No. 4 Mk 1 enfield

[longshot1154]

Have some questions for you guys as I'm sure a lot of you are much more familiar with this rifle than I am.

I will start by saying that I had a friend give me three rifles he picked up at auction and decided he did not want them. The first is the No. 4 Mk 1 I am asking about. The others are a Mauser and a 6.5 Carcano. I placed them in the back of my gun safe about two years ago and didn't think about them until today.

I pulled the No. 4 out and got to look at it.

It appears that it needs an Ejector screw, and the forestock has been cut down and has a wood screw in the end of it, but it does not hold the barrel down as there is about an eighth inch of play when I pull the barrel away from the forestock.

The bore looks good, although it needs a good scrubbing. The bad part is it looks like whoever owned it has cut off the front of the barrel, ahead of the front sight. It doesn't appear to have any finish work done to the barrel at the cut.

My first question is, is this rifle worth investing in new wood for it, to return it to as close to original as I can, or with the barrel being as it is, should I just purchase an aftermarket composite stock? I'll hold off on any further questions until you guys get a look at it and tell me if I should go any further with it.

[john hayslip]

I'd crown it and see if it shoots. If so you've got a good knockabout gun as it is. Someone, maybe S&K, makes a mount that doesn't need drilling and tapping if you want to scope it. If you do more than neck size the shells they don't last long as the Brits made their chambers on the generous side so the rifle would function in the mud and grime of the battle field. AGI has a CD on how to improve their trigger pull. I think I have a couple of articles I've collected over the years on accurizing them but that might no apply with the cut wood. Put a longer screw in and you could put come pressure on the barrel which might help, or hurt accuracy.

[seaboltm]

There is no getting it back to original for anything resembling reasonable money. Crown it, refinish the stock if you want to, and shoot it. This gun is now a shooter, or a parts gun.

[Thundermaker]

The forend should not be able to touch the barrel, but, if it does, it might help you. The barrel needs to be squared and crowned. If the forend is loose and you can't tighten the front trigger guard screw any more, that needs attention. If you get the canik scope mount, it will come with an ejector screw.

[longshot1154]

Okay, thanks for the replies so far. I found a replacement barrel for about $70.00 and the front end wood are anywhere from $15 to $25.00 per piece. Was just wondering if I were to order the parts, if the parts would be worth more than the entire gun.

[longshot1154]

Just sat down to start taking it apart to see what I need to do.

[seaboltm]

These rifles are by no means rare and can be readily found in unaltered condition for under $300 all day long. i wouldn't spend a dime on restoring it.

[longshot1154]

All right. Thanks for the replies. The silver screw at the end of the forestock doesn't even go through the stock, so no idea what that was for. After putting the stock back on, I got the forestock secure with the front trigger guard screw. Will work on getting the crown done and have to try it out. If I do anything, it will be replacing the wood with an ATI stock.

[W.R.Buchanan]

This is a similar situation to what is discussed in the Finnish Mosin Nagant thread currently running. The gun has already been altered and since they are not rare in any way shape or form,,, it is a shooter. Spending a bunch of money on it would not be prudent.

Clean it up, do some touch up on the metal with steel wool and cold blue, sand and refinish the stock with some Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil and maybe clean up the crown and then enjoy shooting it.

Sometimes it is better to just leave well enough alone, but the work I outlined above will be fun for you to do and won't cost more than few $ for supplies and the results will be night and day different from what you have right now. Practicing on a piece like this is good for your hobby, and every one you do will be better than the last.

Randy

[neilking]

Where the hell is this $70 barrel?

[Thundermaker]

These rifles are by no means rare and can be readily found in unaltered condition for under $300 all day long.

Where?!

[longshot1154]

Numrich has the barrels.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/486190.htm

[seaboltm]

gunbroker.com

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381305064

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381462970

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381693416

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381125115

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381310119

[seaboltm]

gunbroker.com

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381305064

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381462970

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381693416

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381125115

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=381310119

[Dan Cash]

Before you shoot or crown the barrel, run a slug through it from breach to muzzle. It looks like the barrel was peened to hold the front sight. if so, you will have a very tight muzzle that will splay out when fired.

[Hardcast416taylor]

A little over a year back I was given a bare stripped Enfield #5 action/barrel and a #4 Mk 1 bare stripped action and barrel. I located all the missing parts and wood including the correct rifle bolts to make them full dressed rifles again. The seemingly hardest parts to locate were the 10 round magazines. Was this costly? Yes and No, Yes for finding the parts over a 6 month searching adventure and No because I was doing this for my pleasure of finally having a #5 Jungle carbine and a #4 Mk 1 that I made into a sporter with scope. Each person must ask themselves "How far am I willing to go with this"?Robert

[Multigunner]

A Bubba'ed No.4 with cropped barrel is a good starting point for a replica No.5. Replica Carbine stock sets are available from time to time and occasionally the front sight with flash hiders can be found still mounted on cut off stub barrels. Replica flash hiders sometimes show up as well.
Numrich advertised these kits
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/527230.htm

Otherwise I would just complete the sporterizing.
The No.4 makes a fine sporting rifle.

[303Guy]

Clean the bore and go shoot it. I have one like that but mine has a ridge down one of the lands all the way. Mine also needed some fire-lapping. I haven't taken it to the range yet. An option is to shorten the barrel a bit and fit a prettier front sight. Or just fit a front sight guard and call it good.

[longshot1154]

I looked at the flash hider on the link you gave Multigunner. I might just pick up the flash hider to make the end of the barrel look a little better. Thanks for the link.