barrel No.4 Mk1 vs Mo.4 Mk2

[newcastle]

ordered a barrel from numrich for a No.4Mk1. Surprised to receive a nearly new barrel stamped F55. Are there any differences between the No.4 mk1 barrel and teh No.4 mk2 barrel at all? Did they stamp the rifle serial number on the barrel on No.4's like they did on No.1 rifles? This has obviously been on a rifle, in fact it looks like teh bayonet was put off and on numerous times but has no serial number, just the F55 and a broad arrow or two.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

There were only ever two mark/types of barrel for the whole of the No4 series. The Mk1 and the Mk2. The Mk1 came with various groove configurations but always in the same pitch. The Mk2 was a fabricated version where the large chamber section, the reinforce and knox form was shrunk on (and not too successfully shrunk on in some instances either!) and pinned. This barrel was fabricated by Accles and Pollock using an early form of hammered rifling. These barrels were all 2 groove but even this has been disputed. But I have only ever seen two groovers as per the technical instructions to Armourers.

Yopu can always tell a Mk2 barrel because try as you might, it will NEVER shine

As for some being serially numbered, well, I never serially numbered one and the EMER's never said that they had to be. The only reason for serially numbering one would be if it was taken off to be put back on again and if we took one off, it was staying off and into the scrap bin. It certainly wasn't numbered for any accounting reason because the actual rifle body was the 'master component' and the accountable part, not ever available from Ordnance stores

[Thunderbox]

Peter,

Were Mk2 barrels on unit rifles filtered out and replaced as a matter of course? They seem awfully rare these days.

[Peter Laidler]

Yes the Mk2 barrels were declared obsolete and that was effectively the end of them. I did see a few in NZ and started to set about re-barreling them but my boss, S/Sgt 'Jock' Annandale told me not to bother as they were all being withdrawn later anyway.

Unless you knew what to look for, they could be difficult to spot but the cross pins were usually visible somewhere

[newcastle]

No pins and 5 groover - so this is one the the MK.1s and I'm good to go.
Thanks Peter.