1933 No4(T) Trials Rifle is back Home

I’m very pleased to be able to finally post some photographs of the rifle that started this thread in September of last year.
Chosenman kindly posted the original link to the Gunbroker auction in the US that led to that ‘I just have to have it’ feeling, and with a big birthday coming up it was the perfect excuse to go for it.
Unfortunately, not being a US resident I was unable to register with the site, so another forum member (many thanks Brian B !) contacted the seller on my behalf, and the deal was struck.
BigDuke6 took care of the import side of things and was a huge help (thanks Geoff) and I can thoroughly recommend him if anyone else is considering going down a similar route.
You always take a bit of a chance buying something like this on the basis of a few photographs, but I hope the attached pictures show what a gem it is......
I knew from the original auction pictures that the rear sight and magazine were not original to the rifle (both Savage marked), but absolutely everything else is – all Enfield marked, and the condition is superb.
The furniture was a little dry so over the last month it has been treated with light applications of raw linseed oil and it has really come up a treat.
The finish on the metal work is 100% original and almost 100% complete and it’s that lovely deep pre-war black finish. The barrel is original (1930 dated) to the rifle with a near mint bore.
The rifle came without a scope and bracket (although it was listed a few months previously with a mis-matching (thankfully) scope, bracket and tin that was subsequently sold separately). I was very lucky to pick up a very appropriate 1941 dated Mk1 scope for a song that needed some work (see other post) and while I was able to do most of it myself a very good friend of mine (thanks, Hugh) helped with one of the more challenging parts of the rebuild. An original Rose brother’s bracket from Roger and Dave completed the outfit.
Birthday presents don’t come much better!
I’m still really keen to find an Enfield Rear sight and magazine – I know it’s asking a lot, but if anyone...................

Came together very nicely!! I love all of the Enfield marked parts!! I'll keep my eye out for a magazine and the rear sight. Just never know what you might find.

Brian B

Thanks for the mention Neil, it was a pleasure to help out and thanks for the Phos tank...... certainly a nice rifle and I doubt you could get any more original than that, I,ll keep a lookout for a mag, sight and scopes.

The problem Neil is that if someone donates a rearsight for that particular rifle, it's immediately got to be damaged/butchered - or whatever the word is - because the rifle is a T. But what a shame to split the tele sight from the rifle prior to disposing of it.........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

The problem Neil is that if someone donates a rearsight for that particular rifle, it's immediately got to be damaged/butchered - or whatever the word is - because the rifle is a T. But what a shame to split the tele sight from the rifle prior to disposing of it.........

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Its a fair point, Peter - but you never know someone might have one with the battle sight already ground off.............

The only saving grace with the scope and bracket on the original listing was that they weren't originally matched to the rifle (would be criminal if they were!). It was a '42 dated Watson serial 1872 housed in a bracket numbered to rifle AP5783

A few more pictures that didn't load on the first post

Another problem with backsights is that there were a couple(?) of different types of leaf to match with different body profiles.

But telescope......
1923 (barred out on the butt) No record but will be dated 1942
3273 Rebuilt by me 8/84
7023 No trace but 7021 exists and 7026 written off as scrap 8/85 (date unclear)
1872. No record but nearest 1877 rebuilt by me 7/99

Is 3273 out there anywhere?

One question Neil regarding the scope, the finish on brasss/bronze body (looks the same as the MG dashboard or old microscope finish) is that the original finish or is refinished as the original would of been ?

Refinished as it would have been (or as close as i could get it)
There was very little finish left on the scope when i got it, but enough on the turret housing to see it was originally wrinkle finish.
I believe it was only Kodak that did this