7.62mm barrel question, possible L8?

[bigduke6]

Bought a sporterized No4 Mk2, not so long back for a parts rifle, the bore was rusted through but it had a decent body and an original 7.62mm magazine, the barrel which had not been cut down still had its bayonet lugs etc which I would of relined to .22

Further inspection when I picked it up and after a good clean of the bore it came up well, no marks on the barrel except an 8 on the knox form, also no spacer fitted so would say its not a sterling barrel, anyone any idea,s of make etc ?

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Was it cut down by less than an inch if the bayonet lugs were still present? No doubt that it was a Charnwood conversion if what you say bears out

[bigduke6]

Was it cut down by less than an inch if the bayonet lugs were still present? No doubt that it was a Charnwood conversion if what you say bears out

Peter,

Its full lengh barrel, same contour as a No4 .303, mag is an original 7.62mm (not a charnwood)

[XL39E1]

Original Enfield L8 barrels have flats on either side of the barrel by the Knox form, this was for the new breeching tools Enfield were going to use! There were other makers of 7.62mm barrels, A.J.Parker, Sterling, Delacour(Belgium) and possibly Parker Hale! All with bayonet lugs unlike the Canadian barrels without lugs

[Peter Laidler]

We could discuss this further but the 1965 series production L8's proposed to 'fill-the-gap' were going to use Belgian 'Cannons' barrels who couldn't supply the quantity or the quality. Canada could - and did but by then, India had told the UK Government, in as many words '....... No Sterlings, No 7.62mm No4's either........'

The what were called 'spanner' barrels (with two flats) were a simplified barrel that could be fitted without the need for the more complicated part of the breeching up set. The drawings exist for .303" 'spanner' barrels with breeching up washers too............

[Warren]

If the barrel is No.4 original contour with no markings of any sort and the bayonet lugs, there is a good chance it is a Canadian made barrel. I did a photo essay of the different types of barrels here some time ago and will see if I can find the photo used. The Canadian DCRA barrels did not have a bayonet lug but will be marked with 7.62 and the C with A on the muzzle. The barrels with the bayonet lugs in the white as the originally surfaced out of CA have No markings. There was also another Canadian barrel with a much heavier profile but as I have only ever seen the one I have, I don't think it was a production run. I'll have to check it as the heavy barrel has surfaced during a major clean up and finding all sorts of kit that I never knew I had....

[bigduke6]

Some pics of the barrel, and how it looked.
Last pic shows the bits ready to fit (the butt and fore-end are NOS, so will have dig out Peters instructions on fitting them).

[Thunderbox]

I've got a similar barrel, unmarked except for a ".308" stamped on the flat where yours has an "8".

I assume its a civilian trade barrel, possibly Belgian.

[Roger Payne]

I was sent two near new barrels from a friend in Canada a few years ago. They possess lugs & appear to have a radial recess machined into the back face (breeching up face). There are few markings other than a rather odd shape that looks like an asymmetrical star together with a three digit number starting with a six, in both cases. Can't remember the exact numbers but something like 639 & 642. Does this ring any bells with anyone? I hope they're Canadian as I have plans for them if they are....

ATB

[MJ1]

Interesting post. Thanks to all.

..MJ..

My .308 compared to a new 303