Enfield No.4 MkIII T Sniper Rifle

[Hal O'Peridol]

I suppose that with the telescopic sight that you really don't need a front sight anyway...

[jmoore]

Thanks Geordie. I don't want to stick my neck out - some good close ups of the pads with the bracket removed from the rifle would have been nice, but I suspect it could be a real T that's been butchered. But please don't anyone buy it on my say so!

ATB

That would be my guess also. The bracket is nice. The rifle itself is "ruint" as a collector. Might be salvagable as a shooter, though, IF the owner can stomach the nasty markings on the receiver side wall. Would not seem advisable to either reduce thickness nor do any welding in that load transferring area.

[Peter Laidler]

Just linish it all clear and re-engrave it to L42 spec Problem solved

[Brian Dick]

I think it WAS an original "T". Pardon me while I puke.

[muffett.2008]

You can always fill those extra's with soft solder and use a blacking solution, but I guess you would always know.

[Ridolpho]

On the photo showing the inside of the action the holes for the pad attachment screws are extremely tough to see- almost as if protruding ends were ground down flush with the surface of the body. Is that typical? Given all the experts concluding this to have been a real "T", if it were for sale in Canada I'd probably try to buy it and do as muffett suggests, with solder.

Ridolpho

[Roger Payne]

Ridolpho,
I think the fact that the ends of the front pad screws are almost imperceptible is an indication of the workmanship that went into fitting them. Shame about the rifle's subsequent history........

ATB

[Ridolpho]

Roger: Yes, indeed, mighty fine workmanship. Do you see many like that? I would imagine that as pads are refitted through the life of a "T" (with new screws) it would be somewhat unusual. This one, of course, has just one stake-mark on each screw head. This was an interesting thread and useful for "wannabee" No.4T owners like myself.

Ridolpho

[jmoore]

The British pads and screws are typically fitted to a higher visual standard than the Canadian front pads, but I don't think there's any difference in functionality. Usually LB examples will have sloppier solder work than the typical English example. Reworked or not. The screw ends even on resoldered pads should be well dressed down as the screws are overly long (slightly) when installed. The Suncorite finish, if present, further hides the screw ends.

Oh, and a gentle reminder as to why you should always replace the front pad screws when a resolder job is required:

[Roger Payne]

Ridolpho,
Just like he said! In fact, I would add that the visual appearance of rear pad screws as well on Canadian set up rifles is different to on British rifles. The screw heads seem smaller & there is a definite space round the tops of the screws (ie. the countersink on the pad is relatively over size for the screw head). On British fitted rear pads the screw edges merge almost imperceptibly with the rear pad itself. They were obviously proud originally, & taken down flush in the finishing process. I guess by using the Canadian method it saves this job, but doesn't look quite so neat.

ATB.