Remember that puke-green Enfield Gunnar had?

[Dark Alley Dan]

..well, here she is.

She's a '42 Lithgow -

The cocking piece isn't matching, but the bolt matches the barrel and receiver. Every single screw is buggered, there's only one holding the buttplate on, and it's the wrong feckin' screw anyhow. She's got all the charm and history of abuse of a particularly old and leathery Vegas hooker.

She's covered in various stamps - proofs, both English and Australian, as well as what I assume are QC stamps.

Would PH = Parker Hale? And can anyone else translate the myriad other ones for me?

The wee bits are stamped FA, BA, WA, and OA. I assume these are various manufacturers?

Once I had her torn down, I noticed the paiint on the bolt wasn't adhering very well...

I laid into her, initially with my Thumbnail, Mark 1*, then a piece of the petrified snot I found in the stock (which is cracked, BTW) and then with a dental scraper. The bolt is now no longer green.

Sadly, Sparky the Magic Bubba, having not primed the bolt, learned his lesson on the receiver and barrel. That stuff ain't coming off without some sort of chemical aid.

So here's where we're at. I need a correct cocking knob (willing to trade), as well as access to a receiver wrench and a firing pin removal tool. I also need a paint removal method that will get me down to the original bluing (if any) while getting the last of the Green Indignity off her. Anyone have any ideas?

Here's where I'm headed:

Why the hell would I do this? Here's my boy last Halloween:

He had the full Jawa kit, but was short the proper sidearm. I reckon this old lady has had plenty of indignities forced on her, and one more brief one shouldn't be much of a reach. Besides, I'm holding on to everything, and replacing the barrel with a purpose-built stub. I'm trading the buttstock (which is actually pretty fair) to Woodchopper for a particularly scabby example that God won't mind me cutting up. When my boy is too tall to be a Jawa anymore, I'll return the Enfield to factory stock - the barrel is actually pretty good...

Cheers,

Dan

 

[Steppenwolf]

Paint stripper will remove paint but leave the bluing untouched.

 

[H Wally]

Just to check - you are removing the barrel and putting a fake in its place? Just checking, as you no doubt know, the CFC would sh*t a brick if you cut the barrel down into a PISTOL ENFIELD Oh the horror!!!


That aside - cool project!

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Just to check - you are removing the barrel and putting a fake in its place? Just checking, as you no doubt know, the CFC would sh*t a brick if you cut the barrel down into a PISTOL ENFIELD Oh the horror!!!


That aside - cool project!

Exactly right, mate. I hope to get a machine shop to thread a chunk of aluminum rod to fit the receiver. This rifle will not be able to chamber ammunition of any sort while in "stubby" mode.

Steppenwolf, thanks. I figured paint stripper would do the paint, but I feared what it might do to the bluing. Can you recommend a brand?

 

[cantom]

Just to check - you are removing the barrel and putting a fake in its place? Just checking, as you no doubt know, the CFC would sh*t a brick if you cut the barrel down into a PISTOL ENFIELD Oh the horror!!!


That aside - cool project!

Exactly what I was thinking, unless it's a deactivated firearm cutting it down short like that = prohibited.

 

[H Wally]

Exactly right, mate. I hope to get a machine shop to thread a chunk of aluminum rod to fit the receiver. This rifle will not be able to chamber ammunition of any sort while in "stubby" mode.

Steppenwolf, thanks. I figured paint stripper would do the paint, but I feared what it might do to the bluing. Can you recommend a brand?

Dude... you're a rediculously cool dad

 

[41 Colt]

Can you recommend a brand?

I would suggest Circa 1850 Furniture stripper.

 

[Skippy]

Wouldn't you have to entirely decomission the rifle (as per dewat standards) if you plan to let your kid walk around town with it?

 

[bogusiii]

...and...

...sending a young lad out with a 'prohibited' and real iron and wood 'gun' for Halloween? Where the cops drive up and down keeping everyone safe? This doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.

 

[Steppenwolf]

Dan,

I have used Circa 1850 to remove paint on two rifles without the bluing being touched.

 

[louthepou]

I just looooooooove the way this thread is evolving!!!!

Lou

 

[bogusiii]

I just looooooooove the way this thread is evolving!!!!

Lou

Lou, if I read you right, you're just waiting to pick up the parts from this 'star wars' prop for another restoration!!

As to "where this thread is going"... Harrrummmpfff

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Circa 1850 it is - thanks gents.

For those members of Captain Buzzkill's Anti Fun Brigade concerned re: my lad going out with it and encountering law enforcement with a wild hair up their cloaca - he trick-or-treats in the country around Edson, a land where the neighbours have seen guns once or twice, and are more likely to find it interesting than threatening. He is always in the company of someone with a PAL, and so should be fine, thanks for your concern.

So does anyone know of someone in the neighbourhood (Edmonchuk) with the proper bolt disassembly tool? And Lou - would you have the correct cocking knob and be willing to trade?

 

[bogusiii]

So anti-fun I may be...

...but I do want to keep my FA's. Bad publicity won't be helping out with that. Once your lad makes the national news and Toronto's miller picks up on it, we'll see who Mr. Responsible dad is. I just take my lad to the range; keeps him safely away from 'star wars' trivia.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

I'm sure we, and by inference you, will be fine. Thanks yet again for your concern.

I'd like to stay largely on topic here, if possible. Still seeking receiver wrench, bolt takedown tool, and correct cocking knob...

 

[bogusiii]

On topic. Right. Sorry.

Never mind a shortened, cut down registered Lithgow Mk.III*, arguably now prohibited, carried about when a wooden mock-up will get just as many trick or treat goodies without the risk.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

OK, mate - my final word on this issue, just to put you at ease...

1) Not a prohib - no barrel at all. Incapable of chambering ammunition. Legally speaking, an unbarreled action.
2) Carried in the presence of PAL-bearing adults - either me or my brother or my folks, who value time with their grandson.
3) Carried in a decidedly firearms-friendly environment, where folks are more likely to admire it than freak out.

You've offered me some unsolicited advice. Allow me to return the favour. While your concern for me and my family (complete strangers all) is appreciated, and rather touching, it's time to let it go. You've made your point.

 

[bogusiii]

And my final word

A firearm is not something to be taken with anything less than due respect. The right to own it is to not be taken with any less respect. There is an environment in this country at this particular time that needs no encouragement to find fault with legal firearms owners. What you do with a chunk of iron is your business, but can you not see that a youngster with a questionable 'firearm' in this context could lead to a lot of questions? I've lived in a place where a hunting rifle bungie-corded to the back of a snowmobile was common so I don't think I can be called a city-dwelling prude.

We're on the same side pal, I'm just offering another perspective...

 

[bogusiii]

What a minute..

So I take my 12(?) prohib revolver, unscrew the barrel and replace it with an aluminum plug and send it ouside with a minor. As they say in Newfie...same-ting???

 

[NB.nagantsniper]

ok back to the original topic ...................PLEASE ?