Help an Enfield Newbie get started with first rifle?

[Thunderbox]

A rifle isn't going to blow up, just because its ZF'd....

Interesting thats its got a "0" bolt head. If the headspace is ok on a "0", then that makes it very strange to be condemned......

[Brit plumber]

Is it worth the risk when theres thousands of them out there? As mentioned earlier in the thread, these are collectable items for some, so I'd leave it at that.

[RJW NZ]

I'm just glad Allred checked here first before putting a round down the chamber.

Agreed, kudo's to Allred ...

[Peter Laidler]

That's a red herring Thunderbox because it might well HAVE a 0 bolthead, but it might NEED a size 10!

[Son]

That's a red herring Thunderbox because it might well HAVE a 0 bolthead, but it might NEED a size 10!

And that may not even be the problem... mine has a 1 bolthead and headspaces good.

[Peter Laidler]

Stretched bodies, gauged using the special BOLT, Inspectors, bowed at the rear bodies and soft locking shoulders tested with the old Izod impact hardness tester were another critical failure that ZF'd many rifles.

[Son]

Allred, I hear you may be getting some replies on another forum concerning your rifle. The ZF marking was never applied to action bodies- only the butt. The reason for this was the entire rifle was to be scrapped (due to the receiver fault) sent to a place where they were stored to be either destroyed or used to make DP rifles for future orders. If scrapped, they would be stripped and any parts that gauged within spec would be returned to the spare parts system tagged as second hand parts. In doing this, in the case of the butt- they would have had the ZF marking removed before being cleared for re-use. Capt Laidler mentions the process in one of his posts discussing the exact things being brought up "over there".
The thought that the problem was something other than the receiver is also wrong. The butt is not the problem, it was just the best place to put a clear marking! If it had been throat erosion the barrel would have been changed, if the headspace was out, but the receiver ok, the bolt would have been tested and changed or the barrel would have been changed. Only a serious fault with the receiver brought about the ZF marking, some more of which Peter has listed directly above this post.
There chances of a gunsmith identifying what brought about the ZF is remote. Without the experience, the books and the tooling which was only available to the senior inspector, he will not have any idea. It might headspace ok as mine does, but still bear the mark. It may have been proof fired before export and survived a commercial proof test, but was that the second last shot before it fails? I'll bet you never hear of any that might have failed the commercial proof test-

[Allred]

Thanks to Son for his difinitive answer, in his last post, to my last remaining question:

"Why was receiver not marked ZF".

The private seller is reluctant take it back for a refund, so that avenue is not forthcoming. I am not out a huge amount of money, just the disppointment at having hoped to buy a good shooting Enfield, only to find it is not. Darn! Guess I'll have to keep looking and buy again, and then decide what to do with this "museum piece".

[Peter Laidler]

Where do you mark the body with big painted letters saying ZF for all to see? There isn't anywhere. The butt is the obvious place for all to see. Hence we also mark DP rifles with a wide band and DP in distinct lettering - on the butt

[Nickjc]

Thanks to Son for his difinitive answer, in his last post, to my last remaining question:

"Why was receiver not marked ZF".

The private seller is reluctant take it back for a refund, so that avenue is not forthcoming. I am not out a huge amount of money, just the disppointment at having hoped to buy a good shooting Enfield, only to find it is not. Darn! Guess I'll have to keep looking and buy again, and then decide what to do with this "museum piece".

*IF* the price is right I would NOT mind having a TRUE ** ZF ** No4 in my collection......................

Also who is the seller he needs to be held accountable for his sale...however caveat emptor.... I am in the US as well....