Me again (sorry) no4 read upper guard fit to rear ring

[ssj]

I have the lower forend in place, now Im fitting the upper rear wood. So should this be a tight fit in the rear band? or not very tight or loose? Right now when I place it into the band it sits up at the front end by 5mm, is this too much spring? ive fitted the mid band Ok..jsut worried it maybe too much stress and I'll crack the wood long term

Lower front wood looks Ok, its clear of the sight block though only just, 0.4mm 16thou it also sits up about 5mm off the lower wood at its front end, to much spring? These are all un-issued parts so Im expecting they need to be adjusted its by how much.

Front band cant be done up, hrmmm.

Starting to look like it should though!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

If the rear handguard springs up at the front, then you'll need to shave a tad of wood from the bottom surface so as to allow the handguard to slide snugly/tightle under the ring retaining handguard while sliding back on top of the fore-end.

Setting up a No4 rifle meant a fair bit of bench/selective/fine fitting. You should be practicing with your old parts before you start with new in my opinion - just as apprentices would do in the past, when we had apprentices that is!

I forgot to mention earlier but please, avoid AT ALL COSTS any thoughts you might have about thinning down the little lip at the rear of the lower handguard. There is no repair if it's too thin and snaps. This little lip used to get oil impregnated on the No4's and 5's and would go soft. Better to skim wood off from the handguard where it seats onto the fore-end

[ssj]

Trouble is I dont have any old wood parts as the rifle is an ex-sportster, Im de-sporterising it. I do have 2 sets of no4 upper woods so if I screw up I can start again, and at least the upper woods are easy to get on ebay. Now you say on the thinning I think I recall you or someone saying that.....after 10 hours yesterday on the lower wood I guess I was a little punch drunk....and had brain fade, thanks.

"Better to skim wood off from the handguard where it seats onto the fore-end" Ive done this a little, it didnt fit at all at first...obviously I need to do more. I do have some tough synthetic floor varnish. I find its very good at hardening wood when its soaked in. I could paint a little of this on the hidden bits to improve the strength?

[Peter Laidler]

Without seeing what you have or what you've done I 'd say that if you have skimmed the bottom edges of the handguard and it' still springs up, then skim something off the top edgtes of the fore-end. But it sounds as if there's something wrong to me.........

Hard varnish............... Look, you can do the job like an Armourer would - or do the job your way I say!