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Legacy Member
M47C sportster recovery to T status?
Hi milsurp gurus and colleagues, I have a long relationship with Lee Enfields in various forms and calibers and just "took in" a sporterised BSA Shirley No4mk1 to restore and shoot. I hope to provide photos soon (got to work on the web hosting and links). I would apprecate a little insight and encouragement!
It has been restored and is in very nice condition - albeit sanded and clinically finished.
I zeroed in on the receiver - marked 1945, M47C with an R serial on the left wrist - along with TP at its bottom edge. Its left receiver side has been milled (removing model /mark) and has front and rear scope pads - with single peened screw heads - the receiver seems to have been blasted and reparkerised. On the right receiver side there is an S marked under the bolt head when closed. It does not have the T inspector stamp marks next to the ejector screw or rear receiver.
It does have a blackened ladder sight with the battle sight ground off. The foresight has beveled rear surfaces. The stock has the remains of S51 at the heel and 2 open screw holes in its upper edge, it does not have a scope serial behind the receiver. It is also fitted with a triangular sling swivel on the king pin.
The bolt is very clean and crisp - with blackened surfaces, a 0 coded head and is serial number matching.
It has a grey metal butt plate in VGC - I will remove this and look for factory / year marks soon to ensure it matches the receiver story.
First up is a trip to the range to check its zero and ladder sight. I am seeking a scope bracket and researching scope choices (and prices - yikes -No32!) to try that next and I am up for a replacement front end - will need a front band.
Overall I intend to invest, shoot (hopefully tighter than my Fazerkely No4mk2) and enjoy it and like minded company!
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The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to ArtioZen For This Useful Post:
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11-28-2012 10:26 PM
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If the finish is a black sort of crusty looking job on the receiver [not the rest, though] (almost like a fine wrinkle paint, but not quite), then the finish may be correct for that time period. It's also possible it did not have a scope fitted when built up. But the staking of the screws would tend to indicate that it has worn a scope at some point. Or they may have been done after it left service.
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The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to jmoore For This Useful Post:
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Welcome to the forum, I hope, and am confident that you will, find what you are after here. Good luck with the project.
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The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to tbonesmith For This Useful Post:
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Contributing Member
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The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to muffett.2008 For This Useful Post:
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It certainly sounds like you probably have an early 1945 mfr 4T. Not quite sure what you meant by 'single peened screw heads' on the pads. The front one should be held on with three instrument head 4BA screws & the rear with two countersunk 4BA's......or did you mean there is one large hole through each pad - if so those will be the 1/4" BSF holes for the scope bracket.
Please can we have some photo's? One picture speaks a thousand words.....
Thanks & welcome aboard.
ATB
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Advisory Panel
Not quite sure what you meant by 'single peened screw heads' on the pads.
Roger,
I'm going to hazard a guess he's referring to the pad screws only being staked the once.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Derrrr. Thanks Simon. I obviously hadn't got my glasses on straight when I read the post the first time!
ATB.
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Oddly enough, l1a1 breakdown hasn't been back on the forum since his post. Was looking forward to seeing this one in some detail.
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Legacy Member
Attachment 38658Attachment 38667Attachment 38666Attachment 38665Attachment 38664Attachment 38663Attachment 38662Attachment 38661Attachment 38660Attachment 38659Attachment 38668Many thanks for the warm welcome and the initial information flow! I can view these forums on break at work every day - but choose to only log on from home on free time - so my timing can be hit n miss! I have been working on the photos - will try to link some in this session (learning curve).
Thx jmoore for the description of the receiver finish - it seems to match what you outlined! This rifle really surprises me - either a really nicely worked over restored action - or original and very low useage - the bolt is very crisp and clean.
The scope pads have no to little wear or scuffing - as if a bracket has not been mounted much. I received a reproduction bracket today and it looks excellent - I am still researching and saving for a scope!
I would like to add a comb cheek piece - I have a choice of original or reproduction - but want to hit the original screw holes - I would like to avoid drilling additional holes. Any thoughts of which option to pursue?
The butt at the rear of the receiver shows a lot of light sanding marks - I hope this was not to obliterate a scope serial number!
I am looking forward to more subjects and more posts! Be good, be safe or be fast!
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The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to ArtioZen For This Useful Post:
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Initial impression? No reproduction anything goes on that rifle. Find some good forestock parts and get the forestock properly bedded. Military surplus cheekpieces are still out there, don't worry if the wood looks different than what you have- that's fairly normal. Save your pennies for a No.32 Mk.3 scope and bracket.
Brian Dick might be able to sort the refit of the forestock. PM him if he doesn't jump in soon.
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Thank You to jmoore For This Useful Post: