Mint Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk II

[Bigedac]

These photos are of a Fazakerley No, 4 Mk II built in 1954. What makes this rifle so unique (I think) is that the condition is mint and it has a target rear sight. The sight looks similar to the PH #4 but it is not exactly the same. It also has a Huber trigger for a No. 4 Mk I. There are no inspectors marks on the wood. The only marks on the wood is the serial number on the bottom of the forend between the bottom band and the muzzle. John Huber is sending me the correct trigger for this rifle. Very nice of him! I am asking you guys for help in obtaining any history of this piece and ideas as to why it has the marks (or lack thereof) as it does. I'm no expert on these but I know there are a number of experts on this forum. Thanks for your help.
Bigedac

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Your sight is definately wrong. It is from the UK Military L81 target rifle but that's the good news. The BAD news is that it is that to work on your standard No4 rifle, the backsight ears have been modified somewhat. Apart from that and the trigger - that can easily be returned to normal, it's a bog standard No4 rifle made at Fazakerley, Liverpool in England in December 1954. Albeit in mint-ish condition......, except for the backsight ears which some might say takes it from being mint

[Bigedac]

Peter,
Thanks so much for taking the time to contact me on this. I just went and compared this rifle to another I have that was built in 53 and I can find no differences on the ears at all. The sight itself has some distance on either side for windage adjustment. Would the holes in the ears have to been drilled larger? Also what about the lack of stock marks? Thanks,
Bigedac

[Brian Dick]

Unfortunately the rear sight axis pin holes have been drilled larger for the L81 rear sight screw. There will also be a hole drilled to accomodate the spring and detent for the clicks on the windage knob. The wood has been heavily stained by someone as they didn't leave the factory like that.

[eddystone3006]

Your sight is definately wrong. It is from the UK Military L81 target rifle but that's the good news. The BAD news is that it is that to work on your standard No4 rifle, the backsight ears have been modified somewhat. Apart from that and the trigger - that can easily be returned to normal, it's a bog standard No4 rifle made at Fazakerley, Liverpool in England in December 1954. Albeit in mint-ish condition......, except for the backsight ears which some might say takes it from being mint

does anyone make a sight like that that is appropriate for a n0.4 .303? I'am and american and need the ability to adjust rear windage.

[newcastle]

Errrr. Kentucky windage?? I don't recall Kentucky being a small town outside London on the A443. what you need is a parker Hale PH5C sight now that the holes for teh rear sight have been drilled out a bit. try ebay..

[Paul S.]

... I'am and american and need the ability to adjust rear windage.

Eddystone, I'm sorry mate, but I read that and instantly thought, 'What? Wind only exists in America?'

I'll be the first to say windage adjustment is a nice to have feature, but one that in reality is neither necessary nor often used in reality. The exception there is the obsessive target shooter.

I know I'm telling something you already know, but wind changes from moment to moment. It may easily blow in 3 different directions and speeds and change just as often over the course of a bullet's flight from muzzle to target. Using windage sight adjustments for it can become an exercise reminiscent of a cat chasing a dot of light one shines on the floor in an erratic pattern. The reality is that the best marksmen, target shooters, military snipers and hunters alike all use 'Kentucky windage'. True, it is a skill born of familarity and experience paid for with practice and ammunition, but a priceless skill to have.

[Bigedac]

Unfortunately the rear sight axis pin holes have been drilled larger for the L81 rear sight screw. There will also be a hole drilled to accomodate the spring and detent for the clicks on the windage knob. The wood has been heavily stained by someone as they didn't leave the factory like that.

Brian,
Thanks for your info. however, I believe you are wrong on the stain. This is not my first rodeo, I have been collecting and gunsmithing for almost 50 years (old guy!) and the wood on this one is factory. I checked it inside and out, it all matches and no sign of "billy bob." I think it is beech wood as the grain doesn't quite look like plain walnut. There has been no sanding or original finish removal. There is no stain inside the rivets either. I wish I knew the story on this one, I hope some one does. I wondered if one of the employees could have made this up for himself? The smoothness of the stock wood is perfect, again no sanding, the numbers on the bottom of the stock are not touched and there is also an F54 toward the muzzle next to the wood stock serial number. I have just recently become interested in the SMLE so I am not as knowledgeable about them. I would have to take the rear sight off of both my 1954 and 1953 rifles to check the holes for sight mounting. Maybe someday!
Bigedac

[Peter Laidler]

You can be rest assured bigedac that your rifle wasn't a lunchbox special from Fazakerley. From the moment that the last machining operation was carried out on what is called 'the master component' (the rifle body in this case), the body becomes a controlled, highly regulated and accountable item. No doubt some did escape but you can be rest assured again that it didn't escape with a serial number because that was the last operation prior to final fitting up and any loss or mysterious disappearance would have meant the factory being turned upside down. Yours is just a bog standard (almost....) last-of-the-line Fazakerley No4's. The colour of the woodwork is of no significance and late Fazakerley replacement woodwork was produced from dark wood. I still have dark late foreends (without the recess for the magazine cut-off block) on my workshop shelf

[Bigedac]

Peter,
Thanks again. I was only making a "supposition" about the "lunch box." I didn't know that they used dark wood in the latter days, heck, there is a lot I still don't know, but we're learning fast. for an ol' guy, that is!