Doomed Long Branch Sniper Reborn

[Brian Dick]

Looks like a standard military guard screw swivel to me Peter.

[Sentryduty]

I just reviewed the MKL on the LB TP rifle and unless I am missing some very tiny detail, I *think* I have same one as that rifle, however without having the two side by side, I wouldn't bet my house on it. I would wager a fiver, but not my house.

[Vincent]

I am with Peter. The screw is shorter than the ones I am used to seeing.


This is the one on my T.

Attachment 69783

[Brian Dick]

I just looked at seven No.4T's and two L42's. Some look shorter than others when installed but all are correct military variants. I think the inletting depth of the trigger guard and sanded forends may cause the illusion. The commercial ones Peter refers to are much longer and usually marked around the periphery of the barrel that holds the swivel with a manufacturer name like Parker-Hale. The military ones are either unmarked or marked with a British "Broad Arrow". At any rate, it'll have to do as I don't have any spares. He's lucky to find one at all because they are scarce on the ground. Once I refinish it with phosphate and baked Suncorite 259, it'll be perfect.

[Sentryduty]

I think I have an explanation, let me fact check and I will update.

---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ----------

Got it, the one on my rifle is installed upside down, with the flat part against the front of the guard plate and the bevel to the outside.

Just look:

Vincent:


Darren's improperly assembled parts gun with a questionable history:

[Lee Enfield]

I think I have an explanation, let me fact check and I will update.

Likely there is no split washer fitted under the swivel screw and it is bottomed out on the shaft.

[Sentryduty]

The rifle this is coming off of, does suffer from really poor fitment of the action to the stock, it can rock fore and aft even though the action and stock serials match. I am nearly certain there is no washer present either.

This whole rifle was obtained as a restoration learner rifle for me, and it has been educational already I think, even though I've done nothing more than clean and check the headspace.

[Brian Dick]

Ahhh, L.E. gets the detailed observation award again! I'd say he's correct since Darren told me the lock washer is missing. The swivel loop is installed correctly with the bevel to the outside.

[Peter Laidler]

Surely I must get a detailed knowledge award Brian - for noticing the 1/16" difference in height to start with! Incidentally, if your T is fitted with the longer commercial shank swivel screw it's a relatively simple job to machine the shoulder back a tad and cut the thread back to suit and end up with a shorter Military version.

[Lee Enfield]

Ahhh, L.E. gets the detailed observation award again! I'd say he's correct since Darren told me the lock washer is missing. The swivel loop is installed correctly with the bevel to the outside.

More "been there done that", than "detailed observation"...