No4 Butt Plate Question

[Homer]

G'day gents,

I read with interest today a post on another forum, that post WW2, rifles that were returned for inspection or repairs that had an alloy butt plate, had it changed for a brass one. Is this right? Why would they?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[ufo8mydog]

Why? to make it look pretty of course

[Peter Laidler]

A load of what the polite amongst us call 'rollocks' mazak was as good as brass when it was serviceable. Mazak was never obsolete buit simply declared obsolescent so was used until stocks were exhausted. No4's were going through Base Workshops in the 90's and were still coming out with sintered Mazak!

You could also as the other site forumer that if it was good enough for the L1A1 rifle, why wasn't it acceptable for the No4? Annanuvverfing...... Are you saying that there is another Lee Enfield forum?

[Homer]

Thanks Peter.

Its not an Enfield forum specifically but a milsurp forum. Why don't you jump in and make a comment Pete. Canadiangunnutz.

[browningautorifle]

sintered mazak

That makes it sound like it was made from a compressed powder from some kind of salvage..as if it was the left over from something else. Is that so Peter?

[Peter Laidler]

I think they were BAR! They used to snap across the narrow part of the butt trap opening and you could see the structure of the 'powder'. Also absolutelyy no give in them at all which is another sign. Can you confirm the structure JM?

[browningautorifle]

There's something on line about a relation to tungsten carbide...that would make sense as it would be a bi-product of AP cores construction.