Front barrel band screw threads on a No.4 Mk1.

[Bruce McAskill]

Gentlemen, Can someone tell me if the threads in a front barrel band for a No.4 Savage are different from a barrel band made in the UK? The screws I have start but then seem to come to a stop well before bottoming out and I do not want to mess up the threads in the band or the screws. TIA.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Saying that the screws bind indicate a fault with the band. It could be that the screw head is fouling in the recessed hole in the band. Just machine a tad off the diameter of the screw head

[Bruce McAskill]

It actually fits in the recess of the band quite well. Just won't screw in more then say one thread before it starts to lock up and it's no where near being in. That is why I was asking if the threads were different on a Savage made band.

And another question. I have a brass butt plate but it is small on the stock and one of the butt screws will not fit it. I am guessing there are different sizes for the butt plates and which one would be correct on a Savae Butt.

[Simon P]

It actually fits in the recess of the band quite well. Just won't screw in more then say one thread before it starts to lock up and it's no where near being in. That is why I was asking if the threads were different on a Savage made band

You might have a screw from the SMLE barrel band or some one has crossed threaded the screw at some time. The parts are so cheap just buy a replacement, if you are seriously in to Enfields buy the correct BA tap & die then just clean up the threads.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The other problem is that of alignment.

If the one-piece band has been distorted a little, the threaded side may not be co-axial with the side with the head seat. The one-piece No4 bands suffer from this misalignment quite commonly.

According to the information posted by the Enfield Apprentices Association, the No4 band screw is a 2BA, the one on a SMLE is an "Enfield Special"; 0.1875" x 33TPI, Enfield form. They are CLOSE, but NOT the same!

Interestingly enough, in the dying days of the SMLE in Oz service, there was an allowance to run a BA tap into the Enfield thread and use a BA screw: crude but effective. L1A1s, being "Imperialised" from the original Metric, are full of BA and BSF screws. I suspect that the problem was that, the proper screws are meant to be staked in place, hence the hollow found in the end of the threaded shank of new screws. This staking MUST be cut away, using a suitable drill bit, BEFORE attempting to remove it. Failure to do this will ensure the destruction of the thread in the band itself. This screw would be removed EVERY time the rifle went in for a technical inspection/examination or needed work on the stocks, sights etc.

[Peter Laidler]

Our EMER's had a big list of old screw threads in different bits of kit that could be re-tapped to a standard size including the BA screws mentioned by Bruce. There were also some wierd mickey mouse sizes in the Webley Signal pistols too