L39, L42ish

[harlton]

Hello Fellow Enfield Nuts,
I purchased A sporterized Enfield Rifle in almost new condition, with the usual stuff done, and usual stuff missing. No handgaurd, sights etc, the front sight was still on, but the section of barrel where the bayonet lugs should be I thought was missing, and the barrel has been re-crowned, so it appears as the factory did it.
The rifle markings else where have been removed and or obscured, but the ones that are clear show a stamped number of 648, E1 or EI has then been added to the front of it and 7 tagged on to the rear, in electro-pencil to read EI6487 or E16487 now in full, the rest of the rifle is marked the same in electro-pencil. The rifle is a 1955 Fazerkly FTR No4 Mark 1/2, which I found under what looked like that later matt black finish.
All seemed very normal, I grabbed a light colored handgaurd off of ebay and then discovered the thing will not fit as the barrel is to heavy, it's necked down fairly steeply just before the front sight, full length is 23 & 3/4inches. The bottom Fore-stock is cutoff right where an envoy would be, but corners rounded slightly and painted black. The gun is a 303, all other parts are as the shown in the parts list I've just down loaded, thanks.
I purchased this rifle with the idea of just putting a rear sight on it and flipping it, I'm now really interested in fixing it up and seeing how it shoots. I'm not sure what this gun is. The heavy barrel has thrown me, it's all factory marked, this is not added parts. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I've posted this appeal in one other spot about L39, L42's handgaurd's, in the hope someone can let me know what this is. Thanks Ian

Information

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[Thunderbox]

Post some decent pictures, and we might be able to deduce what you have there.

Sounds like someone's project target rifle, rather than a factory model.

[Peter Laidler]

To be absolutely honest, I read your thread after I'd come back in after a few beers at sons birthday bash and didn't understand it then. In fact I still don't understand the thread (or the son to a lesser extent.........) now that I'm sober so thanks to TBox for slightly enlightening me!

We can help you Harlton but you'll have to try a better description, ask some straight questions and add some descriptive photos

[jmoore]

I've posted this appeal in one other spot about L39, L42's handgaurd's, in the hope someone can let me know what this is.

On the top left corner of the L-E forum index page to the individual threads is a small dark colored box that reads:

"+ Post New Thread"

Click on that box and start your own! Much better than piggy-backing on someone else's thread, especially when it is a new subject that's only related by firearm type.

ETA: Or... Our grand mysterious wizard of the forums will split it off himself!

[harlton]

Hi All,
Sorry for putting it in to many of the wrong places, I am not much of a forum user and could not find out how to delete it.
A bit lost with this, on what, if anything to call it, So I tagged it on to what it resembles the most.
One thing that is for certain it isn't is someone's project, It's all factory and looks very much like the L39,L42, rifles in question. Honestly, I don't think it was cut down as the blueing and muzzle are perfect.
The barrel has no steady rest mark on it, but it isn't as long. Serial # is IE6487, for sure, as I found another spot which is fully stamped, not half electro-pencil added to.
The Barrel other than being shorter has no discernible differences, other than the lacking steady rest guide, compared to the barrels I've seen pictures of.
The receiver end of barrel has same shape and Knox form, the diameter is flush with, equal in dia to that of the receiver. No step down like on a normal No4, where the guard ring sit's.
Front sight and muzzle are as the L42A1, no scope has ever been fitted. It had no rear sights, at all when I bought it for $100.
It has a normal stock wood, No4 mk2. Butt is light walnut with beech inleted pieces. Heavy No4 type, forestock that is fully floated. Shaped just like the one on the envoy rifle, fig 11 page 17, Stratton Vol 2, except the guy has painted the end gloss black.
I got this rifle for nothing basically, I'm probably going to keep it, and shoot the hell out of it. I have a TZ47 sight doing nothing, and have been busy with my die grinder making the wood fit, the envoy/enforcer band I have fits well, so wood work has roughly same the dimensions
I have never heard or read of a 303 like this. the left side of the receiver has been milled flat like it was going to get scope pads or a sight, and then they never bothered.
The safety is marked M47C, original rifle was made in 1948, that has been left on below modified serial #, the rest ground off. The rifle is marked No4 MK1/2 EI6487 F55 FTR nothing out of the ordinary, except that it has a good as new heavy 23&3/4" long heavy factory barrel on it, stamped to match, and other usual stamps.
I have a copy of Skennertons original book, been thru that, and found nothing, I downloaded that free parts manual, thanks, and the parts I have match except for the barrel.
I have 3 other No4's, and a No5, this is not the same, it's much heavier, more like my A3 Springfield barrel, except for the quick narrowing(necking down) of diameter just behind the front sight, so that it can be fitted.
Maybe they made heavy barrel No4's like this, and I have not seen one, that's fine. Some idiot happened along and cut the bayonet lugs section off, and did a really good job reblueing it. Just curious, that's all.
Regards Ian

[Peter Laidler]

Just curious.......... about what? If you want to know something, you'll have to ask something! No question, no answer. What about a picture..................

[newcastle]

Pictures??????

[jmoore]

So far I can tell that the receiver was modified in 1955 to hang the trigger from the action rather than the trigger guard and the the safety was made by BSA Shirely. But not much else.

Barrel in no way seems of military origins.

If you have trouble posting photos here, at least see if you can upload them to a dedicated photo hosting site and then provide a link. (I use Photobucket, but there's plenty of others.)

[harlton]

My questions is:- I would of thought obvious, does anybody have any idea, What the hell is it, or what it was. Were there any rifles like this, produced by the factory. If someone knows what it is, What's the Correct barrel length, for whatever the hell it is, great. If you ask for a particular piece of info, I can supply it.
I understood all rifles like this were produced in 308, and that's all I find any mention of. These as I understand it had either stock length barrels, or much longer even heavier barrels with the steady rest groove. My barrel being shorter doesn't need a steady rest, so no groove. I have not seen many L series rifles, but I've come across some DCRA rifles and a couple of those were in 303. So is this a similar instance.
My other 3 No4's have slimmer barrels, none of them have a sudden increase in CSA behind the front sight,and they are all different barrels, types/makers. This barrel is on average 0.1 inches thicker over it's length, my micrometers read to .001mm, and I've been using them for over 30yrs. Behind the sight is 0.5985" , the Dia increases to 0.6455", in the space of a 1/4 of an inch, do you want the trig for the angle, or will that suffice.
I have read about No4 T's having heavier barrels, could this barrel be one of those, left over and used here, this barrel has a production date of 1953. As I've already stated the side of the receiver is milled flat, as if being prepped for pads or a target sight, which means mine will fit nicely.
The serial # seems odd, Even by UK standards of the time,it seems sad, could it be a valid #, or some others concoction. If it's a stock type serial# for a 1955 Faz No4 MK1/2(FTR), then did they have, or were some fitted with these heavier barrels. If any actually existed.
I have heard of other companies modifying these rifles at the time like CAL and EAL, this rifle has no markings like this to give it away, as one of these.
What am I curious about ? the rifle, isn't that the whole point of this website, correct if I'm wrong pls. If you have decided this is not worthy, just say so, I think there's enough info the with make, yr. type serial number, dimensions to form an idea of what it is, a photo isn't going to give you a dimension. I re-read my original post , my question was plain, even though I was not sure what particular rifle I was dealing with, I phrased it as an appeal for information to any one who had an idea. That's the main reason I tagged it on to what seems it's closest relative. I only seek help on forums when stuck, preferring to do my own research, but access is not readily available, is it.
If you have an idea what this rifle is I would appreciate knowing, but if you think I cannot live without knowing, I'll enjoy the rifle just the same, as I said just curious.
If you have some info, I've Got some some pictures. Regards Ian

[jmoore]

If you have some info, I've Got some some pictures.

Photos will do more than several pages of text IF they're clear and show good detail! Esp. markings and any other machining peculiar to the barrel and receiver body side wall.

I have never heard of HB No.4 Mk.I(T) s before. The Australian No.1 did have a heavy barrel variant, but obviously that's not what you have.

Curious, but it's doubtful it's a military variant you have.