No. 4 - not for restoration!

[Patrick Chadwick]

I am normally not in favor of preserving dirt and mucky deposits on old rifles with the lazy excuse "it's part of its history". But in this case, the present condition of the rifle really is part of its history.

The first photo shows normal No. 4 in a glass case. Below it is a fossilized No. 4 recovered from the seabed off the Normandy coast.



One could doubt that it is a rifle at all, but the 2nd photo shows (centre, about 1/3 up from the bottom edge) the characteristic curve of the vestigial pistol-grip on an Enfield buttstock.



This extraordinary exhibit can be found in the Bayeux Museum of the Battle of Normany, a couple of hundred yards from the British Memorial Cemetery in Bayeux.

Information

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[22SqnRAE]

Let's hope the original owner is still watching over us.

[Seaforth72]

A No.1 Mk.III in similar condition was (and may still be) on display in the museum in Dieppe about 10 years ago. This one had been found in the ocean offshore from the Aug.19 1942 invasion beaches.

[Peter Laidler]

There is/was a similar but identifiable No1 rifle at Warminster found in 6 feet of water off Dunkirk after the storms of 2004 or so. The marking disc showed 1IG - Irish Guards

[30Three]

We have a similar No1 rifle on display in our clubhouse. It was found at low tide on a Dunkirk beach. Apparently just a small part visible above the sand.
Attachment 84553

[mike16]

so... that linseed oil on the wood does seem to work

[mrclark303]

Quite a few of the Normandy Museums have similar examples.

They are very interesting pieces.