Strange Enforcer

[Alan de Enfield]

Today came across a strange Enforcer action.

The action is marked up all correctly (serial number 706), still wrapped in waxed paper and has a label on it stating "DO NOT USE"

What's strange is that it is a Longbranch action (not an Enfield action), it has an 'action hung' trigger (ie Mark 2) but it has the cut-out slot in the bolt tramway for the bolt head. It does not have the spring loaded 'button' just in front of the charger bridge. If I remember correctly that should make it a Mk1*

So were RSAF Enfield looking to make No4 Mk1/3 Longbranch actions into Enforcers ?

Apparently only two Longbranch action Enforcers are known to exist - can anyone confirm or deny this ?

Information

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[neal455]

Mine is different as well but not too that extent !!

[Peter Laidler]

Surely, the action you have is a No4 Mk1/3. The hung trigger converts it FROM a Mk1* TO a Mk1/3.

On that basis, I should imagine that they specified DO NOT USE so that the system maintained a single type of Mk1's/1*'s. A mixed fleet would consist of Mk1's/1*'s. Mk1/2's and 1/3's and all the duplication of spares etc that that entails

A mixed fleet of weaponry (such as Brens and L4's which was quite common for many many years and SA80 A1's and 2's) isn't a good idea in the Army. Just think how it'd confuse the Police...............

We also had mixed fleets of No32 Mk2, Mk2/1 and 3 telescopes too. What a pain! And don't mention Mk5 Sten gun butts. You could have bucketsfull of bits but not enough of the RIGHT bits!

[Alan de Enfield]

Surely, the action you have is a No4 Mk1/3. The hung trigger converts it FROM a Mk1* TO a Mk1/3.

On that basis, I should imagine that they specified DO NOT USE so that the system maintained a single type of Mk1's/1*'s. A mixed fleet would consist of Mk1's/1*'s. Mk1/2's and 1/3's and all the duplication of spares etc that that entails

A mixed fleet of weaponry (such as Brens and L4's which was quite common for many many years and SA80 A1's and 2's) isn't a good idea in the Army. Just think how it'd confuse the Police...............

We also had mixed fleets of No32 Mk2, Mk2/1 and 3 telescopes too. What a pain! And don't mention Mk5 Sten gun butts. You could have bucketsfull of bits but not enough of the RIGHT bits!

I did make reference to a No4 Mk1/3 in the original posting.
Was it not RSAF Enfield that were converting MK1 / 1* to Mk1/2 & Mk1/3. I dont think Longbranch were doing the conversions where they ?
Why they would be messing about with a 1943 Longbranch action, to make an Enforcer surely it would be doing themselves out of business.

All of the Enforcers I've seen or know of are built on Enfield Mk2 actions.

[Thunderbox]

Can you post some photos of the action?

Hard to see why Enfield would use a /3 action - would have thought that the bolt rail cut-out wouldn't fit with the customer specification & expectation.

[Alan de Enfield]

Can you post some photos of the action?

Hard to see why Enfield would use a /3 action - would have thought that the bolt rail cut-out wouldn't fit with the customer specification & expectation.

Its with an RFD but I'll see what I can get from him.

[Peter Laidler]

I've confused the issue. The point I'm making is that (presumably) the reason they didn't want a Mk1/3 action is that they wanted all the Enforcers built on Mk1/2 or 2 actions. That's just my thoughts on how they think..... having thought like they think for many many years!

They wouldn't be putting themselves out of business because the Enforcer actions were all used/2nd hand in any case. The only NEW new actions (bodies as we call 'em) were those in MoS store that were left over from Fazakerley production and used for the 'new build' L39.

They had considered using these new Fazakerley Mk2 bodies to 'new build' the L42 but the cost was prohibitive and expertise was no longer available.

Many tons of the old Fazakerley and other ROF closures large, secure and heavy equipment were stored at a huge MoS and later Home Office store at a place called Steventon, moved there when the equally huge Ordnance Depot at Didcot closed in the 70's

[rhodders]

Now you lot are totally confusing me, my L39 clone is built on a long branch 1943 No4 Mk 1* with the bolt relese on the slider. The confusing thing is that perhaps, as it has an action hung trigger, it should have some sort of FTR info on it but is doesn't. Why not.

rhodders

[Alan de Enfield]

Apologies for the quality of the pictures but you can clearly (?) see there is no 'bolt head release button' in front of the charger bridge, you can see Enforcer on the action and the 55L serial number on the butt socket.
Still got the original rear sight as well !!!
It has the correct 19T proof marks for a 7.62
Trying to get the lighting so you can read the markings when using a cheap camera is a nightmare

[Thunderbox]

Can you photograph the number on the bolt handle (using macro setting)?

Maybe sharper photos would help, but at least four things on that action do not look "right" for an Enforcer to me.....