my NZ no.2 Trainer.

[arado]

This is another of my no.2". Pictures will tell story. Rifle is full match. comments invited.

Information

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[boltaction]

Interesting that it sports a Canadian rearsight. I've seen those on Canadian trainers and also on two .303 full bores I own, one of which is stamped to the Navy. They were, if memory serves me, done up by Cooey (that quintessential Canadian company) and utilize a sideplate which attaches to the ejector screw hole, and a rearsight from an M10 Ross. Yours should have a C Broad Arrow on it to denote Canadian Military acceptance.

I've never seen one of these on a NZ stamped rifle before. I know Canada sent Long Branch #4s to NZ. Did we send any trainers too? Are there any Canadian C Broads on the rifle itself? If so, it might have been a Canadian rifle sent to NZ. Alternatively, and probably more likely, someone just added one of those sights to a NZ trainer. I've shot my .22 with that sight on it and it's a hoot, as well as very accurate. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be, but I can still put 10 shots into a single ragged hole at 30 yards with my SMLE and my C#7 .22's, which is more than I can seem to do anymore with my Anschutz sighted BRNO. Gophers beware!!!

Ed

[arado]

you piqued my interest. I took more pictures. This rifle does not have a normal rear sight. it was removed.

[boltaction]

It certainly was! Not just the rearsight itself but the whole darn thing! That is one of the Canadian Cooey rearsights. Looks like the rifle was perhaps purpose built to have a special rearsight, as otherwise why would one leave the whole mount etc off? I'll bet that rifle shoot very nicely. Enjoy.

Ed

[Roy]

The most unmolested NZ No.2's I see are full No 1 Mk III config. wood, volley sights and magazine. They were done in the early 20's from pre ww1 no 1's. presumably when NZ recieved and influx of 1917-18 dated No1 Mk III*'s which were used until after ww2 when the Canadian and Savage no4's arrived. though I once saw a pic on NZers on Crete with mk IIIs. Some NZ No2s have sleeved barrels some have solid .22 barrels. You have HV on your barrel, is it sleeved? The original magazine was a no. 3 mag heavily stamped horizontally on the left hand side '.22' they must have used a block in the mag is i've not seen any deformation of the mag side in the originals. I suspect yours was rebuilt from bones (like I did mine) and recently matched up with new wood and nosecap recruits and cadets were pretty rough on the No 2s ive seen. When I got mine it was stripped of the rear sight too, so putting the Canadian rear sight would make sense for target shooting. The NZ trainers kept their military sights whilst in the service as far as I know. Good rifles for raising a few eyebrows at indoor ranges

[arado]

The barrel is sleeved, magazine stamped ".22". Nothing on this rifle is "recent". I bought it years ago thanks, Gary