-.060 Blade, foresight on a Lee Enfield No 4 MK 2 rifle !

[Snowy Owl]

I have just checked out in the workshop I have some that are -0.45 & -0.60 they are still in the white and made by parker hale

So, these -0.45" & -0.60" blades have presumably been made in England by Parker Hale. Does that mean that they are Military - or commercial ? Or maybe there is no way to know for sure ?

[Mk VII]

They did make them for commercial sale, in a variety of widths. It's common to find these mixed in with military ones.
When P-H closed down a large quantity of finished and semi-finished sight parts were thrown on the market. I bought some.

[Thunderbox]

Commercial sight blades would not have a Broad Arrow on them, ergo some of these are military - but maybe not for the No4 rifle. I was told by a.n.other armourer (of WW2 vintage) that these for the MkV Sten. Maybe someone has a Sten EMER and can check?

Parker Hale & AJ Parker seems to have made blades from -0.60 to +0.90, as well as all sorts of blade profiles (wedge, pyramid, bead on top, etc). Their blades tend to be well finished, and blued, unlike the military items.

[Peter Laidler]

The answer to this is simple. I know a bit about Sten Guns. In fact, we still use a few occasionally There was never a -.045 or -.060 made, adopted nor authorised for the Sten Gun. Maybe PH or the others made these sizes but not for the UK Military. If they WERE, then someone quote me the B1/CR part number....................

If a No4 rifle - or a Sten gun now that I think about it - can only be zeroed by the use of such a foresight blade then it's outside the EMER spec and rectified. If it can't be rectified, then it's what we call ZF-BER

[Simon P]

List of foresight blades taken from the 1959 (with 1967 amendments) list of spares for the Rifle No.4.

They range from -0.03 up to 0.09

[Snowy Owl]

Simon P,

Very informative and helpful list. The key to the enigma.

Many thanks,

Snowy Owl

[Peter Laidler]

This complete and illustrated parts list is available from BDL in SC. A good read too and a must for any No4 owner as it covers the Mk1, Mk1/1, /2 /3 and 2.

[Simon P]

Not British & Not for the No4 rifle

The Australian parts list for the SMLE has a foresight -0.06 blade listed. The VOCAB Number is BB0654.

[Peter Laidler]

That's interesting in its own way SP because as a general rule, it was HIGHER sizes of foresight blades that you needed to zero errant No4's (I know we're talking No1's here.....). To overcome the problem, higher foresight block bands were introduced (see article wot I writ earlier.....).

Any of you wild antipodeans have any comments on the need for lower sizes of foresight blades? Anyone got a full Australian EMER/EMEI with all the amendments?

Interesting.............

[Old Lancer]

I have a 1942 (FTR 1954) faz no4 mk1/2 which I shoot regularly here in Western Australia in service rifle core matches, I use handloads, 174 fmj boattails, fireformed cases with 43.5 grains of AR2208 and a -060 foresight blade. with this combination and a six o'clock hold the rearsight corresponds perfectly ie 330 yds is dead on at 300m, 220yds is dead on at 200m and at the fully lowered position the micrometer is point of aim at 100m. IMHO Snowy owl, give the -060 a try first, you may just find the previous owner had it set up just right!