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As Peter has often pointed out, the wood under the forend cap tended to rot under jungle conditions and this might have been the reason for shortening. Making up a new No. 5 forend out of No. 4 Mk 1 wood, would seem to me to be a far easier job than splicing a bit on. And the plug for the internal lightening groove would be hidden by the forend cap anyway.
I had a dig through my scraps/spares and found a viable proposition for the forends replacement, it's off a 1941 Maltby, but it's warped. Luckily this is towards the front, so I think I can get a viable No5 forend out of it. The low cut mag cutoff area will have to be patched, but this will allow me to hide the cut off lug recess too. As I'll be chopping it up, there will be plenty of the wood available for these patches.
Also the species and colour is correct.
The whole forend will be reduced a little at least, so the varnish will all be gone, and by the look of it, it's not too oily. This could be a fairly perfect solution, as the forend is useless as a long one, and fine where I need it!
Also it hasn't been heavily sanded or shaped close to the wrist so it won't be undersized.
There is aNo5 forend on evil bay but it appears to have been repaired in the past so might not be suitable for such a lovely little carbine...
Tom,
I would take the safety lever of the old girl as it has been modified to pass the import customs saftey checks. Cost me over $200 to have mine modified, so you have one to send overseas if you intend bringing in another No4. As you can't do the work yourself for something so simple as undoing a screw
you have to use their gunsmiths.
Myles
I'm probably mistaken, but the forestock looks like a No.4 cutdown. Just a note about the date as well....10/47. I thought July of '47 (7/47) was the last batch for No.5's ?
While we're on the topic of No.5's, I'm wondering how often you chaps come across them either in a private sale, gunshop or gunshows ? The last 3 gunshows I've been at this year averaged at least 6 at each show.
You've lost me, what do you mean remove the safety lever? The safety is standard on these like a No4, it just doesn't pass import requirements because it isn't red in the fire position. So they csk a little dip and put red paint in it. The No4 wood I'm going to cut down is on a No4 for illustration, the No5 safety isn't marked at all, as it came in decades ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearclaw
---------- Post added at 02:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 PM ----------
The forend is a cut down No5 forend, done for reasons I cant see for the life of me. I hear there are production dates up to 12/47, so 10/47 is pretty late.Quote:
Originally Posted by dieppe42