Enfield No4 in .410 - any details??

[Alan de Enfield]

Just as an 'add-on' my local gunshop ( a few weeks ago) had a No4: 410 calbre for sale but didnt notice any particular markings.
It did NOT have the magazine well welded up, so as far as the Police are concerned it should be a Firearm (FAC needed) but it was being sold as a shotgun (SGC needed)

This thread inspired me to go-get-it (particularly as John Sukey would rip his back pocket off getting to his cheque book, and for someone of Scottish ancestory thats unlikely I know)
So for £150 ($210 US) I bought it home.

Lateish Savage 93C14xx

No markings to say 410 except UK proof on the Knox

[Peter Laidler]

What you say about the nonsensical UK proof is ironic. It's already been proofed for .303" and to truly comply with the rules (that they seem to add to as they go along.....) it should be RE-proofed in .410 ....., when it's already been proofed for the higher standard! Just where is the sense in that?

Good value Al just for the receiver......... and having that means you can have ten of them, and bolts, strikers etc etc as 'shotgun parts'............

[303 Collector]

About 2 years ago a load of BSA commercial SMLE's came onto the market. In the same shipment were several BSA factory converted .410 Lee Metfords which I acquired. All have full length woodwork and their original 303 magazines. The barrels have been replaced with a proper .410 barrel the same length as the original and are not the military barrel bored out.
I believe these shotguns and rifles were part of a consignment sent to Bahrain in the 1930's. I have often seen No4's and SMLE's in .410 but never Enfield and Metford long rifles converted in this way.
Has anyone seen anything similar or was this a conversion just for this contract?

[Oatmeal Savage]

Do you have a photo you could post?

Thanks

I have not seen a No.4 converted to .410. but I do have a No.1 Mark III* that was converted to 2 1/2 - .410. One like it was carried by my Great Uncle when he guarded an Internment Camp in Alta. He bought it, when he was no longer required, for $11.00 so he told me.

this gun does not have the filled mag but still has the spring and carrier. and is marked (electric pencilled) on the stock band " .410- 2 1/2 " and stamped .410 on the top of the action and the barrel. How many or when it was converted, I have no idea, nor does the Military Museum in England.

[winnipeg toymaker]

I cannot figure how to load pics on this site. If any member is interested in seeing the markings on my Enfield .410. I can send to an Email addy.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

WT was kind enough to share some pics.

[louthepou]

Hey these look familiar

[winnipeg toymaker]

Yup Lou.....they are your babies. With time, they are looking better in the blonde colour dept.. The .303 shoots great and have yet to try the shotty. Thanks again for the wonderful job you did. Many at the range had to handle and shoot the gun.

[gj.atkins]

The LE Nos 4s were bored out to .410, in the UK during the 60s, at the time KENYA got it independance as literary thousands of them were shiped back here, as military surplus. The Gun trade could not think what to do with them all. Some bright spark suggested the only way to get rid of them was to change them to shotguns so any one could buy them just with a shot gun certificate, no FAC required. All the ex -WW2 soldiers bought them as wall pieces for the pricely sum of £7.50p. They were bloodly useless shotguns.

[winnipeg toymaker]

the No.1 Enfield shotty I hunted with that belonged to my Uncle Bill, was great for partridge and rabbit and each year we got many meals with the old girl. Not very effective for distance but sure heavy to carry.