Mystery Enfield?

proonur

proonur

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Hey everyone, I've got a .303 that I thought was a No.4 Mk.1, but I'm not sure as there is nothing on the receiver since the last owner sportered it and must have ground it off or something.
The serial number begins with GB, and on the bolt I found the markings "N 67 Mk II". From the other rifles I've seen this bolt looks like a 4, 1 but I've never seen a 4-2, so I'm not sure.

Any help would be great, as I'm trying to restore this rifle and I'm afraid I've bought the wrong stock to put on instead of the sportered one.
 
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jimpruner said:
Argh... how can I post pics in here without publishing them to the web?
Click to expand...

You can't. They need to be hosted somewhere else.

t_=121370198
 
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Try this one.

t_=121370198


I give up... I'll email anyone the pics if they think they can actually tell by looking at it. Just private message me.
 
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Thank you guys for the help in posting the pics, etc.
I think I have solved the "mystery". This rifle came to me minus the extractor spring, and I ordered a No.4 mk 1 extractor arm and spring from a guy in the UK a couple of weeks ago. Got it in the mail today and the arm looks exactly like the one in the bolt, and I was able to install the spring without any problem. It looks like I was right to begin with and it is in fact a 4, 1.
Thanks to Badger who gave me a link to a page that has a collection of markings on them, one of which tells me that the N.67 on the bolt probably means it was manufactured by Singer Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Clydebank, UK. The Mk. II after it is still a mystery though as it wasn't in the list on the page.
This poor rifle has been sportered big-time, but it shoots very well actually, and I absolutely love it. I reloaded some 174 gr Sierra matchpoint HPBT with a powder charge of 36.5 gr of IMR 3031 and it was awesome.
I've got a stock coming and I'm looking around to find the steel bands that hold it together still. If anyone has any let me know for sure.
 
Looking at the picture of the right side of the reciever, something in not enfield.

Looks like after removing the chareger bridge and rear site some sort of adjustable rear site was mounted.

Later removed and the scope base added, notice how it's designed to bolt up to the charger bridge, that is no longer there.

Now the forearm is not a No4Mk1 but is a No4Mk2 forearm. The serial number is consistant with earlier No4Mk1 so perhaps you have one of the converted No4Mk1/2 rifles. Quickest way to tell is take off the trigger guard and see if the trigger is hung off the guard or off the reciever.
 
MK. II on the cocking piece refers to the model of cocking piece. The MK. I cocking piece was the round knob pattern.
The cross screw in the forend above the trigger indicates that the rifle is converted to MK. 2 pattern with body hung trigger.
The rifle is long past restoration. In addition to the receiver modifications, the barrel has been cut.
 
The rifle is long past restoration. In addition to the receiver modifications, the barrel has been cut.
Click to expand...

I have a LB that has been done the same way .........I don't know why they did that aside from aesthetic purposes ..........wouldn't it make the receiver weaker
 
Wow, that sucks, I was hoping I could put the original wood on it at least, but if the barrel is too short it won't work obviously.
The trigger itself hungs from the trigger guard by a pin, so this one is really, really basterdized, eh? It seems a mish-mash of Mk1 and 2 pieces.
Y'know that's ok though, I still really like the rifle and it's fun to shoot. I guess I'll just have to pony up the dough when I have it again to get an all original one. I really didn't pay much for this one so it doesn't sting much.
Thanks for all the insight again.
 
I was just cruising around P&S militaria checking the prices on full wood enfields, not too bad really, think I saw one for just under $400

just too many rifles that I want and too many other projects on the go


oh and yes your rifle is BBR - bubbed beyond repair
 
Maybe I can still make a Jungle Carbine phony out of it. I found a site with kits to do that out of n4 mk1s... bah, I'll just buy one from PS militaria someday.
 
jimpruner: Take heart. You have a nice old rifle. If it shoots to your satisfaction and you like the rifle, you are set!! I have bubba'd only one rifle, and that was over thirty-five years ago. Thankfully, I "saw the light" and have given over to collecting guns without any "tinkering". I have even given a few old bubba's a good home. I just recently bought a BSA sporter, made from a No.4. Have fun!!:p:p
 
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