Looking for some help with my No4

[Ridolpho]

Roger/Peter/Brian: I admit to being confused regarding original factory finishes on Rifles, No. 4. I believe I've read in the forum that Brunofix was often applied on Parkerized surfaces during FTR's- was it also applied new at one or more of the 3 British factories? In the case of the rifle in question, was this finish applied at H&H or is it as supplied by BSA with only some "touch-up" by H&H to the areas machined for pad installation? I wouldn't imagine a "Less scope T" would be subjected to an FTR? Any comments would be useful as I don't seem to find much in print about the surface finishes.

On another note, invaliduser: you might consider getting the rifle useable (while searching for proper original scope/ bracket) by buying a fairly cheap aftermarket bracket and putting an old one inch Weaver in it. I did this with a replica "T" and found the Weaver infinitely preferable to the Taiwanese replica scope I eventually bought. As others have mentioned, save your money to put towards a real set.

Ridolpho

[Peter Laidler]

No confusion Ridolpho. Brunofixing was a quick fix method used by H&H only to blacken in where the surface was otherwise damaged during the conversion.

A scope less T is like a taxi without a taxi sign. It's just another car - or rifle! It wouldn't have been used and therefore not subject to FTR in my opinion. Suffice it to say, we NEVER saw such a beast in service. The nearest we ever saw was old worn out No4T's that were relegated to DP spec and occasionally the odd skeletonised SKN shortie rifle, (padless of course).

By the time the huge post-war FTR programmes commenced, phosphating and painting was the standard.

I'd disagree with Ridolpho re getting the rifle useable. It's already eminently useable, surely! Save your cheap repro bracket/scope money and put it towards the real McCoy. When you've got it, send the rifle, scope and bracket to someone who knows what he's doing and get it set up properly and it'll serve you well and rocket in value.

While any old bracket might FIT, in terms of a No4T, and contrary to what those who know better keep telling me, FIT ain't the same as FIT PROPERLY, Just my view

[Brian Dick]

Yep, no offense intended to anyone but save up for a real bracket and original scope. Your rifle is well worth the investment and set up properly, will serve you well for a lifetime.

[Ridolpho]

Peter: No argument from me! The cheap bracket wasn't even crudely collimated to my replica. I did have a lot of educational fun collimating the bracket to the rifle bore after carefully reading your various articles and book on the subject. With a lot of elbow grease (and filing only on the bracket) I was able to get a reasonable collimation which the Weaver handles a little better than an original or replica No. 32. If invaliduser were to try this I would caution him not to touch the pads on the rifle period- leave as is for an expert to fit your real bracket to when you get one. And yes, the rifle is useable as is unless the owner dislikes shooting through the peep sight.

Ridolpho

[Badger]

Although yours is marked as mfg by BSA, check the MKL and read this article by Advisory Panel member Lance, along with 165 pic photo montage to compare components:

1942 No.4 Mk1*(T) Savage Sniper Rifle (less scope)

The Transit Chest for "T.Less Telescope" was used when building and for storage of these partially completed snipers.

Regards,
Doug

[invaliduser]

I'm open to purchasing the real deal scope if it comes up
There is one on ebay right now but it's a 1945 scope. Would I be looking for a 1944 to go with my gun?

Since my rifle never had a scope it really wouldn't matter if the scope didn't match.

When you say have it sent off to someone that can put it together for me, do you have a recommendation?

[Roger Payne]

As you say, your rifle was never fitted with a scope during its service career, so in some respects it doesn't really matter, so long as the fit of the bracket to pads is true. 1944 rifles are rather nice in that all UK produced models of No32 were fitted to them; a few had late Mk1 scopes (the scope manufacturing company William Watson was bombed by the Luftwaffe so was late in changing over from Mk1 to Mk2 scopes - hence you do see 1944 dated Mk1's produced by them), many had Mk2's, a few Mk2/1's & many had Mk3's. So, you have a pretty wide choice!

ATB.

[Peter Laidler]

DRP has answered the suitability question so if you want a 1943 Mk2/1(W) with bracket and lens caps contact me. But as for fitting correctly, I'd suggest Brian at BDL but no doubt there will be others who say they can