Any thoughts on this #4 sniper?

[superbee]

Converted to 7.62

BRITISH SNIPER, No4 MKI, M-47, 7.62 NATO, C&R OK : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

Information

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[Roger Payne]

Looks to be a genuine 43 BSA T that has had a commercial Sterling conversion fitted - or at least, the magazine anyway. The receiver has not been modified to accommodate the Sterling ejector so I don't know how well it would eject spent cases. The cheekpiece is a modern replacement. The forend is a replacement to this rifle. I would not think the '7.62mm NATO' mark indicates any formal military acceptance, even with a RFI marked bolt head. The bolt body is a replacement.

Just my thoughts......

[Seaforth72]

It is likely a shooting club conversion similar to the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA) conversions and was likely done in the 1960s. In Canada some No. 4 rifles were modified for the military target shooting teams, some for the DCRA (reportedly over 1,000 by Canadian Arsenals Ltd., successor to Long Branch) were done on Long Branch made rifles of various years and some were converted for DCRA members sending in their own No. 4 rifles for conversion by Canadian Arsenals or a gunsmith and any make may be encountered and these are called "Club Rifles"). Target shooters wanted to compete in military style competitions and the No. 4 converted to the new NATO ammunition was a way to qualify do so as the FN (L1A1, C1, C1A1 etc.) was expensive and not easily available. I saw A No. 4 Mk. I one at a gun show two days ago which had had the scope removed and the holes plugged. Oddly that rifle had no factory serial number, just a DCRA conversion number.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/philqgbr/dcra.html

http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Enfie...RA%20Rifle.htm

[Surpmil]

The struck out number on the forend is a 74L6--9 number.

Roger, what do you think about the face of that front pad? Looks larger than H&H, more like those seen on converted trials rifles?

Colin, the rifle you saw with the holes plugged, was it British or Long Branch? I have a NSN LB with the pad holes drilled 1/4" back from the usual position and a 4BA tap broken off in one hole. Whether it was just someone messing around post-war or a learning piece from wartime there is no way to tell IMO.

[Roger Payne]

Hi Rob. It does look a little on the 'tall' side for a 43 BSA but it's difficult to know if it's an effect of the angle of the photograph. Over all I think it's a genuine T that has had an 'unmilitary' conversion to 7.62mm. It would have been nice to actually handle the piece in the flesh. There's no substitute for that, as good as digital photography has become now.


I'd certainly give it house room if it came at the right price!