Unsporterize an Enfield No.4 Mk.1

[AFlyinfr1dge]

Does anyone have a link to or have a No4 Mk1 service manual for both field strip and full stripdown and clean?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

People actually trip over each other to get those...

[Mk VII]

Looks like a Parker-Hale 'DeLuxe'. Some people are into collecting these. Someone has filed the rear sight peep into a notch to suit his own inclinations - easily changed.



There is a Canadian bilingual manual floating around which no doubt someone can point you to.

http://www.euroarms.net/EFD/manuali/No4Mk1Arm.pdf

[Vincent]

Im going to keep it as is and find a Not-screwed-with Lee-enfeild.

You don't have to keep it as is. There is another option.

Attachment 63240

[Seaspriter]

You don't have to keep it as is. There is another option.

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....553620&thumb=1

Vincent's alternative truncates the forend and top handguard. It is referred to as a "tanker carbine." Officially there was no such designation for any No.4 Enfield. However, if you want an quasi-authentic restoration, and do not want to pay a gunsmith to put a new nose on the gun, this is a very attractive alternative. One restoration like this recently commanded a real premium on a gun auction sight. If you want to put a new nose on the muzzle, Peter Laidler spoke of how to do such a thing in a post a couple of months ago.

[Vincent]

The barrel is exactly the same length as the No.5 “Jungle Carbine” barrel. All I need now is a No.5 rear sight for my tanker.

You can also make a No.5 “Jungle Carbine” look-alike from a sporterized No.4.

[Seaspriter]

All I need now is a No.5 rear sight for my tanker.

These come up on ebay frequently from a couple of sources in the UK. I bought one for a tanker carbine I'm constructing out of the parts left over from restoring 2 other No.4 Enfields.

[Vincent]

Thank you.

I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your tanker, Seaspriter.

[Seaspriter]

There is still another option for a Parker Hale Sporterized Enfield. The following pic is from my collection. My father (WWII Vet and avid antique gun collector) referred to it as an "Officer's Target Rifle" because it had a understock forend, like his muskets crafted one or two centuries before.

Parker Hale started with a 1943 Maltby that had been FTR'd at Fazakerley shortly after the war. It has a replacement bolt (with the No.5 hollow ball) with a new Armourer's stamp that is exactly 11 numbers advanced from the receiver serial number (BG 13264 on the receiver & butt ring, and BG 13275 on the bolt -- perhaps the FTR Armourer was a little careless, as Capt. Laidler has inferred on other posts).

P/H removed the original backsight, adding a variable aperture target sight. The muzzle was nipped to remove the bayonet lugs, recrowned, foresight removed, and the signature P/H foresight was mounted (just like yours). They took a birch forend (apparently one of the Savage replacements shipped to the UK during the war -- has the "Square S" stamp on the forend nose cap) and shaved it down to make it more delicate, while also reducing the size of the forend cap from 2.3 inches (normal) to 1.9 inches. It was rebedded inside the forend from breech to muzzle in some form of brown "plastic-type" material.


It has a 5-round magazine stamped "Made in England" and the magazine follower is stamped with the "broad arrow."

Weight, unloaded with sling is exactly 8 pounds.

I'd estimate the changes were done about 1947-51, although there is no date of the P/H rework. It does carry the "England" country of origin stamp and the "BNP" (Birmingham Nitro Proof) stamp, but no importer's stamp.

I've not seen one of these in the old P/H catalogues (but I'm sure one of our forum members knows more about it than I).

Once the gun arrived in the US, someone added a Boyt sling (no date).

[Seaspriter]

Parker Hale Officer's Target Rifle??

I had a Private Message from a forum member who wanted dimensions of the Parker Hale Officer's Target Rifle to "Unsporterize" (that's not a word in the dictionary) his P/H Enfield that had the nose nipped off and the P/H foresight mounted. Here is a pick with the dimensions;