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Restoring a no.4 mk1, and obtained an unissued beech stock set. In fitting, I find the rear hand guard is both short and low, by almost 1/8” in each dimension. Length of the hand guard is 10 15/16”. Front hand guard aligns just fine. It’s a bit too much to try shimming with cork, etc.
Are there different rear stock bands or hand guards that need to be matched up, or did I just get an off sized one?
Thanks for your input.
A few pictures would be helpful ...
If you assemble the rifle with the top wood in position, we might be able to identify the issue easier for you.
I don’t see the *advanced* button referenced in the tutorial on how to add pictures. I’m using an iPad. Any hints on how to add a picture? I’ll add links for now.
Shared album - rob murray - Google Photos
Shared album - rob murray - Google Photos
Shared album - rob murray - Google Photos
I suggest you have the wrong rear handguard band for that rife for one thing...as for the rest, a full picture showing how they lie in place would help. The tutorial must be workable, I managed.
Here's OPs pics... Try the "Go advanced" button on the bottom of the reply screen, it takes you to the area you need for posting pics. Then the paper clip at the top...
If the guard is not under size (poor manufacturing or shrinkage due to poor storage conditions) is it possible, as BAR alluded to, that there is a problem with the handguard retaining ring? The metal could be split under the wood & have opened out a little, or could it even be the wrong type fitted by someone in error, such as one off a P'14?
I don't have a pile of rear guards & a measuring stick in front of me at the minute, but I suppose the first thing is to determine the overall length of correctly fitting handguards.....
If no one has come to the OP's rescue in the meantime when I get back home later I'll measure a few.
The rear hand guard retaining ring was with the sporterized rifle on purchase, even though there was no rear upper hand guard. I think kits original, I can’t imagine why it would have been switched out. It’s not broken or obviously bent in any way. The new rear upper hand guard was bought as part of a set sold as a no4 mk1 set, and the forward upper hand guard fits fine, lines up fore and aft and side to side. The rear guard is short fore and aft against the new forestock, and the placement of the retaining ring seems the same in the old sporterized stock and the new full wood stock.
Anyone who can offer measurements would be very helpful, as I don’t want to order a bunch of parts without knowing what it is I’m actually looking for!
I do not have an *advanced* button on my screen, perhaps because I’m using an iPad. I’ll try to fire up a PC and see if that helps.
Thanks all for your assistance!
The rear handguard should be 10 15/16" from front to rear so there's nothing wrong with it. My money's on Roger's reply and that's a P'14 handguard ring. Get a correct No.4 rear handguard ring and it should be good to go.
Measured my Long Branch this morning. It's 10.5" from one barrel band to the retaining ring without the flanges that hold it on. That's 7/16" for both end flanges.
So it's either from an undersized set(which is unlikely) or it is a P-14 hand guard. Where'd you buy the thing? If it came from the U.S., they think "Enfield" means P-14/17.
Yes, I just measured a few NOS guards & concur with Brian & the OP's measurements. There's nothing wrong with the handguard, at least not in length, & probably not at all.
I took a moment to photograph a P'14 & a No4 handguard retaining ring alongside each other. You can see the No4 version is slightly smaller in diameter. My money's with Brian's on that.
If the OP wants to drop me a PM with his address I'll send him a correct retaining ring in the post.
Sorry it's a lousy photo - done in haste - but it's good enough to illustrate the point.
Nice one Roger, another great example of our excellent membership....
Thanks so much for the offer, I will take you up on that! PM sent.
I can’t imagine how it got the wrong ring on it, but that does appear to be the problem. It’s so hard to know what’s wrong when something doesn’t fit and you only have a single example before you. Thanks to all forum members who jumped in to help me out.
Look on the existing oversized handguard ring. It’ll have an “E”, “R”, or “W” stamped on it which is Eddystone, Remington or Winchester. Save it for your next P’14 project!