The L42 and 39 Fore-ends (By Peter Laidler)

[Badger]

With thanks to Advisory Panel member Peter Laidler, the second part of two excellent new articles, has been added to the Technical Articles for Milsurp Collectors and Re-loaders (click here).

The L42 and 39 Fore-ends (By Peter Laidler) (click here)

Or, as Peter describes it … (How to put matters right!)

This is the second installment of two excellent related articles. It's accompanied by his own detailed photo montage and provides a step-by-step description, as Peter says "will take one of the bodged and split original fore-ends and show you how to do a proper, old time REME Armourers repair."

Article Extract .....

The wood patch and fore-end glued and the wood adhesive rubbed in then cramped tight, end to end and top to bottom as shown here. Don’t be mislead by your dad if he tells you that this modern woodworking adhesive is rubbish compared with the old hot animal bone glue he used in his day. The fact is that modern adhesives are FAR superior!


(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Peter's first installment in this series of articles titled "The fore-end and handguards of the L42" (click here), provides a armourer's inside technical look at the No.4(T) to L42 conversion program, undertaken in several tranches at Enfield between 1970 and 1981.

Regards,
Badger

Information

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[Son]

It's all well and good for armourers to apply the "disposable" tag to parts on the weapons of today- most are just that- disposable. The stocking up of a rifle with wood isn't a task to be taken lightly. It amazes me the lengths that were went to, and the skills involved that you've demonstrated here.
Thanks for another informative piece.

A couple of questions, if I may... Did you take much care in colour matching repairs? Was the original part usually stripped of it's finish first, or just oiled on completion?

Cheers,
Brad.

[Claven2]

Another Great article - thanks again! Son, judging from Mr. Laidler's pics, I would say alot of the repairs must have been left to "weather in" or whatever. If I were a betting man, I'd bet they just hand-rubbed on some BLO and then quickly put the rifle back into service. A few months on issue and a repair would all but disappear given the care a troopie was required to provide to his/her rifle.