involved.

 

[mkrnel]

Remove it from the barrel (rifle) first as trying to straighten it while on the rifle may snap the retaining screw inside the front sight base. Is it the milled steel one or the cheap stamped/pressed metal one?

 

[points]

If it is a milled protector, I would heat it at the bend to staighten it. They can be a ##### to hold solid otherwise

 

[zuke]

So the sight protector did it's job! Great to hear!

 

[sfx]

Hehe yes it certainly did.

It does looks milled to me for what it's worth.

Here's a possibly noob question that I'm not ashamed of asking... If heat is applied to the metal, will it lose it's parkerization/bluing?

 

[points]

Yes it will. It can be re-blued or painted as you see fit. Many of my restorations are painted if I have to remove the blueing. Small parts as a sight protector can be hot oil blued. Since many of these rifles were painted while in service, correctely done they still appear original (sort of)

 

[myenfield]

If you need to reblue/repaint the protector, I think it makes more sense to go back to the idea of replacing it. Unless you are dealing with an early "waisted" protector (narrower in the middle than the top or bottom, similar to a Pattern 1914) you should be able to find another with exactly the same markings and matching condition with a little searching around. If the protector had been bent in the field during wartime the local level armourer would have done the same thing - without worrying about what markings might be on the replacement.