A nice looking No4 hunting carbine conversion

[crsoll]

Attachment 40461Attachment 40460

The main reason for the vented hand guards was initially to give the rifle some character or attitude, and attract the younger generation back to the fold. But it does let the moisture out and prevents sweating and rusting under the top wood. Still mucking around with those vents - gone from three, to two, to three and back to two small ones on the last one. One of the Lee Enfield machine gun conversions had similar venting (Charlton automatic rifle), albeit for other reasons. And so does the FN rifle (L1A1).

So the debate continues, some say three.... some say two. What do you guys think?

[browningautorifle]

I'm not sure it matters, maybe offer them at the customer's discretion. Actually, I might like to give one of those a try myself...iron sights though...

[crsoll]

Attachment 43927

So, here we have it. 18" barrel. Removed lug from flash hider (gets caught up in the scrub). This seems to work quite well. Went for the three small holes - 28mm x 10mm - Attachment 43928Attachment 43927 in this version with the hand stop, which sort of blunt-ens up the front and balances the hand stop on the butt stock. (This hand stop was actually trialed in a Long Branch experimental 'scout' sniper rifle in 1943 - so nothing new here Milsurps Knowledge Library - 1943-44 Enfield No.4 Mk1* Experimental Long Branch 'Scout' Sniper Rifle). Also working on a Pig Hunter model - 17" barrel with a shorter hand grip and two holes (photo in computer mock up only).

Comments and suggestions as always appreciated, Chris

[newbieDAN]

Three holes

[Peter Laidler]

Just one comment........ If the bayonet lug gets caught in the scrub, how come the foresight protectors don't? The bayonet lug didn't seem to affect our No5's in Malaya!

[muffett.2008]

C'mon Pete, theres no scrub in Malaya, Rubber Trees and Jungle, Mosquitos and Flies., Bad Beer and a lot of dead diggers.

[bigduke6]

Cant remember who was producing or going to produce the pistol grip stock was it Special Interest Arms ? or someone else? remember seeing the prototype few years back.

[villiers]

So it´s gotta No 4 Mk 2 trigger? Have you got pics of the bits for front band? `Tis a very neat effort!

[crsoll]

Peter, thanks for your comments. Most of the Jungle Carbines I refurbish here (do up to 20 per year) have had the bayonet lugs removed, and yes, some have the sight protectors hacked off as well. The sight protectors are rounded and do deflect the bush lawyer and scrub we get here in NZ. If we took this argument to its logical conclusion, we would definitely get rid of the bolt as well and just carry a centre punch and hammer to discharge the rifle - the number of times mine has flicked open and ejected the cartridge whilst pushing through scrub (some would cringe at the safety implications here, but when I'm in my killing zone I have one up the breach on no cock). The lug on the other hand is really quite obtrusive and will snag quite easily. These are being modified on the basis of what comes in for repair and hence the name - 'No.4 NZ Bush Carbine' (and the benefit of removing the lug off these is that we can re weld them on the real ones for restoration).

Will post more pictures later.

PS I get the pistol grip converter from Survival Arms in Australia - AUD 300-00
Other bits are imported from Numrichs USA

[Bindi2]

My No5 still has its bayonet lug in place and is used for its proper purpose when on walk about in pig country. Angry sows are .... well different they like to chew on things.
Nice rifles by the way. I understand the reasons why.