too green, zinc chromate is alot more yellow
its interesting to see how much paint was used, the regulations sad only parts covered by wood would be painted, but in truth it varied from not visible with the wood on, to this
My first Lee Enfield 1944 Longbranch
- Thread starter CanadianAR
- Start date
too green, zinc chromate is alot more yellow
its interesting to see how much paint was used, the regulations sad only parts covered by wood would be painted, but in truth it varied from not visible with the wood on, to this
it could definitely be zinc chromate not that i know anything about this on rifles and not that im a paint expert but i do work on aircraft and have used a lot of this stuff......yellow and green zinc chromate primer 2 part and spray cans ( which you cant get anymore ) just the good for the enviroment stuff that sucks is available, you will find yellow and green zinc chromate primer back into the 1930's but the new stuff we use which i believe is sherwin williams is yellow although im sure green is still available
I took the rifle down to inspect it. I cant find any faults. I checked the reciever for cracks, sprayed with solvent, used white out on the locking lugs, seem to engage 60% of the surface on an empty chamber. Bolt has no slop. Bore is great.
sorry im only aware of the colour from ww2 era aircraft, and ive only ever seen a yellow colour, but google shows a green as well
at any rate, this is a common sight on enfields, ive never touched a painted rifle, but i have some mags and parts that are painted. i dont think its zinc, just plain green paint
If you are seeing 60% contact on the rear of both locking lugs and they are bearing evenly (about the same degree on contact on both), I wouldn't hesitate to shoot this rifle. You have previously certified that the headspace is OK.
It would be interesting to hear your shooting results.
Pictured below is the only issue I could find with receiver. Not sure if this would earn it a ZF, it is irreparable receiver damage and it can jam if cycled to quick.
The guide that opens up to rotate the bolt head has some damage on both sides.
The guide that opens up to rotate the bolt head has some damage on both sides.
The guide rail has been opened up at some point in time. This is not necessarily an unsafe condition, but it could well allow the bolt head to ride up out of it's guide rail and bind in a rapid fire situation-not a kind of unreliability that you want in a service rifle. You could relieve any burrs with a fine file or stone and see what happens. As long as you are aware of the problem and cycle the bolt with an eye to ensuring that the head slot is engaged with the guide rail, it should still be OK for "civvie" recreational shooting.
I think the history behind that rifle is really cool so if thats what your looking for who cares about the condition but at the same time if your looking for something you want to shoot a lot too and they knew that when you bought it unless they gave you a screaming deal on it do you think possibly they would return it for one in better condition?, im guessing its had the hell shot outa it here is a pic of my No4 Mk1* longbranch which has been fired a fair bit and there is next to no wear, you should be able to buy a really nice clean No4 Mk1* enfield shooter for 350-400
I once owned a Savage made No4 with that exact same problem. Guide rail had chunks missing out of it in the same place. It would cause the bolt head to pop out when feeding cartridges. Because mine was a sporter, I had it tig welded and then filed the rail to the proper dimension. It worked well after that, but I don't think you'd want to do something like that to this No4.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Pictured below is the only issue I could find with receiver. Not sure if this would earn it a ZF, it is irreparable receiver damage and it can jam if cycled to quick.
The guide that opens up to rotate the bolt head has some damage on both sides.
Laidler disparages the No.4 MkI* rifles for this exact reason. In rapid fire, the bolt head will jump out of the groove and jam. (He is also the sort of guy who has ingested the engineering orders cover to cover. If it was not described in the orders, it is almost instinctively unsuitable.)
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
Just means you've got to supplement the LE addiction with a No1 for mad minute type shooting! 
That's what I meant.. I wonder how the edges became broken out.
I fired it today. I know was against advisement, but I am a diesel tech, and used to inspecting metal for fatique and cracks. i know that its not a gunsmith, but lots of similar concepts. I went over it with a fine tooth comb, cant find much other then that guide rail. I had sand bags on top of it and anchored down, pulled the trigger with a string. Shoots well, no explosions. Maybe a little sticky on extraction.....I have pics of the fired cases and locking lug contact pattern I will upload in a few mins. I fired 10 shots. All cases look exactly the same.
Pics of lugs and empty cases. The brass looks slightly expanded, not sure if this is normal, for and enfield or good or bad. Any insight is appreciated. Hopefully last owner gets back to me and tells me he swapped the butt, if not Ill have it gone over by a gunsmith.
Pics of lugs and empty cases. The brass looks slightly expanded, not sure if this is normal, for and enfield or good or bad. Any insight is appreciated. Hopefully last owner gets back to me and tells me he swapped the butt, if not Ill have it gone over by a gunsmith.
