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Yep, though the ones I've done to date have just had the screw heads cut off & peened over, or have been soft soldered, so nothing too sticky to deal with. I derive a great deal of satisfaction rebuilding this type of rifle...........dragging them back from the precipice, as it were!
ATB
Don't be dismayed. I bought one in worse condition -- a sporterized skeleton with only an original butt stock, stripped receiver (like yours), and cut-down barrel. I bought a second sacrificial No.4 Mk2 skeleton with a good barrel but with a butchered receiver that had the charger bridge cut off. Total preliminary investment -- about $200.
After assessing all the restoration options, I sent the skeleton sniper and the sacrificial Mk2 to our stalwart sniper restoration expert in the US -- Brian Dick. (I just don't have the machine shop rigs necessary for cutting and remounting barrels, precision taps to drill out the old telescope mounting holes, etc.)
I told Brian I trust him -- do whatever you feel is necessary to make it whole. Brian has the package of skeletons now. (You might consider the same option.)
To me it's worth spending the money to make such a rare gun whole again. Had the gun been an average Enfield it wouldn't be worth it and I wouldn't have bought it.
Of course, now I now have a cut down barrel and a butchered receiver left over. I'm open to ideas on what to do with the left over parts. My first inclination is to use them to create a "tanker carbine," which has a somewhat limited market among those that want a pickup truck gun. Anybody have a better idea for leftovers? (I can't fathom the thought of scrapping Enfield parts, even if Bubba got to them first. )
Criterion is supposed to be close to making a run of new, replacement barrels. Lothar Walther does do runs of #4Mk1 replacement barrels. Certainly worth reading the articles Mr Laidler has submitted to this site, on setting the rifle up correctly, bedding of the action and barrel, etc. Best of luck with reviving your find.
Bubba in Redcliff (NOT the guy who butchers rifles!:confused::madsmile:"
Ok heres my plan drill and easy out screws.get nos bolt.I already have the wood.I have a nice spare barrel from numrich,but those Criterion barrels sound nice. Whats the best type of receiver wrench to get.I have a couple of rifles to practice on before I remove the chopped barrel.I think the hardest part of this build for me will be fitting the fore stock. Ill use this chopped barrel for a jungle carbine build which i've been collecting parts for.
Breeching up advice from me is DON'T unless you've done it a few times before. For heavens sake, just send this one to some experienced in doing it........ please!
We get to the Two Countries divided by a common language now. Or UNcommon language. Re your thread 12 seaspriter, you refer to SKELETONISED rifles. Now we all are wondering how a skeletonised rifle can be a) resurrected and b) how the barrel can be perfect. Because sketonised rifles all have chopped/cut-away bodies so you can see the working parts and shortened barrels. As in skeleton action. Is/does the term 'skeleton action' mean something else in the US?
The UK Military skeleton action rifles are made from worn out rifles that have been extensively cut away with red outlined sectioned areas. Am I missing something here?
If you do not intend on salvaging the barrel, then I'd suggest using a part off tool to cut a groove just forward of the receiver ring to make unbreeching much less torque-y. (Not a certain thing, but rather common after having been together all these years.) If you do intend on doing it yourself, that is.
If the barrel that's on it isn't too bad internally, I think I would consider sleeving a front section. May actually be easier than fitting another barrel, but it still needs to come off the action body.
I have breeched up 5 fn fals two date how different is it on the enfield
I took your thread (14) to intimate that you were new to the breeching up game and intended to practice on a couple of scrappers first. If you're not new to it, all's well. BUT........ With experience, we used to ignore the issue breeching up kit and alignment gauge......... anyway
How so very true our language across the pond can be a bit confusing. I'm in Canada as I write this, and even Canadian English is not the same as British English.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
What I meant by "skeletonized" is that the receiver was stripped of all it's beef -- bolt, trigger guard, trigger, sear, safety, etc. -- but otherwise structurally sound. By "butchered" I meant the sacrificial Mk 2's receiver was drilled for a scope (not too disconcerting) but the charger bridge had been cut/ground off to accommodate a modern scope, leaving the receiver functional, but certainly not restorable. I can see from your comments that your connotation of "skeleton" implies "severe damage," while my connotation is simply "devoid of functional parts."
Thanks for the query about terms. As authors we both spend time trying to communicate effectively using the written word -- I love your expectation of precision -- the high standard of expression is deeply appreciated. (guess this is easier to understand than the definition of "ball ammo" from our other post. )
Ah, yes, got that. We have a special 'skeletonised' training rifle. I'm sure someone will put a photo of one up on the forum. You'll see why the confusion arose. The odd thing is that the skeletonised (we called them SKN's from the serial number prefixes) and the DP's is that they were made up from all sorts of No4 rifles including ex trials rifles (only seen an authentic photo of one), and sniper rifles (seen 2 and have 1).