Happened upon an interesting No4 last weekend.

[Maxwell Smart]

Now, for the very last time, please, someone out there please tell me what is going to happen to his eye when some gulliable clown shoots it.

It will get hurt to a certain degree....

[Peter Laidler]

You're dead right Max! I now ask those that are seriously (as opposed to those just having a laugh or a wind-up.......) saying that this is for real and not some pictorial fairy story this question. Do you think that Lithgow or Enfield wouldn't have considered this important feature while they were cobbling this up in the dark? Go on......... serious question that deserves an answer?

Are there still believers in fairy stories out there...........

[aussietomcatter]

So I suppose the mounting for the scope, a perfect mirror image, was also made by a fairy..

[bigduke6]

After having a few lemons come my way, one detailed on this forum SMLE mounted troop rifle ,

The first thing that struck me was (and a few have commented on it) why use early 1900 scope technology on a 1940,s rifle when the 1940's scope technology was available, not only that if it was an original 4T then it just doesn't make sense to remove the pads and reinstall some mount base's ?????

Engraving, well I,m no expert on engraving in fact I don't know much, but if I had a pantograph machine with the correct stencils, then a few hours practice on scrap metal I,m sure I could knock up a host of elaborate engraved rifles .....

Anything trials or experimental the Engineering is and would be to a professional standard, look at the first Sten guns they even had a bit of walnut on them......

This rifle to me is like having a Land Rover 90 and sticking a set of Model T Ford wheels on....

[Peter Laidler]

Hurrah, the message is getting through.............. They're home made ATCatter............ They might be good in themselves but for heavens sake, listen to a bit of the bleedin' obvious straight talkin' from someone who learned in his three years in Oz that if you want straight talkin', ask a bleedin' Australian. THEY might be good in themselves, as we know from the P'14's et al BUT IN THIS EXAMPLE THEY ARE CRAP. NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND, LET ALONE A BLOODY FACTORY WOULD MAKE UP A SNIPER RIFLE THAT YOU CAN'T SHOOT WITHOUT GETTING AN EYE-FULL....., LET ALONE SNIPE WITH

Reading this thread, I just wish that I could up-sticks and come to Oz - as a used-car salesman.................

[Ridolpho]

Regarding brit plumbers comments about this being a former No. 4T, should not the front screw hole for the rear pad be visible on the close-up side body shot? That circular mark just behind the receiver ring also resembles stamps placed by Maltby after FTR (I know because I found one UNDER THE PAD on my first fake "T"). Is this a real "T"?

Ridolpho

[Peter Laidler]

Ridolpho is another who's got the picture........... You're right of course ridolpho, it's a total duffer.

[Brit plumber]

Regarding brit plumbers comments about this being a former No. 4T, should not the front screw hole for the rear pad be visible on the close-up side body shot? That circular mark just behind the receiver ring also resembles stamps placed by Maltby after FTR (I know because I found one UNDER THE PAD on my first fake "T"). Is this a real "T"?

Ridolpho

Comparing it to a photo of an action Sans mounts, you could well be correct as the mark I thought was a screw hole filled in, is a little out of place and indeed a hole for the rear pad screw should be there.

I'm beginning to think that Son bought this 'Knowing' it was made up and wanted it for parts for another project. I'm guessing that a 7.62mm Barrel would be of use for a project and the scope will be worth quite a bit or suitable for a SMLE.

[Maxwell Smart]

It seems to me that at no stage has Son actually said that he thought this was genuine; he did say that a bit of a discussion might be in order - we certainly seem to have got that.

To me, not all of the markings ring true either, but maybe some are correct, and others added later?

The rifle does have some most interesting features - the magazine for example. I'd sure like to see if/how well that works.

On the basis of "buying the rifle and not the story", for the right price the gun would be a useful bit of gear, particularly fitted with modern optics and a cheek rest.

[tbonesmith]

That barrel looks for all the world to me to be a Lithgow heavy profile 7.62 No4 barrel, and those scopes were all over the place here years ago and the full bore community had stacks of them. The rifle has been a range/full bore rifle, because that hole in the wrist is for fitting a parker hale 5A rear sight or a central plate for No1Mk3. All I'm saying is that I don't immediately discount that it was put together at Lithgow. All those parts were here and available and No32's were not in any quantity.

On the point of machine/pantograph numbering, the serial numbers for scopes on the LithgowHTs were all hand engraved with a scratch awl.

...and I completely agree about the eye relief of the scope rendering it thoroughly impractical for use... Interesting anyway.