Lee Enfield No. 4 Mark 1 conversion to 7.62

[snomad]

As mentioned in my other thread, a competition rifle I thought was a 303 turns out to be a 7.62 conversion. This is stamped near the end of the barrel as well as a small "a" inside a "C". I would assume it is a Canadian Arsenals barrel. It is four groove and I have never seen such a shiny bore. The receiver has "England" stamped on the side of the forward ring.The rifle however does not appear to bear any of the marks of being converted by DCRA. It appears to have a 303 mag and does not have the ejector conversion from what I can see. Anyway, pics are below, but as per forum member rules I am limited to seven pics. I can send anyone who wishes additional ones to help determine what it might be. (I did start in on the DCRA thread but 63 pages is a bit daunting at this time.) This rifle has matching numbers on bolt, receiver, magazine and lower forend wood. I cannot say whether other sections of the wood are also matching. Some of it is wearing varnish. This will be showing up on the EE soon so I am looking for it's value and the history is always a bonus. The rifle came with the pictured US military felt lined case. Both the case and sling bear the original owners info on them. Questions and feedback are welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[tiriaq]

It looks to be a rifle that was sold off as surplus in the UK, imported into Canada, and subsequently rebarrelled to 7.62 for target shooting. The center swivel and rear sight support this. Is there a serial number on the upper right of the receiver ring? If converted at Long Branch, there should be. Absence of bayonet lugs suggests a LB barrel. Conversion would have been ca 1964. Members sent their rifles to Long Branch for conversion. There would not be any DCRA marks.
A rifle set up for DCRA/PRA competition would have a .303 magazine and .303 ejector screw. The competition was single shot, prone. The target sling should be rigged between the center swivel and forend swivel.
The owner's name is on the case and the sling? If he ever shot in the Fullbore Matches at Connaught, there will be records of his participation, with matches and scores. Such details about the history of the rifle make more interesting than just another converted rifle.

 

[snomad]

This original owner also had the 22 conversion. The sling on that one is marked Stn Wpg Rifle Association /64 so it all makes sense. The bolts were in the wrong rifles when I got them and the slings may have been interchanged at some point. It is possible the bolts were interchanged by accident when the rifles were found in storage and reassembled. I am not sure where the case came into the picture though. The checkered cloth is blocking the owner's info on the case. I am told he was a fighter pilot in WWII. The only serial number is on wrist ring where the buttstock attaches and is V13849 and I believe is pictured.

 

[tiriaq]

What is the number on the top of the barrel at the muzzle?

.22 conversion? Or a No. 7 rifle?

There was a gunsmith, Nelson Colville in Winnipeg, who worked on fullbore target rifles. If the owner was stationed in Wpg, and the receiver isn't Canadian Arsenals marked for the 7.62 barrel, then perhaps he did the conversion. If the barrel was CA installed, the receiver ring should be marked, along with the bolt head.

 

[snomad]

I apologize that the picture is upside down. That number is 7.62 and just preceding it, on the right in the pic, is a "C" with a small "a" in it. These pics are of the 7.62 rifle. The receiver ring is only stamped "England", nothing else. The bolt head is marked "0" and on the flat side appears to have two crossed sabers?? Where the serial number is on the bolt handle there are also some tiny marks near the cocking handle; a 2 and an L and what looks like a double shafted arrow?? Very tiny, I need a flashlight to see them.

 

[tiriaq]

Sounds like a Canadian Arsenals barrel that was not installed by CA/Long Branch.
A shooter bought a surplus rifle, and had it rebarrelled for competition.

Incidentally, the case is a US M-1 Garand jump case.

 

[IBM]

interesting!

 

[Lee Enfield]

Often the dcra conversion numbers on the receiver are under the woodline.

Remove the rear handguard and see if there are conversion numbers on the knox form of the barrel.

 

[snomad]

I will check that tomorrow, thanks.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Enfield action in a better more available caliber....best of both worlds for sure. Very cool.
I still have to talk myself out of tracking down and buying one of the newer Australian 7.62 nato Enfields every other week.
Love the rifle. HATE the .303 caliber. Price and scarcity more than anything.

 

[snomad]

Taking off the upper wood ahead of the action only reveals the barrel. There are no conversion numbers there.
That case was seen used by the paratroopers in "Band of Brothers" IIRC. Thanks for that info, that's pretty cool.

 

[snomad]

By the way, it appears to be bedded and also has a pressure pad in that section of the handguard so the conversion did include some accurizing.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

What is the number on the top of the barrel at the muzzle?

.22 conversion? Or a No. 7 rifle?

There was a gunsmith, Nelson Colville in Winnipeg, who worked on fullbore target rifles. If the owner was stationed in Wpg, and the receiver isn't Canadian Arsenals marked for the 7.62 barrel, then perhaps he did the conversion. If the barrel was CA installed, the receiver ring should be marked, along with the bolt head.

Nels Colville! There's a name I haven't heard in while.

To concur with Tiriaq, the target sight and 7.62 chambering tell me that you have a very very standard DCRA target rifle. Commonly called, 'a conversion'.

Take it out. Shoot it. Learn its weaknesses. Nothing especially worth preserving, except keep it intact, clean the bore after firing, and reflect on its existence as an example of what grown men did over the winter to prepare for the next summer's shooting season.

We do not own these guns. We just look after them for the next owner.