ZAMAK/MAZAK butt plactes on the #4T

[MJ1]

A question has been asked about the use of brass butt plates verse ZAMAK/mazak butt plates on the #4T war time rifles. When and why were the brass discontinued ? None of my original T rifles have the brass plate till post war and I have only seen one original T with the brass. Several obvious reasons have been put forward like war time material needs for brass to cost. What opinions can I get here ?

Thank for your viewing.

..MJ..

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[mrclark303]

I think it was simply a case of Zinc alloy being more suited to austere wartime mass production.

[Peter Laidler]

Brass was a valuable strategic material so cheaper alloy was a wartime expedient. mazak butt plates were never declared obsolete, just obsolescent so new mazak spares were issued as replacement parts well into the late 60's.

[MJ1]

Thank you Peter and mrclark303.

[RobD]

For what it's qworth, the Knowledge Library seems to indicate that Trials T's carry brass butt-plates
1933 Enfield No.4 Mk1(T) "Trials Rifle"

whereas [at least some] Savage T's carry mazak plates
https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...le-(less-scope)
as do Long Branch T's
1944 Enfield No.4 Mk1*(T) TP Sniper

So, given that the New World was blessed with an abundance of metal resources, maybe it was to do with a non-glinting butt-plate, rather than metal shortage - or am I way off beam here, Peter?

[Peter Laidler]

TRials T's weren't wartime production Rob! Yep, non glinting didn't come into the equation either because the brass butt plates were to be left to dull naturally in any case - as were the mazak ones of course. Except when we fitted and polished them as apprentices, when they had to fit perfectly and gleam!