FNG needs help

[Christofficer]

Hi guys sorry to bother you again.
The No. 4 that I have has suffered a trim in a past life.
Unfortunately someone tried to parkerise/sporterise/bubbarise the rifle by cutting the fore end lower furniture in half. I have sought and sourced a replacement part but it is subtly different and i need your advice.
This is what I mean:
Attachment 13353 The top bit is off the No 4 at the moment. The bottom was the hoped replacement.

Attachment 13354 This is the wrist end of the shortened furniture. It is secured with a screw that goes through from one side to the other with a crown nut on the other side. the ring I am pretty sure is actually just polished wood.

Attachment 13355 The replacement bit has what looks like a steel bracket with a brass pin that goes through from one side to the other. (sorry for the coffee affected photo again)

Attachment 13356 This is the top view of the shortened bit as opposed to the replacement part Attachment 13357.

Is this bridge bit sacrificial or is it actually for a different Mk of No. 4?
I have tried to keep this away from you for fear of showing my ignorance by checking elsewhere on the net and I have seen some with the screw type attachments and others with the bracket and brass pin type. the seem interchangeable and the sizes and dimensions are exactly the same from my "modified" to the intended replacement peice with regards to trigger guard recess and notches for safety catch, only the trigger on my rifle gets in the way of the bridge at the back of the new bit. The new furniture looks exactly like the stuff in this web page...

1 Buttplate

Again sorry, I write in this way as I am sure that there is someone else out there in the same situation as I am!

Thanks again guys.

[Beerhunter]

There isn't anything stamped on the wrist other than B.S.A&Co; given that the stock is obviously not the same as the rest of the furniture does this necessarily infer that it is commercial manufacture?

The lack of British Military markings in addition to the BSA marking suggests that it started life as a Commercial. Look for a Crown over BM mark. (Birmingham Military [calibre]) and a BSA Logo on the Knox form (forward of the number 514). You should find some other marks there as well.

[Christofficer]

Thanks Beer Hunter,
I have found a few "crown marks";
Crown over P7, Crown over GB and Crown over 27(?)
Would a serial number help? I have QB1283

[Amatikulu]

The replacement stock for your No.4 is meant for a No.4 Mark 1.

Your rifle is converted to a No.4 Mark 2 specs (No.4 Mark 1/2) which had the trigger hung from the action.

Somewhere on this site I recall Peter Laidler making a post about how you convert the Mark 1 fore stock to a Mark 2 fore stock so perhaps one of the members can post a link or you can do a search.

[Christofficer]

Thanks again for your help.
Does anyone have the link please?

[Alan de Enfield]

Conversion of a No4 Mk1 forend to a No4 Mk2 is very simple (even I have done it a couple of times and wood and I do not work well together)

Look at the two types (Mk1 & Mk2) the ONLY difference is that the rear end on the Mk1 is 'closed' whilst the Mk2 is 'open'.

Drill / grind the head off the rivet holding the tie plate on the Mk1 forend, push rivet out and remove tie plate.
Simply get a fine saw and open up the Mk1 rear-end and bingo, you have a Mk2.
You will now need to get a 'cross bolt' and once the forend is on the action slip the bolt thru the existing holes, tighten it up and the jobs done.

If you want to make a really tidy (cabinet maker / armourers) finish. Cut & glue a small piece of matching wood into the hole where the tie plate and cross rivet went (one side only), once the glue is set finish / sand patch to suit. From the other side drill a hole thru the new 'patch' to accomodate the new cross bolt. (you do it from the other side so the holes line up)
Repeat on the second side, cut & glue patch, finish / sand to suit and then drill the cross bolt hole thru from the side you first patched.

[Christofficer]

You are a champion!
Thanks to all for your help, I will let you guys get on with more important discussions. You have certainly enlightened me. Whoever said that collecting enfields was addictive sure was right.
Regards all and thanks again,

Chris