No. 4 Lee Enfield with tan paint under the woodline

[STG-44]

I just picked up this 1943 Savage No.4 Mk.1* Lee Enfield and when I took it apart to give it a clean and oil i found that all the metal under the wood was painted tan.

Does anyone know why this was done? I've read that this was a wartime expedient to prevent rust, and that it was mostly done for service in the tropics. And that it was an Indian service thing, which would explain the ishy screw.

It sits in an early low cut stock with mostly Savage/Longbranch parts and has a numbers matching mag, with a missmatched no5 bolt unfortunately.

I've seen a few rifles over the years with little bits of paint in the edges but this is by far the most intact paint job I've seen.

 

[GUB]

A wire wheel should clean it up for ya..

 

[7ECA]

A wire wheel should clean it up for ya..

Helps to be able to see the markings, clearly.

It is indeed a rust proofing. Another common armourers practice was greasing the barrel to prevent rust, especially in tropical climes.

 

[Pblatzz]

It is indeed a rust proofing. Another common armorers practice was greasing the barrel to prevent rust, especially in tropical climes.

Yep, old school front line rust proofing in the tropics. Worked, you could remove it, but it's part of the story of where the rifle has been.

 

[STG-44]

Ya. It definately won't be removed.

I've also noticed that the rifle has a second serial number with a AA prefix below the original Savage serial number, which is still intact. Does anybody know what that would be from?

 

[Riflechair]

Don't remove that paint. Your rifle probably served in the Jungles of Burma or other Tropical location. The paint was applied to prevent rust and is part of your rifle's story.