Rare Skeleton (Sectionalised) Lee Enfield No4 MK1 Rifle

[Claven2]

@Son: What were the circumstances of those deacts? I'm assuming it's due to the volume of Lithgow SMLE's in Australia and the legal limits on how many a person can own?

[Son]

@Son: What were the circumstances of those deacts? I'm assuming it's due to the volume of Lithgow SMLE's in Australia and the legal limits on how many a person can own?

Those ones are still in the D^D system. They are used as presentation pieces after being "stuffed and mounted".

[nzl1a1collector]

Thats a lovely little skeletonised rifle, unfortunately here in New Zealand it's considered a pistol (under 30 inches) and MUST be on a 'C Endorsement' (Restricted Weapons) which tends to upset the general 'Lee Enfield' collector.

[peregrinvs]

Not wanting to highjack this thread but would be gratefull for opinions as various bodies have been unable to give a clear explanation regarding status of this item.
Please scroll to the bottom of the page to view deac info.
These do not come with a UK proof house deac cert,nor do you have to be a re-enactor to buy.

Whilst I make no claims to professional expertise, it's my understanding that these exploit a legal loophole whereby if it is *made* in the factory as a deact then the regs regarding previously functional firearms rendered deactivated do not apply. I.e. it has *never* been a functional firearm in the first place. I have a vague recollection that there are a few similar 'factory deactivated' L85A1 assault rifles about that have non-welded actions.

I know Rusmilitary have been selling these for a few years and I assume that if they were doing something blatantly illegal, it would have been dealt with by now.

Happy to be corrected, etc.

Mark

[jona]

Here are 3 No. 4 Skeleton Actions. The ATF is ambivalent about the original short barrels. Sometimes they are ok, other times not ok. Replaced mine with full length barrels and saved the originals just to be safe.

[Brit plumber]

I take it you like FALs and SLRs then! Nice No4 Skeleton.

[Peter Laidler]

And a Mk1/2 at the bottom too. I never saw a Mk2 skeletonised as they were all pretty new when the programme started in ernest but I suppose that there must be a couple out there. Have seen two ex T rifles skeletonised and have seen plenty of all marks DP'd including, once again, a former T rifle.

Just as a matter of academic interest Jona, would the BATF/legal situation re barrel lengths change if you simply slot milled the short barrel for its full length? I have to say, the full length skn rifle does look good

[Brit plumber]

Here are 3 No. 4 Skeleton Actions. The ATF is ambivalent about the original short barrels. Sometimes they are ok, other times not ok. Replaced mine with full length barrels and saved the originals just to be safe.

Jona, whats the name of the type of board you use to display your items on. I'm after similar but cant find a name to search for. Cheers, Chris.

[jrhead75]

Jona, whats the name of the type of board you use to display your items on. I'm after similar but cant find a name to search for. Cheers, Chris.

Over here it's called pegboard.

[jona]

And a Mk1/2 at the bottom too. I never saw a Mk2 skeletonised as they were all pretty new when the programme started in ernest but I suppose that there must be a couple out there. Have seen two ex T rifles skeletonised and have seen plenty of all marks DP'd including, once again, a former T rifle.

Just as a matter of academic interest Jona, would the BATF/legal situation re barrel lengths change if you simply slot milled the short barrel for its full length? I have to say, the full length skn rifle does look good

The BATFE(forgot the "E" above) seems to make its own rules as it goes along. Friend of mine has a number of the SKNs with the short barrels and the BATFE has passed all of them. The the regulation still applies about short barrels. They CAN allow for SKNs, BUT they don't HAVE too. So you can see my problem, and one of the problems we have here in the U.S.A. The same Quandary would apply with a full length cut in the barrel. The actual spec is that the gun be able to fire 1(one) round. Whether or not that would be safe or practical, has nothing to do with it. The Mk 2 skeleton was converted from a Mk 1/2. Perhaps it was considered less valuable than a true Mk 2, also the block immediately below the trigger pin is cracked, so rather than repair the block, the rifle was skeletonized.

Brit plumber: Jrhead75 is spot on, here it is called pegboard. Can be acquired at any lumber yard or home supply in 4' by 6' sheets. If not called that in your area, it is masonite with holes drilled in it every inch. There are special hooks made to be used with it, or, if your are real penurious, you can make them from wire coat hangers. I use both types.