U-shaped part in front of Enfield magazine

[neb]

On Enfield #4's, there is a small U-shaped part in front of the magazine. Its part of the trigger guard/magazine well. Its located between the magazine and the front screw that fastens the trigger guard/magazine well to the rifle. I can't post a picture because that U-shaped piece is broken off my rifle. What is the function of this piece?

 

[green]

If you mean the wire loop it was for tieing on a canvas breech cover.

 

[shortandlong]

yes the breech cover was one of those silly things

 

[neb]

Thanks! That would never have occurred to me. Well since I don't have a canvas breech cover I guess I won't need the loop. The cover looks like it might have been useful if you were out in a sand/snowstorm.

 

[tiriaq]

Or mud. WWI photos not infrequently show these breech covers, and muzzle covers in use.

 

[skirsons]

Or mud. WWI photos not infrequently show these breech covers, and muzzle covers in use.

Although your fellow soldiers might have been looking at you strangely if they all had No. 1's and you had a No. 4.

 

[tiriaq]

Covers on SMLEs were attached to the swivel, if present; once the swivel lugs were omitted from the trigger guard, the loop appeared.

 

[skirsons]

Yes, but can you tell me what the heck THIS loop is for?

 

[tiriaq]

Thumb nut for loosening the screw.
Incidentally, many years ago when I shot in the cadet program, one of the other corps in the city still had some No.2 rifles with the Cooey/Ross sights. They tended to come loose, so the shop teacher (also the CIL Major commanding the corps) brazed the sight bases to the receivers.
If anyone has a Cdn. marked No.2 with the Coeey base tack brazed in place, it is from the cadet corps of Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School.

 

[BadgerDog]

What is the function of this piece?

Installing Lee-Enfield Rifle Action Cover

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Pics by "Brewstop" from a thread in Lee-Enfield forums on Milsurpshooter.net.

Regards,
Badger

 

[green]

The loop on the Ross/No2 sight adaptor was there to allow the sight base retaining screw to be loosened to raise the sight bed so the bolt could be removed.

 

[stencollector]

I can't post a picture because that U-shaped piece is broken off my rifle.

This little loop is commonly broken off the Cno7 rifles. I suspect it is from the target swivel hitting the loop. So many were missing on the Cno7s, that I once thought they were supposed to be like that.

 

[berger]

On Enfield #4's, there is a small U-shaped part in front of the magazine. Its part of the trigger guard/magazine well. Its located between the magazine and the front screw that fastens the trigger guard/magazine well to the rifle. I can't post a picture because that U-shaped piece is broken off my rifle. What is the function of this piece?

Thanks! You just saved me a post!

 

[sail32]

Early Lee-Medfords had a loop to attach one magazine to the rifle so it would not get lost. The original idea with Lee-Medfords, was to carry a number of loaded magazines, as clips or chargers were not issued.

 

[John Sukey]

Actualy only One spare mag. And the loop was central, not to one side. There was also a notch in the trigger guard so the link would slide in.

 

[sunray]

Early No.1's had a wee chain attached to the mag and the ring to keep the mag with the rifle. No extra mags were issued nor was the rifle intended to have any. Stripper clips/chargers only.