Green paint on No4

[h.letourneau]

I have a No4 markI* Long Branch (1943) that has some green (olive) paint on the barrel under the wooden part and on the side of the receiver also under the wood line. Why is that? The gun has the C broad arrow on the stock and receiver and number matching. The mag. is not numbered and the follower is stamped with a 3 and MA under (look like a modified MoI mag.).
Thanks.

 

[bearhunter]

The green paint is correct and was applied at some point in the REME cycle at several levels. It was applied to prevent rusting.

 

[boltonscouter]

I have almost the identical rifle and it's painted green almost anywhere you can't see (under the wood). Apparently done on pieces destined for tropical service as a corrosion prevention method. Seems to have done the trick!

 

[h.letourneau]

Thanks!

 

[purple]

Back around 1960 I recall seeing a barrel full of No5s in the old Birney's Hardware store in Saskatoon. They were all green on the metal and looked pretty grotty. Cheap though!

 

[John Sukey]

Don't you wish now that you had bought a few of those "grotty " No 5's

Too soon ve gets old und too late ve gets schmart

 

[purple]

You know I bought a stone mint No5 a couple of yrs later for $18. In the early '70s a buddy and I split a case of new-in -grease, birch stocked Savage No4s. As I recall it worked out to about $35 per rifle. Now those I should'a hung on to. Oh yes,then there was the target bedded Long Branch with the CAL 7.62 barrel for $50....

 

[Forty4Forty]

My POF (Pakistan) No 4 has some and two Arisaka.s have similar green paint, always wondered.

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

My 1943 Long Branch has the same paint. I am not sure if my 1950 CNo.4 Mk1* has is as I have never had the wood off, I should have a boo at it one of these days.