Milsurps Talk Radio
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: No4 (T)

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member DonaldD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    10-20-2022 @ 06:41 AM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    16
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:57 AM

    No4 (T)

    Hi

    have come across a No4 (T). Rifle looks genuine - not too sure of the scope/mounts but not too bothered given the asking price.
    The barrel is in pretty crap condition - it may or may not be recoverable. I would have to buy it first and see how it cleans up.
    What's the feeling about re-barrelling? On one side the rifle loses some originality, but stays shootable. The other option is to keep it as is and have an original but non-shootable rifle (or worse have it deactivated)
    Personally I'm more in favour of re-barrelling and having a shootable classic. Would appreciate any input.

    Donald
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:57 AM
    Donald,
    If you have a space on your ticket for it, and you are ahppy it is a genuine rifle after reading the very thorough threads on the site here on the subject go for it, as a replacement barrel is the option to keep the old girl shooting for you. IMHO
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member bros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 04:03 AM
    Location
    yukon
    Posts
    272
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:57 AM
    Can you post some pictures???
    Quote Originally Posted by DonaldD View Post
    Hi

    have come across a No4 (T). Rifle looks genuine - not too sure of the scope/mounts but not too bothered given the asking price.
    The barrel is in pretty crap condition - it may or may not be recoverable. I would have to buy it first and see how it cleans up.
    What's the feeling about re-barrelling? On one side the rifle loses some originality, but stays shootable. The other option is to keep it as is and have an original but non-shootable rifle (or worse have it deactivated)
    Personally I'm more in favour of re-barrelling and having a shootable classic. Would appreciate any input.

    Donald

  6. #4
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:57 AM
    Pics would be nice. Like Gil says though, I'd re-barrel if that's what it needs...it's an $8000 rifle over here, approx...maybe not quite.
    Regards, Jim

  7. #5
    Legacy Member henry r's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Last On
    09-20-2021 @ 07:13 AM
    Location
    northern tablelands nsw Australia
    Posts
    633
    Real Name
    henry.
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:57 PM
    if it is the real thing and in your budget, i would grab it either way and go from there.

    if it was me i would have it re-barreled professionally, with a NOS barrel if possible or the best quality new production barrel of the original profile i could get my hands on. i would also keep the original barrel to pass on to future owners.

    that being said, i personally have collected more than enough stuff over the years that is only good for looking at, so want this new hobby to be fully functional.

  8. #6
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:57 AM
    Hey.......... just hang on a bit chaps! Let the dog see the rabbit first........... We have learned a lot since the days of condemning a barrel on gauging standards and/or how it looks. Some rifle barrels - and No4's were a good example - look like crap and shoot like a dream while others - and L96's were a classic example - of superb barrels shooting like crap!

    In the REAL world nowadays, this is what we do. We have eliminated ALL(?) barrel gauges except for the 'must run freely' gauge and a suspect barrel is accuracy tested after making sure that the rifle is serviceable in every way. You don't need to buy the rifle, just accuracy test it according to the spec laid down in the EMER and using Mk7 ammo

    If accuracy drops off later then deal with it - later.........

    Pass accuracy test, Buy. Fail, don't buy

  9. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  10. #7
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:57 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by DonaldD View Post
    Hi

    have come across a No4 (T). Rifle looks genuine - not too sure of the scope/mounts but not too bothered given the asking price.
    The barrel is in pretty crap condition - it may or may not be recoverable. I would have to buy it first and see how it cleans up.
    What's the feeling about re-barrelling? On one side the rifle loses some originality, but stays shootable. The other option is to keep it as is and have an original but non-shootable rifle (or worse have it deactivated)
    Personally I'm more in favour of re-barrelling and having a shootable classic. Would appreciate any input.

    Donald
    Pics would be good, as for barrel think of the old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" two No 4 T's in an auction early this year looked like sewer pipes, for what I paid for mine it was a gamble but after a pull through it looked like new, the other I,m told was the same.

    If the barrel is shot then replace it, just remember No4 barrels are a rare item these days, new made ones can be had IIRC for around £350, (think this includes fitting) if it was me I,d buy another cheap No4 with a serviceable barrel and use as a donor.

  11. #8
    Legacy Member DonaldD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    10-20-2022 @ 06:41 AM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    16
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:57 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thank you for all the input. The gun is part of the former owner's estate, currently lodged with an unknowledgeable firearms dealer and getting pics isn't possible. I went for another look today and am still pretty certain that it started off as No4 (T) - it has all of the expected marks on the action. The butt has the S51 along with the six-point star and W but there is no sign of a scope number ever having been present. The butt socket also has AL over 67 stamped below the serial no and to the right of the TR stamp - I haven't a clue what this may be. It is also missing the leaf-sight.
    As for the barrel, it may clean up - it looks pretty horrid and full of assorted crud - but I'm using this as leverage on the price (I reckoned about £800 for paying for re-barrelling). I also have a feeling that the seller has perhaps begun to realise that this might be worth a fair bit and thinking about revising the price. In that case I might well walk away.
    I am waiting for them to give me an idea of what they are expecting to get for it and will take it from there.
    A few years ago I was lucky to buy a No4 Trials rifle for £500 - maybe I was hoping too much to get lucky again.
    Donald

  12. #9
    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    South West Western Australia
    Posts
    7,734
    Real Name
    CINDERS
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:57 PM
    Thing is not to let to much away but any savvy dealer who looks at the pads on the rifle and figures out what the S51 means and the other stamping's should not take too long to figure out what the rifle is and when they do they will probably adjust the price accordingly cruddy barrel or not stay cool and let it develop.
    I brought my T of a chap who knew exactly what he had, what we did not know it and the scope are mentioned in Peters book on the T as it was used in pad trials when they had issues, happy to say the original scope is still with the rifle but that did not stop him from smacking me with the going price of it on the day. Had he known its provenance I am assured the price would have risen significantly.
    I hope you get it for what your budget is.

    I am not sure but the W = Weadon and the star may be their mark I am sure to be corrected if wrong.

  13. #10
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:57 AM
    Donald,
    Always good to see the real McCoy in image form. If you get a chance next time you visit him and have a mobile with a camera with you, a few shots would be great
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts