magazine cutoff

[EarlyFours]

I have a Faz built on a No.1 MkVI body. It is dated '41 on the butt socket
and '42 on the barrel, along with the serial number. The finish is rough like
the subject rifle and similar to the pictures of several other No.1 MkVI
bodied rifles I have seen on the Lee-Enfield forums. Mine, however, does not
have a magazine cutoff slot. Also, the bottom of the butt socket has the
marking SBN 8. I cannot find any marking as to the rifle type, just R O F.
Some I have seen were roughly marked No 1 MkVI. It has been machined
for the later plunger and spring rear sight.

This is the only example of a Trials body used in a Faz No. 4 Mk I rifle I have
seen reported but there are more out there to be found.

[oldhound]

Does it take a normal No4 backsight? If not, then it is made from an RSAF made receiver. Components were made in 1935(ish) and shipped to Faz for assembly. Should have an "A" suffix to the serial number. Quite rare as most were destroyed in the 1950s due to them being non-compatible as regards to spare parts.

I have one.

The cut-off is a special (which we plan to make some day). The cut off screw is unique and does not use an Enfield thread.

It does take a normal No4 backsight. Also has the A suffix to the receiver and barrel. The barrel is a two-groove which I believe were tested in 41. It is dated 42. The receiver is dated 41. Very confusing.

[oldhound]

I'm also still undecided on the action body origins. I reckon its time to pull apart the trials rifle for some "guts" pics. Hopefully, will get it done this weekend. Will also pull apart a SMLE w/ cutoff.

Anybody w/ an early Fazakerly (that has not been FTR rebuilt and covered w/ Suncorite) to dissect and take pictures? Feel free to jump in!

If the slot's not original, I'll have to call it something more sinister than "Bubba-ized"!

I have sent Surpmil more pictures of the the cut-off slot. Can not imagine it not being original. Why would anyone put it there, after the fact?

[Surpmil]

Here are the photos of the slot.

[jmoore]

When did the first Fazakerlys start coming off the line, exactly (month-wise)?

Going to the range in the morning, then will tear down the trials rifle for some comparative pics, as well as my first ever milsurp, a SMLE w/ a mag cutoff.

Another reason for the lack of a battle peep on the rear sight could be it was cut off after it was damaged- not in service but sometime afterwards. I've seen more than one horribly mangled battle peep; some were salvagable others were too crushed to save. In this case I'd just put a "correct" sight on as this part does not reflect a proper in-service configuration.

[Peter Laidler]

Club shooters who use a bolt-on telescope bracket are prone to cutting off the battlesight to clear the commercial telescope ocular lens too. Batttlesights used to get a bit of a battering when rolling around on the floor of trucks.

[Thunderbox]

Here are the photos of the slot.

Is it possible to get a clear photo directly side-on to the cut-off boss?

[Peter Laidler]

If anyone wants to check or certify the originality of the cut-off slot, then the cutoff slot is directly level with the internal floor or ridge of the rifle body as shown on photos 3 and 4 above according to the drawings.

This is to coincide with the step down recess in the right side of the magazine that was never eliminated, even when the cut-off was deleted. Notice that the L42 magazine does not have a step down on the right hand side. The L42 magazine actually SITS in the body on its top edges

[oldhound]

Is it possible to get a clear photo directly side-on to the cut-off boss?

I will try to get one up this evening. Going to try and do it myself. Have intruded on Surpmil enough.

[jmoore]

Same cut as the Enfield built No4! Have a looky:





Note the shape of the front of the cut.









The rear of the cut is also the same:





No counterbore for the screw head (which is a feature of SMLEs):





More if you need 'em! I'm convinced this cutout slot is real!

ETA: You can move Oldhound's pics all the way down and compare them side to side if you work at clicking and dragging enough.