Short enfields

[sdh1911]

I've seen some pictures lately of what looked like a shortened L.E. #4, was this a bad pic or is there such a beast? I've also been flapping gums with a buddy of mine and he claims to have seen a shortened version of the Aussie Lithgow, is this fact or fiction. If it is indeed fact would anyone have any information on them, B.R.-SDH

Information

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[Claven2]

There were carbine versions of the Lithgow, but they were experimental. Son has a photo of a real one in his post here called "something you don't see everyday"

The carbine version of the No.4 is the No.5 jungle carbine. There was no "tanker" No.4 - if you see one, it's a fantasy piece.

[sdh1911]

I believe that may have been the pic that got me thinking. Did the experimental have barrels that protruded in the same fashion as the Mk 4's did? the picture I'm thinking about had a protruding barrel and what looked small horizontal grooves for grasping. All in all very impressive looking. I guess chances are a bit slim of finding one?, hum, I wonder what platform they used and how they may have been marked? Might make a great project-SDH

PS Sorry if I a little off today a little pain in the back has had me up off my feet for a few days, getting old mate

[Son]

The rifle you may be thinking of is the Lithgow "Shortened Lightened" No1 MkIII*. 100 of these were done in 1944 after the senior armourers were tasked with making a shortened version of the rifle for future use. Several varying examples were handmade, then two of these had a few of each made as prototypes, then the selected type were made for appraisal. They were serialled "XP 1" to XP 100". The No6 "XP" rifles were made after this, numbered from "XP 101" to "XP 294".


Here's a pic of the Shortened Lightened... also see posting here somewhere from "wheaty" for another pic.....

[Rapidrob]

I built a "carbine" out of a No.I Mk.III*, 1918 that had a rough life. I got the rifle in part of a trade. The last 6" of barrel were so worn and rusty that the rifling was no longer present. The chamber was extreamly rough and pitted . I took the action to work and Magnafluxed the action for any flaws in the receiver or barrel. I chucked the worn action in a test jig and test fired a few rounds. The chamber was toast for sure. The bullet tumbled in flight. Enfield replacement barrels are no longer common here in the states so what to do?
I cut the barrel to 16.5" to stay leagal and then some, then I rechambered the barrels chamber to 7.62x54R. The bolt needed to legnthend to compensate for the slightly thinner Russian cartridge. I went to a bolt head slightly longer. I placed the action into the test jig at work and attatched a pizo pressure cell to the chamber ring to test for pressure. At no time did pressures on 6 types of ammo exceed 38,000 psi. This pressure is well with in what the original rifle could withstand. The amount of metal removed from the chamber is very slight. You can hand ream the chamber if you needed to. Most of the bores of these well worn and shot rifles are larger than the .311 Russan bullet diameter. In fact,most of the 7.62x54R ammo being inported is not even .311. The Enfield Rifles bore is .312 avg. Presure will never be a problem. I mounted the front sight off of a Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifle to compensate for the sight diff with the blade mounted onto the barrel alone. This little carbine is three feet long to the inch. Very handy to shoulder and fire. The 10 shot mag is now a 9 shot due to the slightly larger diameter cartridge. Recoil is very light. Every one who has shot this carbine cant beleave how light the felt recoil is. On the down side, the blast and fireball are impressive to say the least. Is it accurate? you bet it is. This lead slinger can and has struck a 600 meter gong several times from the bench. I fired brass reloadable?, I'd say yes, but with surplus ammo so cheap, why bother. This little carbine would be just the ticket for a heavy brush/deer hunt.
I have since done the same thing to a No4 MkI rifle also.Same thing on this rifle. The chamber had a very bad gouge into the walls that caused extracting a .303 casing almost impossiable. I would not "buba" a rifle in firing order. I have 35 bucks U.S tied up in this little carbine.