No 8 Rifle/Enforcer Handguard and Forend - Front Band Source?

[paulseamus]

I have just receive what was described as a No.8 rifle forend and handguard.










The forend is for a No.8 Rifle.The magazine well is solid timber, It is stamped CR373 with an 82 Enfield acceptance mark. It does not appear to have ever been fitted to a rifle



I am not sure if the Handguard is for a No.8 Rifle or if it is for an Enforcer. The Handguard is not ribbed lengthwise. Is is stamped internally with "C.MOON & Co 85" It also does not show any sign of being fitted to a rifle.

Does this indicate that the Handguard is for an Enforcer rather than a No.8 rifle?








The two parts appear to be made to fit together. As can be seen in the above pictures, the channel for the front band matches.

Did C.Moon and Co make the handguards for No8 rifles?

Can anyone suggest a source for a No.8 Rifle Front Band? I have looked in the usual spots with no success.

Your help and guidance will be appreciated.

Cheers

Paul

[Maxwell Smart]

Isn't the Enforcer's handguard shorter - the same as an L39 or L42?

If the handguard matches the No 8 forend, then I think it is for a No 8 or an Envoy...

Front bands for this combination are rare as.

One fix would be to cobble together two stamped No 4 bands to suit. The roughly triangular cross-section of the forend makes it tricky though.

[RobD]

Try
Phil Rose (in the UK):
pjrcollectables@hotmail.co.uk
- he has most things.
Rob

[Thunderbox]

No8/Envoy wood (top) is longer than L39/42/Enforcer wood (bottom).


IIRC, Colin Moon made most of the wood sets for all of these rifles, both at the time of original production & service, and also recently as the "repro" spares that have appeared from various sources.

[Peter Laidler]

As a matter oif interest, Enfield submitted that the No8/Envoy configuration would be more suitable for the 'new' L42 rifle. The problem was that the triangular fore-end sits in the palm of the hand, gripped by the end of the thumb and tips of the fingers. A sniper needs to firmly hold the whole of the fore-end.

Great descriptive pictures TBox - what about the same but from the front to illustrate the point. Thanks

[paulseamus]

Thunderbox

Thanks for the great comparison picture. I can clearly see the difference in length. Are you able to measurethe difference?

And thanks for confirming that Colin Moon supplied components for both rifles.

Peter

You are very right about the way the No 8 triangular stock sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. I have read a few comments about the needs of a target shoot versus a sniper.

Either way the No 8 stock should suit my needs, assuming I can find a suitable front band.

cheers

Paul

[Mk VII]

I did across one of these bands some years ago, still in the packaging. Sold to someone on one of these boards.

[crusty]

Either way the No 8 stock should suit my needs, assuming I can find a suitable front band.

Paul,

try looking at gunworks.co.nz, contact Robbie. I sold him a box of No 8 spares a few years ago - there was a number of front bands in the box.

Steve

[paulseamus]

Steve

Thanks. Contacted Robbie. Unfortunately all are sold.

Paul

[crusty]

Paul,

I'll check at home - just in case. I think I used the last one on a 7.62 conversion that I fitted No. 8 wood work to. A large quantity of No.8s were destroyed by the NZDF a few years ago, so there are some bits & pieces floating around over here. I'll ask around.

Steve