Painted Enfields

Can anyone offer any information on the painting of Lee Enfield Actions and exposed metal parts as opposed to blacking?

I have No4T BSA Shirley Ser No: AS5987. The action and metal bands are painted in a thick black metal paint. The barrel obviosly is not. I have noticed similar finishes on Ishapore rifles. I have also been told that the painted finish is not uncommon and many unit armourers may well have employed this protection as an alternative to reblacking. The paint finish may even have been applied when the rifle was put into storage. I have no cooberation but have heard that the serial number of my rifle places it as one of the ones used in Singapore???

Regards Chris

If it's been painted with Suncorite, that's the standard paint finish that was used starting in 1944. Most late BSA No.4T's I've seen were still blued with the crusty black Brunofix finish on the body. Many went back through workshops and had Suncorite applied and baked on post WWII. Sometimes it was applied over original finish if still good and during a full blown FTR, the rifles were phosphated, (Parkerized), first before getting painted and baked. Is your rifle out of Indian service? They applied a much thicker paint that isn't very durable. If it looks thick and has been brushed on, chances are it's Indian because Suncorite is a very smooth finish, even if applied with a brush after baking.

Brian thank you for your prompt and informative reply. The painted finish on AS5497 is quite smooth. I am unsure as to whether or not it was in Indian Service and thus far have not been able to verify the information that it may have seen service in Singapore. However, I shall investigate further.

Regards Chris...

I was in the Base Workshops in Singapore and ALL of those thousands from all over the Far East that passed through there were all finished in sunkorite. We didn't do Valspar super-gloss and yacht varnish!

I've not been on for a few days and have only just seen your comment which is gratefully appreciated. It corroborates much of the snipppets of information I have managed to glean thus far.

Regards Chris......