Chrome No.4

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Being easily distracted by shiny objects, I bought a chrome plated No.4 parade rifle and I'm curious as to who may have used these things. I'm pretty sure it's not from any U.S. veteran's organizations or such as the Century Arms import mark is stamped through the plating. These seem to have appeared on the auction sites about the same time as the latest batch of Indian DP No.1's and the rust on the few unplated parts may suggest use in a humid climate. Has anyone seen photos of far eastern troops carrying these? Comments or opinions?

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[browningautorifle]

Being Canadian Army for a long time, I've seen more than a few of this sort of thing on a plaque somewhere. Just about everything chromed and mounted at one time or another...Mind you, Sadam had a group with gold plated AKs so who knows?

[Peter Laidler]

Chromed No4's, ex Hong Kong Police. They had them until 1997. If they were anything like the Iraqi Palace Guards chromed rifles, they were dire. They looked OK from a distance - of about a mile - but any nearer and the condition was abysmal. I gave a chromed one from the Palace at Basra away last year or so. I felt that it spoiled the otherwise good name of Lee Enfields

[villiers]

German e-Gun from a deceased (but dedicated) German collector who did this to his favourite No. 4

[Patrick Chadwick]

I saw that one too. The question is: in what sort of condition is this rifle likely to be?

Patrick

[fergs]

Ive seen quite a few chromed number threes over the years especially bayonets that were used for cerimonial purposes, so why not number 4s could have been done by your defence dept for that purpose. only will tell with the stamps and a bit more investigation.
Regards
Fergs

[Peter Laidler]

The problem with chroming them was the same with copper plating the bolts and internal working parts of Brens. The copper or chrome plate, by definition, increased the diameter of the bolts by up to approx .010" and caused them to stick or just foul into the boltways. So once that were back from the chroming/plating section, they'd go straight back into the blasting cabinet, have the plating taken off and be phosphated instead! Remember all that palaver with L55 DP L4 Brens Tankie? Eventually they were only copper plated if it didn't affect the functioning of the gun. The trouble with that was that nobody at REME Inspectorate (small-arms) quite grasped that you didn't KNOW whether it was going to affect the functioning until you'd had the parts plated in the first place!

I suppose it's OK if you just want a rifle tp ponce around with on guard outside some poncy palace but out in the real world now, thank god that they've wised up to the fact that bullshixe doesn't baffle brains. Just my view as an Armourer

The only time I was ever charged with having to do anything slightly OTT (or Over The Top as we call it) in the bullshiixe department was to make 12 sets of wooden grips for SLR/L1A1 bayonets to match the wooden furnitire on the quarterguard rifles at 8 RAR for a high ranking visit by a cabinet minister on a jolly from Canberra. Then the RSM (Where are you now RSM Lee ?) asked me. Mind you, when an RSM asks you, it's just another way of being told that you will, and they'll be on my desk by Friday midday!

[Rumpelhardt]

I know that in stock car racing circles chrome plated wheels where deemed unsafe because the plating could cover cracks ore other defects that might be present or develop in the wheel. Could this not also be an issue on firearms?

[Peter Laidler]

That's a fact Rumpel. Chrome is a cover for many things. But as a rule it didn't affect weapons - at least where I used them because chrome plated shotguns, LMG's and sub machine guns didn't make tooooo many appearances in the jungle!

[Cold_Zero]

Another one for your viewing enjoyment:

Enfield MK1 1943 Long Branch parade - English Sporting Rifles


I get the feeling there will be racks of these in hell...