Oddball No 4 22 conversion

myenfield

myenfield

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Previous threads about Lee Enfields in .22 have gotten me thinking, and I have dug out an old .22 conversion I have in the basement. This was one of a batch Districorp brought in a few years ago, and I have only seen 1 or 2 since. I seem to recall something about these conversions being done in Belgium. While I can't find the proof marks from the receiver in any books, they certainly look Belgian. Does anyone have any information on these conversions or the company that did them? By the way, the barrel is sleeved.

AS%20action%20markings.jpg

Action markings

AS%20proofs.jpg

Proof marks (sorry, poor picture)

AS%20sight%20markings.jpg

New graduations on old sight

AS%20ejector.jpg

Replacement follower and spring loaded ejector that pops up when bolt is opened

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Looks Belgian to me too :) Interesting how they scrubbed a No.2 slide sight and remarked it for the .22 trajectory. One would think they'd have used a better CMkIII or Mk1 sight ;)
 
We used those in Air Cadets for target shooting (before we got real target rifles). The ones we had were converted to single shot. I don't think they had a magazine at all.
 
I don't think that they would of been able to scrub off the stamped markings, I suspect that they made a new (very rough looking too) ladder and then used the old slide. It would be easy to make using stamped metal, easier thn trying to make a new micrometer ladder.
 
No, you can still see the click graduations on the sides of these. They are recycled MkII brit slides with the washer spacer. It's either been scrubbed or welded and reground. Not sure which.

2flat2fly: Yuo sure you didn;t use Cno.7's? These are NOT CNo.7's, they are belgian conversion of No.4Mk1's.
 
2fat2fly:
The No.7 would look identical to your .303 No.4 as well. You'd have to look at the makers mark to discover whether or not the one you used was a No.7 or one of these less common belgian conversions.
 
Here's a tip for you LE collectors. Contact the Air Cadets squadron in Watrous, Saskatchewan. They have 2 (maybe 4) 22 cal. trainers. I don't know what No. they would be.
 
2fat2fly said:
Here's a tip for you LE collectors. Contact the Air Cadets squadron in Watrous, Saskatchewan. They have 2 (maybe 4) 22 cal. trainers. I don't know what No. they would be.
Click to expand...

Thewy would be C No 7 Enfields. Most cadet units have them....
 
barrel sleeve

Slash,

At the moment, I can't recall the specifics about the chamber. I will try to take a look and a photo tonight and post it.
 
more pics

Here are a few more pictures of the conversion. The photo of the muzzle isn't perfect, but if you look close you can see the seam between whats left of the original barrel and the sleeve/liner. From the chamber end, it appears that the liner is shaped similar to the head of a .303 casing. The extractor groove is cut into it and extractor narrowed down to fit. The bolt head has been modified to allow the spring loaded ejector to get behind the casing, as well as having one side angled and the recess cut for the case to fit in.

sleeve.jpg


back%20of%20chamber.jpg


side%20view%20of%20chamber.jpg


bolt%20face.jpg
 
22 conversion

According to the serial number there were several hundred of these done by AS Arms (whoever that is). I think they were done in Belgium. If I recall, and I may have heard it here, the Belgians actually issued No 4 Lee Enfields for some time, so I assume this was made to train the Belgian army. I have made many assumptions and a few guesses, but no one here seems to have any more information about it. I do know that these rifles came from Districorp around the same time as a large batch of unissued No 4 Mk I* Longbranch rifles dated 1950 that apparently had been in some Belgian warehouse. If anyone out there has more/better/documented information, I would love to hear it.
 
As far as sleeving a .303 barrel goes, here is how I did one: took a piece of .303 barrel, and turned it to duplicate a .303 casing. Bonded it into the chamber, ran the liner drill all the way through bore and chamber sleeve. Then the liner was bonded in. If doing this, remember that the .303 barrel breech does not come very close to the boltface. Carry the chamber sleeve back until it almost touches the bolt. You don't want over 1/16" of .22 case hanging out in the breeze.
The bolthead illustrated looks as if has had a piece added to the face to acomplish the same goal.
 
Beware! I know of an individual in Calgary who is still pumping out .22 trainers on an ongoing basis and selling them as WW2 C#7 trainers to unaware people:mad:
 
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