Second Enfield First No1

[Banjo1928]

Been looking for a No1 for a while I have seen several which were really beat and a couple I passed on which it turns out I was too ignorant to realize what finds they were. Saw this nice Lithgow at a local gun shop, price was right so I grabbed it. I took pictures of just about every part with a marking on it but decided not to post everything. It does seem like every piece comes from somewhere in Australia. It has no import markings that I can find. I have noticed there seems to be some interest in the date of manufacture or assembly date and the barrel date. The receiver is stamped 1942 everything else with the exception of the bolt head is marked 1943 the bolt head says BA45. The barrel looks like it is 8 43 but is very hard to read it is also marked with an R in a circle which I'm told is for replacement. Anyway, it shoots great and with the exception of a stuck slide on the rear sight works very well. I put about 80 rounds through it at the range no real issues. I will say the bolt is tighter than the one on my No4 especially on extraction. The brass cases look good after firing they don't seem bulged or stretched and I had the head space checked just seems harder to extract the spent case after firing than the No4 I don't know if this is typical.

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Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

Nice looking rifle, I'm guessing you had a good time on the range with it...

[nijalninja]

The tight extraction might be some pitting or marking inside the chamber which the brass slightly bits into upon firing and causing extra friction on extraction. Doesn't sound like a massive problem anyway. Nice rifle.

[browningautorifle]

The tight extraction might be some pitting or marking inside the chamber which the brass slightly bites into upon firing

The brass cases look good after firing

He didn't think so...

[Sunray]

Lithgow Mk III*(have one if its English cousins). Made in Australia with matching numbers. That doesn't mean you don't have to check the head space though. Hard extractions are one of the indicators of bad headspace. However, I'm assuming your check shows that to be ok. The barrel is a replacement. Has the Brit Broad Arrow. Might just be a bit tighter, but it wouldn't hurt or cost to have a close look at the chamber with a bore light. What ammo you use?
The bullet into the muzzle doesn't really apply to Enfield from anywhere. Slug the barrel. And give it a really good bath, then try the extraction again.

[Banjo1928]

I used Privi Partizan 174 grain FMJ. I apologize, I know I will get this wrong but the gun smith that checked the head space made a big deal out of using the correct head space gauge. British spec. not a common standard version but the original spec for the 303 apparently there are some that say for the 303 but are not correct. I'm pretty sure I bought one when I bought the No4. I just can't remember the exact wording he used when describing the gauge but he said the head space was good. That was all I had him do funds being limited. And yeah couldn't resist sticking a round in the barrel. I suppose it's physiological being able to see some copper even if it is meaningless. I will do a careful inspection with a good light and see if I can see any pitting. Thanks to all for the comments.

[Homer]

Just curious does the PAA number under the bolt handle match the action?

[Banjo1928]

Sorry Homer still too much of a novice to be sure. There is a number on the right rear of the action T3973. Every other number I see matches the serial number which is E 2032. Is there another place I can look for a number? Is the T3973 the PAA number?

---------- Post added at 09:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

I am now told the head space gauge I was rambling on about was part of an official British gauge set and not a SAAMI gauge.

Could I ask if the barrel is a replacement and marked with an R in a circle does that mean it was done by the military or could anyone have purchased a surplus barrel from somewhere and installed it? It is confusing to me because it seems to have several Australian or Lithgow stars on it yet it has the British broad arrow. Where did it come from?

[nijalninja]

I haven't seen that 'R' before but replacement barrels can be a tad hard to pick. Usually a replacement part as big as that will have an accompanying date stamped on the butt at least to say it was done. Barrel jobs are not overly easy if you don't have the specific tools, and any old bubba would not have been able to replace the barrel without marking it or the action up at the least. Being a Lithgow it will have lithgow stars everywhere as inspection marks and whatnot but will likely have cyphers and broad arrows just the same (They were standard across the board on any Enfield if I am not mistaken but please correct me if I am).

[browningautorifle]

I haven't seen that 'R' before but replacement barrels can be a tad hard to pick. Usually a replacement part as big as that will have an accompanying date stamped on the butt at least to say it was done.

Well, it's marked 8- '43 on the barrel and 1943 on the butt...and the socket shows 1942. That would indicate what you're saying...