Another No. 4 Mk. I (T) match-up - 1943 BSA SN AN7177

The basic action for rifle 1943 BSA No. 4 MK. I (T) serial number AN7177 is for sale 2020-02-07 on GUNBROKER.COM at WWII British No4 Mk1* Enfield Sniper Rifle Action - Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com : 856121517 It has the bolt matching the body, but it is missing the butt assembly, backsight assembly, barrel, hand guards, fore-end and bands. It has the M47 (for BSA Shirley), "TR", and "S" marks. There is NO "T" mark. The seller is rothsteyr in Rupert, Idaho, 83350.

Normally the lack of the "T" would suggest that it was a No. 4 Mk. I (T. LESS TELESCOPE) though those are usually early Stevens-Savage rifles or late war British made rifles. I this case the telescope bracket numbered to this action showed up three years ago.

The bracket was up for sale on eBay.com by funstuff4sale11 in Meridian, Idaho. Auction 162676541370 September 19, 2017. It was made by Dalglish, marked "N92" and numbered to rifle AN7177. It had the clamps numbered D101 and D102.

So ... who has the bracket now? It would be nice to see the bracket and action mated up in a restoration.

By posting the information here, it should ensure that a restorer does not try to falsely match a scope to this set by numbering a butt. On the other hand, the matching butt, scope and scope case are most likely in Southern Idaho if they survive. Meridian and Rupert are about 173 miles apart in southern Idaho.

Probably one of the last of the rifles to go through the conversion system before the body side wall T was religiously applied....

From some records it appears that by late '43 only a few thousand T's had been converted by H&H. It seems fair to say that RSAF Enfield were actually much quicker with their 1400 conversions of the trials No4 Mk.I's which seems to have taken about 12-18 months IIRC.

Hello,
I found this forum as I was looking for a No4 Mk1 project and I found one. I'm the guy that bought AN7177. I have owned a few Enfields in the past including a couple No4's and a non import No2 Mk4 (which is one of the family heirlooms).
I was really excited to find this thread talking about this particular rifle as I will restore it. I tried to locate the auction mentioned above on the scope bracket but could not find it on ebay.
Any assistance is appreciated with this project, thank you!

Welcome to the forum. You've taken on a fascinating challenge! Please do keep us posted on developments.

Best.

Seaforth72 has provided you the name of the eBay seller. You could try and message this seller and tell him on the Auction ID and selling date and if he can forward your contact details to the person who the one was who bought it back then.

Here ist this seller on eBay: funstuff4sale11 on eBay

I'm thinking the same thing, I talked to him earlier and he didn't remember it at first. Trying to get contact info from him now who he sold it to.

I'm still searching for the scope mount for this rifle. I emailed the guy who sold it multiple times and he was not able to help (well it was three years ago).
I finally found the pictures of the mount on the internet and posted them here in hopes someone will recognize it.....and want to part with it. Maybe my chances in obtaining it have increased because I just purchased a new one from Roger!

Attachment 107262Attachment 107263Attachment 107264Attachment 107265

More abused than used.

I'd gladly give it house room.........although I've got enough restoration projects for several lifetimes, let alone one.:)

The guy I bough it from said when he got it someone had tried to carve a hunting scene on the buttstock, had glued (yes, really) some type of hunting sight on the barrel and did some other "improvements" as well. What is amazing, is the previous owners did not mess with the receiver, scope mount brackets, or drill any extra holes or cut off the rear sight mounting brackets. The scope disappeared somewhere in Idaho who knows how long ago.

I have been gathering barrels, parts, manuals, books, tools, advice, and everything else I can get my hands on. I would love to locate the original scope bracket, although I have procured a suitable replacement for it (Thanks Roger).

I have a new South African stamped walnut forend for it, but I am actively looking around for a new or really nice Sykes, if anyone has one they want to part with. ;)

Greatly appreciated is the help I have received from this group. As soon as paypal customer service returns to work and my account gets fixed, I'm gonna send Badger some money!

Yes, that is very surprising; the pads are usually the first to go. Probably Bubba ruined the barrel with corrosive ammo too.

The scope and bracket are bound to turn up sooner or later.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CoatiMundi

I have a new South African stamped walnut forend for it, but I am actively looking around for a new or really nice Sykes, if anyone has one they want to part with. ;)

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I recently bought and refinished one of these--it's drying in my workshop now. Mine is a very early one, with the low wood, but looks to be NOS. I searched for months before these popped up, no telling when/where others might come from. I don't think they realize how much they could charge.

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=11390&idcategory=63

Best,
Trog

Here's a live link... https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...&idcategory=63

Thanks all, I ordered and received one of the forends linked above. The markings are not the same as illustrated on their website. Mine has South African acceptance stamps and the cap is marked "CE 1967". I am out of town and have been unable to inspect it personally yet, but the pictures I have been sent by family look really good. Liberty Tree has been a good source for parts and their customer service has been fine. In the mean time, I am still looking for a Sykes Ltd. forend just like the one illustrated in the above link. :) They do not have any more of those available.

I have a few of the CE 1967 forends, front handguards,
I have never seen a CE 1967 buttstock
This wood closely matches Canadian wood, so I have made some matching new wood sets
Who made it?

Attachment 107594Attachment 107595
I do not know who made it yet, but it was advertised by Liberty Tree as British walnut. I have attached a couple of not so great pictures of a South African stamp and one that I cannot identify yet.
I have a brand new Sykes buttstock and front handguard and a new John Curtis rear handguard for this project.

Maybe a sharp eyed someone can correctly identify the stamps for me. Sorry about the picture quality.