Redoing Jungle Carbine electro pencilling

[Devils Own]

Hello Everybody

Ongoing project - almost done.

I bought a JC a couple of weeks ago. I was thinking about re-stoving the metalwork. Most, if not all, of the metal is devoid of paint.

I was wondering two things:

1. Were all JCs painted with suncorite?

2. If I were to repaint this one, I am worried about the electropencilling/engraving of the 'No.5' etc on the receiver wall. It's clear but too faint to not be obscured by even a thin layer of new paint. Any ideas about doing this (re-engraving etc.)? Or should I just leave it bare? The metal looks like it is blued rather than parkerized.

Cheers

Steve

Information

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[jerrbear]

Steve, JMHO but I would leave it as is. I have one also where most of all the metal is bear except under the wood. I would definitly leave the stenciling alone. I think it gives the gun some "HISTORY".

[villiers]

Seen quite a few that were "oil blackened", very similar to blueing. But don´t know whether they were original. Think they were.

[303carbine]

Steve, JMHO but I would leave it as is. I have one also where most of all the metal is bear except under the wood. I would definitly leave the stenciling alone. I think it gives the gun some "HISTORY".

X2 for leaving as is....

[breakeyp]

Re doing engraving will only serve to destroy any collector resale value. If the work is evident a true collector wouldn't touch it as other stuff might have been done to the gun. If the other stuff you have done makes the gun questionable--I guess it doesn't matter. Enjoy your shooter.

[Devils Own]

OK thanks for the input. I will not repaint it or re-pencil it.

I hope that the other stuff that I have done will actually improve the overall picture, i.e replacing the Savage added parts with the proper Faz ones and replacing rusted barrel band etc. Just an overhaul really. Oh and I had to replace the forestock with a No.4 cutdown. The old stock had a massive crack in it. I think it looks OK.

I am pleased that the general opinion is for leaving it regarding the paint, as I couldn't really summon up the enthusiasm for doing it anyway. I just want to get it down to the range.

Cheers

Steve

[Mk VII]

Interfering with markings (including 'refreshing' them) comes right up to the line, or crosses it in the opinion of many folks. Best leave it alone. Unfortunately many 4's and 5's are very faintly marked - I can't think why they thought this would turn out well. I've got one here where you can just about see two generations of markings under the paint, as well as a very deep prominent '24536' where a part (but only a part) of the number has been marked all over again in a different place.

[Peter Laidler]

In the real world of the Army and active service Devils Own, if the numbers were very feint and on Fazakerley rifles, feint to the point of invisible, we'd re-stamp the rifl serial number into the left side of the butt socket but leave the original markings intact.

If it is lightly bead blasted, phosphated and then painted then oven baked, then the original markings will still be visible and 'probably' readable but at least it'll be as original as it was ever in UK Military service. If yours is marked thus, you know its been there, done it, got the tee-shirt etc.

Oh, yes.... As for the mix and match parts, well don't for heavens sake let that worry you in the slightest. You are being fooled into thinking that Armourers would go through big crates of spare parts just to find the specially marked whatsits or thinggies to fit onto a BSA marked thingummyjig! Nothing could be further than the truth. Armourers used to be allocated 200 No4's, No5's or L1A1's or Savage Shotguns or Stens or whatevers. And guess what he'd do until the job was finished. Yep, he'd just plough on and on. I don't EVER remember looking for a special part. The troops just wanted tham back stripped, repaired, accuracy and range tested in the shortest time and that's JUST what we did.

Every job was done to the best of our ability, neat and tidy but PDQ. We had another particularly technical phrase too, that indicated a greater emphasis on speed. And that was PDFQ. However, this was usually reserved for the boss of the workshop!

[Devils Own]

Thanks Peter and MKVII

Peter, we 'regular' forum members are indeed very fortunate to have access to the experiences of guys like you that have done the business in the field.

Thanks.

Steve