Canadian No7 chest for restoration

Hi Guys
Can anybody tell me anything about the likely history of this C No7 chest, which I am going to use for my exRN N9.

Its obviously not in its original paint. It was originally matt dull green but has been overpainted in a darker gloss green. It was not properly prepared and thus the overpaint is flaking off, quite badly in places.

The interior is painted with a blackish varnish? Or something!

Looking at various pix on this and other forums the stencilling does not mirror the original so would that give a clue to when it was repainted?

My plan is to take it to a paint store which has a computer driven paint matching service and then touch up the damage to the gloss over colour where it is badly flaked but leave the stencils as is. I'll probably "distress" it a little as with a piece of antique furniture. I may then give it a final coat of gloss clear varnish to protect the stencilling. I don't think I can do anything about the interior.

Any comments, suggestions ... anything at all really?

Eddie,
It looks to me with that stock number that it at one time housed a MK1 Number 7 /.22 calibre rifle ;)

Yep, tat's what I thought too!:rofl:

Yeah, just leave it alone.

If you leave your chest alone it will remain all original. Peeling later paint is typical. These chests are scarce in your part of the World, but fairly common in Canada.

Original C No. 7 22 MK. I rifles on the other hand are quite scarce in Canada. Most examples that turn up are rebuilt from parts. Our Government sold some of these rifles years ago before adopting the policy of not selling firearms to law-abiding citizens. They also stripped many down for parts to use on the No. 4 rifles. In the last decade or two, the Canadian Government refused to sell the C No. 7 22 Mk. I rifles to Canadians after withdrawing most of them from Cadet units. They would not even sell the parts, but instead destroyed them, except for a few rifles that went to military museums. A fair number of these transit chests however have survived and sell for between $100 to $295 each in Canada.

Stencollector (here on Milsurps.com) in Manitoba purchased some of these chests from a local surplus store and he probably still has some spares. He is extremely knowledgeable about the C No. 7 rifles. By the way, do not confuse the C No. 7 .22" with the current issue C7 5.56mm selective-fire family of rifles currently on issue.

The overpaint (normally over to the semi-gloss olive like yours is) was to get rid of the original markings before applying the Nato Stock number. Quite often they would also get the checklist number added to the box. The NSNs did not come into being until around 1960 here in Canada, so the repaints would have been after that time. They did not get the serial numbers painted on the crate....usually that was just grease pencil inside the lid.

I forget how many of those chests I bought (perhaps 30 to 50), and most were in the colour you have, although some were in the original flat/pale olive colour. Some (maybe 2 or 3) were repainted in grey.

There were also 2 similar size but taller crates in the pile......but that is another story.

The C No 7 chest I have is flat OD inside and out with a black felt strip along the top of the chest. White stenciled lettering on the front and back of the chest as follows: Chest Mk. 1 .22 in C No. 7 Rifle As far as know, it's in original condition.

I've taken a longer look at my chest. The gloss top coat is so flaky that I could brush it pff with a stiff brush so reluctantly I am going to have to completely sand it down and repaint. I've acquired new dome headed bolts, washers and nuts which exactly match the rusted out old ones and a couple of new old stock slings to remake the handles..

The sanding process has revealed that the original stencils actually read "CHEST RIFLE .22 IN LONG BRANCH" and I have an exact copy stencil on order.

Small correction if I might be so bold. The CHEST, Mk1 .22" etc etc indicates that it is a Mk1 chest for a CNo7 rifle and NOT that it is a .22" C No7 Mk1. In other words, a Mk1 CHEST as opposed to a chest for a Mk1 rifle. A simple thing but it used to confuse the unwary especially when it came to accessories or what we used to call accoutrements for the old Brens and No4's

Thanks Peter, your input is always welcome. I had always assumed it was a Mk1 chest.

I was a bit surprised when the paint came and revealed the marking on the chest which is quite different to the many variations I had seen on photos people kindly shared with me. Ive not see Long Branch mentioned before.

The chest only has the single line of stencilling repeated on both front and back. There is also a four inch high RG (or possibly PG) in deep red on the front.

Eddie