Of the 1500 No4 trials rifles converted to snipers

[jmoore]

All this time and I still don't have any good overall shots! Maybe it's time to go afield with it for a few days.

[boltaction]

I have one, listed in this thread https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=43672

It is a trials T conversion, but was then FTR'd and has a new barrel (Faz). It has an original scope mount, but not the one that was originally with the rifle, and has a "scrubbed" scope on it. Also has had a cutoff reinstalled on it (the wrong one). If I can find a decent set of post WWII Faz wood I will put it to a standard #4 configuration as suggested in the last post of my thread. So, a Trials T survivor, but modified.

Ed

[Simon P]

I wonder what is more rarer now, No4T conversions of Trials rifles or standard Trials Rifles.

[Roger Payne]

Hi Simon,
I'm speaking from memory of the 'accepted' figures; IIRC I think the total Trials rifles was about two & a half thousand, the figure for conversions being given as 1403. This would suggest a little more than half of the total production were converted to sniper configuration.

ATB

[Brian Dick]

I have one as well. Serial number A0972 built in 1933. It's a very honest and original, (well used), rifle but with mismatch telescope and bracket.

[XL39E1]

Here is the 4T Trails converted to L42 that Peter mentioned! 1933 dated, then 2 major conversions, 1st to T spec in 1941? then to L42 spec in 1971! Still with original front pad too!

Attachment 46474Attachment 46475Attachment 46476

[Frederick303]

Where does one get the correct screws for the sniper pads these days? by correct I mean the right material. here in the US of A SARCO is selling the screws, but they are some modern made cadnium plated crap, or so I am told.

[Peter Laidler]

Dunk them in acid or bead blast the cad plate off. A mild acid should shift cadmium

Battery acid will shift it in minutes - as will acaetic if my chemistry is still sound! But you'll often find that cad plate hides a brass screw!

[Lance]

Here are my two a '31 and '33. From my observations in collecting Trials No. 4's finding an non-T converted trials in much, much harder. I have been on the hunt for a long time with still no luck.....

[Peter Laidler]

That one of Lances is interesting because the original spec said something similar to '.....in recognition of its change to its telescope role, the letter T will be added to and alongside the rifle designation' And there it is.

Later of course the spec was followed and the letter T was stamped 'alongside the rifle designation' on the bodyside. This was the only time that the bodysiode was stamped. The b utt socket could be re-stamped but the body-side was always engraved. In UK service anyway!