Lee-Enfield Mk1 No.4 rifle picture thread

[No4Mk1(T)]

No foul. I often call the Rifle, U.S. Model 1917, the P-17 because some folks get wrapped around the axle about it. Didn't mean to come off that way, either. Doesn't pay to be wrapped to tight.

I love things like:
Mk1 No4
NoIV Mk1
Mk4No1
Even as I type this I’m counting to 10 and taking deep breaths. As you say “Doesn't pay to be wrapped to tight.”

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.

[rondog]

Does anyone have a good, close-up shot of a #4 receiver? I need to see how much gap is under the rear sight assembly, and I need a good, clear shot viewed from the right side. It was mentioned to me that my #5 is supposed to have had metal milled off under the rear sight, and there's supposed to be a larger gap there than under a #4 rear sight.

In other words, is this enough gap here for a "real" #5, or is this a #4 that's been faked into a #5? If it's a fake, someone went to a LOT of trouble, near as I can tell.

[Peter Laidler]

As I understand it Rondog, the fackers.... Ooops, .... I mean the fakers, don't as a rule horizontally mill out a gap in the butt socket between the rear trigger guard screw ears.

Be advised that ALL No5 bodies started their lives as finished, 'in the white' but un hardened No4 bodies and were THEN converted/lightened. So some slight differences will be encountered. The ones that I have noticed are up-cut milling and chattery old down-cut milling to a slip of the grinder. Most prominently where the cut-off block has been skimmed off. Some looked like they'd been cut off with a hot-axe

[rondog]

As I understand it Rondog, the fackers.... Ooops, .... I mean the fakers, don't as a rule horizontally mill out a gap in the butt socket between the rear trigger guard screw ears.

Be advised that ALL No5 bodies started their lives as finished, 'in the white' but un hardened No4 bodies and were THEN converted/lightened. So some slight differences will be encountered. The ones that I have noticed are up-cut milling and chattery old down-cut milling to a slip of the grinder. Most prominently where the cut-off block has been skimmed off. Some looked like they'd been cut off with a hot-axe

Thanks Peter! I've started another thread so as not to hijack this one further, would you look at these photos and tell me if it looks right to you? Thanks!

Authentic? My No.5 carbine gets naked.... - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[Peter Laidler]

I did look and comment on the other thread Ron. The awful state of the machining used to eliminate the cut-off block is amply highlighted by yours. Yep, seen hundreds of 'em. Typical of a Fazakerley No5! Apologies if you're from Liverpool.

Has anyone got a Fazakerley No5 with a ZZ---- serial number? Or a SA56 (or another date)-Axxxx serial number? We had racks of No5's awaiting the reallocation of lost numbers. Usually serial numbers that have been lost due to the shallow engraving on the bodyside that just disappears when you show it the bead blasting booth.

The butt plate screws were another pain in the bottom as they'd simply rust together for good after 10 minutes in the monsoons.

I could write a book about the trials and tribulations of No5 rifles

[Amatikulu]

P17

That's all I've ever called it, and most of the world know exactly what it means.

It's like calling a No.5 Mark 1 a Jungle Carbine - and I'm OK with that too

[Brit plumber]

Has anyone ever been shown a Nic/Cyp conversion and told its a genuine No5? I was, and fell for it and bought it, but decided after realising, and the fact I didn't pay much for it, that it made a intresting story so kept it for a number of years.

[tlvaughn]

I'm not sure if these are worthy of being in the same thread as some of the others posted, but here are my No4 MkI's, I/2, I/3, Mk2's, and a L59.

[Kent]

I'm wondering why the upper band on all your No. 4's are black. I just bought a 1942 No. 4 Mk I* Long Branch and it's upper band is unfinished stainless steel. I am new to the collecting of Enfields and I plan on learning as much as I can and collecting many more in the future. I will be posting pictures of the rifle later tomorrow. Thanks.

[limpetmine]

Stainless steel or chrome plated? Sounds like a parade rifle trim. Definitely not standard issue.

I'm wondering why the upper band on all your No. 4's are black. I just bought a 1942 No. 4 Mk I* Long Branch and it's upper band is unfinished stainless steel. I am new to the collecting of Enfields and I plan on learning as much as I can and collecting many more in the future. I will be posting pictures of the rifle later tomorrow. Thanks.