What did ROF (F) finish the furniture on their No.4 Mk.2 Lee Enfields with ??

[enfieldman]

It is a 1954 manufacture and the furniture is a medium color Birch or Beech wood.
I know that the walnut furniture on the No.1 Mk.3 was finished with linseed oil.
Was it the same finishing techniques used??

Information

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[Brit plumber]

Knowing the way we pack firearms nowadays, they probably just put the rifles with nice new wood, straight into a vat of cosmoline!

[Edward Horton]

Below on the left is a untouched South African marked 1950 No.4 Mk.2 that appears to have boiled linseed oil applied. (higher gloss deeper finish)
On the right is a 1916 No.1 Mk.3 that went through FTR or overhaul in 1953 and has raw linseed oil applied (dull non-gloss finish)



The heating process on BLO causes the linseed oil to form long interlocking molecular chains and plasticises the oil which makes it more durable and water resistant. BLO will build up much faster on the surface of the wood and give a thicker surface finish. Raw linseed oil will soak deep into the wood and has less surface build up.

How the BLO is made and what country it is manufactured in can make a difference, the majority of American made BLO is toxic and is not actually "boiled".

NOTE: My 1950 Mk.2 was center bedded and used for target shooting and the South Africans "may" have applied the BLO over RLO. On both Enfields the finish is original and untouched since being sold out of service. Also NO official printed material has surfaced stating anything but raw linseed oil was ever used on the Enfield Rifle.

The British forum members should have more information and knowledge on what was applied on later 1950s Enfields. (Mr. Laidler)

[Peter Laidler]

Linseed ol is all that was used at the factories. They all went through a big hot vat of the stuff and were then left to drip-dry

[Surpmil]

I wonder how hot the oil was, how long it stayed hot and what chemical/physical changes if any, it underwent as a result?

[Peter Laidler]

The linseed oil tank we used was very warm to the touch. You could see the air being drawn out of the wood where the linseed was presumably being drawn in. I have to say that after my experience of just how the heat, water from the monsoons, damp and saltwater would just destroy anything less, I have the greatest admiration for just linseed oil. If it's good enough for Malaya, then it's good enough for anywhere. But those Armourers who served in the dry of Aden etc etc say that you had to rinse it out of the wood with petrol before it was acceptable there.......... They wanted everything dry

[Claven2]

Did troopies even get BLO for maintenance, or was it rlo as well?

[Peter Laidler]

Not the soldiers as a rule - but the Arms storemen used to get some just to wipe the woodwork down occasionally

[Baal]

I apply raw linseed oil to my Lee Enfields a couple times a year. Should I be heating it first? I've always just rubbed it on at room temperature.

[Peter Laidler]

NO Baal, it was heated slightly when we were immersing dozens at a time, production line fashion and letting them hang afterwards. They were going to and doing what yours ain't going to do no more! Just a room temp wipe over a couple of times a year should do for anyone