Lee-Enfield No. 4 lower band installation problem & a tip for upper band.

[Seaforth72]

LOWER BAND PROBLEM

When reinstalling the lower band on a nearly mint early No. 4, the band was so springy and stiff that the two lug ends would not come together easily to allow the bolt to line up (with the the sling swivel on the bolt.) The bolt chewed up the threads. I was very careful to not damage the wood or metal in the vice (vise) and used padding. I used a proper gunsmithing screwdriver of the right size. I tried wedging just the band closed in the vice. No luck. I was conscious that too much pressure on the screwdriver could cause slippage and a nasty gash in my other hand (so I wore a heavy work glove on that hand), or worse, it could cause a gash in the wood or blued metal. Note this band came off of this particular rifle so I know that it fits.

The very next morning a friend dropped by the gun show, pulled out a plastic bag with a lower band and screw. Different manufacturer but he had the exact same problem on a No. 4 of his!

The EME manuals do not mention a special technique. After fore-end has been attached (section 51),
"REPLACING THE HANDGUARDS
58. Place the front and rear handguards in position on the barrel, spring the lower band round them and round the fore-end, with the lugs downward, position the front sling swivel between the lugs, and replace and tighten the lower band screw." (Ref: EO 30-65FC-2 RCAF 24 OCT 51)
[Not mentioned by the above: The screw comes in from the left side of the rifle. and the swivel angles towards the butt.]

Other than grabbing another band out of the parts bin, is there an armourer's trick to squeezing the lower band's lugs together in a way that will not damage the wood or metal and also leave room to have the screwdriver access the slot for turning?

UPPER BAND TIP
I did discover a little trick for reinstalling the upper non-hinged band as I hated the idea of scratching the metal. I unscrewed to foresight guard and slid it off. I wedged the two lug ends of the stiff upper band open a little bit using the wide blade screwdriver that I use to remove my butt stock bolts. It then slid on easily and gently. Screwdriver blade sides were each resting against the lugs of the band. You do not have to do this, but it is an option to reduce scratches.

Information

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[5thBatt]

All i can offer is.....undo but dont try to get the lower band off over the hand guards, undo the upper band & remove hand guards first, that way you dont need to spread the lower band so much, you should be able to slide it up towards the muzzle.

[Hal O'Peridol]

I use a pair of snap ring pliers with a bit of electrician's tape on the ends. Perfect.

I have a pair of these, 6 bucks.

Attachment 59352

[Hal O'Peridol]

double tap

[Seaspriter]

the band was so springy and stiff that the two lug ends would not come together easily to allow the bolt to line up (with the the sling swivel on the bolt.)

Had the same vexing problem with an early Savage Enfield.

My solution was 1) put a piece of tape on the both sides of the middle of the band (to prevent abrasion) then 2) use a C-Clamp on the middle of the band, screwing it down just enough for the bolt to catch the threaded side of the band.

[Brian Dick]

A C clamp and two small pieces of leather is all I use. The milled bands can be a bit of a pain but if you use snap ring pliers to remove them carefully and the leather and C clamp to line them up for the screw, it's usually easy.