Enfield SHT 22 IV trainer handguard wood cut question

[Canada1812]

Hey folks,

Have a No1 Mk3 .22 conversion here (sht 22 iv) with the .22 barrel sleeve liner. It has the top handguard wood removed from around the rear sight. My question is wondering if this was a normal thing for these .22 conversions or if it was done post service?

I've seen pictures online of the same wood cuts on other .22 enfield trainers, but my other .22 trainer enfield with the cooey rear sight has the wood intact with no cuts.

Any information or insite would be greatly appreciated! Regardless it shoots well and is staying in my collection.

Cheers!

 

[7ECA]

The hand guard "ears" were a known weakness, or fragile if you prefer. It's not uncommon for them to be damaged in use, and cut down or cut off entirely.

 

[Claven2]

In the UK this became an approved mod post-ww2 as the stock of replacement SMLE hand guards was depleted and they didn’t want to pay for more of them. Much more common to see this on guns that served outside the UK though. You see it a lot more on guns from India or the Middle East.

It’s also a common thing (unfortunately) for collectors to take the best handguards off guns they cull from their collections and put cut hand guards on those rifles. Not saying that’s what happened here, but .22 trainers didn’t see much field abuse post conversion. I would say it’s uncommon to see shortened handguards on this model of Enfield.

 

[Canada1812]

Awesome thanks for the insight, really appreciate it.

Seen a couple of them like this so that actually answers that question really well.

Ended up with this rifle on whim because the original serial numbers letter prefix is a J and the other rack or serial number on the other side of the receiver is AL which are my initials (A.J.L) so funny coincidence.