My new to me 1948 No.4 MK1

[SlayerNut]

I recently got an Enfield No.4 MK1 (F) (more for shooting purposes rather than collector). As far as I can see all the #'s match and none are force matched. The stock has been cut down about 3 inches or so at the end. All I need is the front top hand gaurd and the lower hand gaurd to put it back to it's original configuration. I only paid $150 for it, my question is, would it make it worth much more if I did the replacement or just keep it like it is and not worry about it?

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[bearhunter]

You need a whole different fore stock and another hand guard. In the US, there are several sources for those parts. Such as Numerich or maybe Century International. From what I can see of US prices on these, you would be just as far ahead to leave it as is and buy a complete rifle.

Maybe contact Peter Laidler or one of the other gurus from the UK about that shortened fore stock. There is something familiar about it.

For another thing, whoever cut it down, from the little I can see from the pics, it was done by someone that knew exactly how to do it properly. All of the metal end caps are in place, as is the retaining band.

Maybe it's some sort of verifiable experimental piece???? More than likely not but ?????????????

[SlayerNut]

I finished the restoration about a month ago, just haven't gotten around to taking pics until now. I found an entire stock set for it on GunBroker for under $50 shipped, so I decided to go ahead and restore it. I used the fore end stock and front handgaurd from the set I got off of GB, and used the original buck stock and rear handgaurd. I stripped everything down to bare wood and stained it with Minwax dark walnut, then put two coats of tung oil on it. I think it came out pretty good.

[Paul S.]

It does look much better.

Curiousity compels me to ask if the magazine feeds well with what appears to be a rather large dent in the left side.

[SlayerNut]

It does look much better.

Curiousity compels me to ask if the magazine feeds well with what appears to be a rather large dent in the left side.

Suprisingly it does feed without any issues. If it was forced matched or non-matching I would just get another one (the #'s on all the metal are matching and not forced matched) , but being it's the original mag and feeds properly I decided to keep it on there.

[Peter Laidler]

We had a magazine 'dolly' or mandril for removing dents that was in regular use. The same shaped mandril was also used for stamping the serial number along the base of the magazine. You can tell when a butcher has stamped it because he didn't use the mandril and the numbers sink in deep.

[A square 10]

nice job , she looks much better , congrats on a fine restoration ,