Help Needed with Recent Gun Show Purchase

[jbrid]

Here are a few pictures, as requested. Sorry for the delay -- I've been fighting with Photobucket for a while now -- think I've finally got it figured out.


Thanks again to all for their help.







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Jim.

[bradtx]

Jim, That's what my rifle looked like, but I didn't use the front sight protector.

Brad

[jbrid]

Brad, thanks for the comments and the help. I plan to just shoot it and enjoy it --- only problem is that it has been too hot and humid here (I'm on the south side of Houston, about half way between downtown Houston and Galveston) to go to the range.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim

[Amatikulu]

jbird,

Having looked at your pictures I can confirm a few things:
1. It was originally made at maltby in 1942 and underwent a Factory Thorough Repair (FTR) in 1954 at the Royal Ordnance Factory (Fazakerley) ROF (F) when it was also converted to a Mark 1/2 (trigger hung from receiver).

In appearance, the "FR" on the butt stock has been associated with Indian Military service and is believed to mean "field repair"

The cut barrel and the shortened magazine are almost certainly civilian conversions. The barrel for asthetics or to affect a recrown

The magazine conversion is to allow the rifle to comply with hunting regulations in most states where 5 shots is max.

You should be able to find a magazine for around $35 at a gun show (at least thats the price in Florida) and a barrel should cost you around $50.

The difficult part is removing a No.4's barrel - they're on tight!

[jbrid]

Thanks for your help and the additional information on the possible Indian Military servcie. This was an impulse buy at a recent gun show, and if nothing else, has taught me to be more careful with my purchases. I'll enjoy shooting it for now and if I can find a replacement barrell at a good price, it will be one more project for me to take on.

At the last Houston area gun show I went too, only one vendor had Enfield magazines and he was asking $50 for them - more than I was willing to pay.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim

[louthepou]

Hi again Jim,

Are you in the States? There are sources of No4 mags in the US which sell them for quite less than $50.

Have you tried her out yet?

[Jim K]

FR is Indian, and is the equivalent of the British FTR.

Jim

[jbrid]

I'm in the Houston area. I figure my best bet for a magazine at a reasonable price is the HGCA show in October. Haven't made it to the range yet ... it has been too hot and humid here to do much of anything.

Jim

[jbrid]

Any guess as to when the rifle was sent to India? I guess one possiblity is that the rifle saw service in England &/or Europe during WWII, went to India post-war and underwent a re-arsenaling there, returned to England and underwent FTR and upgrade to the Mark 2 configuration in 1954, and then came to the US in the late 50's early 60's. I realize that there is no way to really know, but would like you thoughts on the possible history of the rifle.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim

[jbrid]

Louthepou, I finally had a chance to get to the range in the last week. Couldn't keep this one on the paper ... I don't think it was me or the ammo, as I didn't have the same problem with the other two Enfields I shot that day. After taking a closer look at the barrel, I don't think it was ever re-crowned after being shortend. I'll take it to my local gunsmith in a week or so and get his opinion on it.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim