No. 4 Mk 2

[ssgross]

My dog gifted me a No4 Mk 2 for Christmas, along with a MAS 36. I though I would get started on this while I wait for my 7.5 French dies.
Pics below. Overall condition seems fantastic, although it is full of greasy dust. My first question is:
The original finish is mostly intact, although blotchy and uneven from what looks like dried grease or cosmoline. What is the best way to go about cleaning and preserving the original finish? My go to is usually mineral spirits and a nylon brush to remove all the old grease and lubricants. But I'm concerned that may remove the original blacking. Please advise.
Attachment 113572Attachment 113573Attachment 113574Attachment 113575Attachment 113576
Appears the butt stock is not original - that S is for Savage? More questions to come. I just finished disassembly and I'll scrub the bore first and get some pics of that.
The front sight seems loose in its dovetail and there is no set screw like the mk 1*. One thing at a time...a good cleaning first.

Information

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[Bindi2]

That S is for short butt not Savage. The rifle has been used as a target rifle. (swivel in front of magazine)

[ssgross]

Thanks, Bindi. Here is what the chamber and barrel looks like after an hour with Hoppes 9 and then a few hundred passes with a bronze brush. Throat has quite a bit of erosion. I didn't expect it from the condition of the rest of the rifle. Oh well as long as it shoots well.

throat
Attachment 113577Attachment 113578

First few inches
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middle
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Plenty of copper. next up sweets to get that out, then JB paste and Kroil.

[enbloc8]

It was refinished along the way. With the original finish, the markings on the left side of the receiver would have been pantograph-etched through the coat of stoving paint, and would have appeared through the paint as bare steel.

[ssgross]

that's good to know. If it was painted when re-finished, I doubt I want to scrub it too heavily with mineral spirits. The barrel appears possibly parkerized.
Attachment 113589

[Bindi2]

Standard cordite erosion. Open base projectiles (milsurp) if reloading certainly .312 will be in front of Varget type burn rate powders. There is a lot of life left in that barrel yet as a military shooter accuracy wise. Then you could cast your own and have even more fun.

[ssgross]

There is a lot of life left in that barrel yet

Yep. There isn't much muzzle erosion. All the copper is out now - bore is nice and bright with some minor pitting. I have another enfield, a no 4. mk I*, that some soldier named Doug carved is name in the butt. Its bore is in far worse shape than this one, and it hits the aiming black 10 out of 10...perfect minute of man accuracy still.
As to the paint, or whatever the blotches are on the receiver - I tried mineral spirits and nylon brush, and it didn't touch it. Maybe the original finish is still there? I lightly rubbed with kroil and 0000 steel wool hoping to even it out, then wiped with spirits and dried with air. Here is the result.
Attachment 113593
What I originally thought was dried cosmoline spots was chipping paint - came right off with gently steel wool, even down in the lettering. I better call it a night before I get carried away. I tend to get hasty in my work when it's past my bedtime. More to come! I found a long, looks to match, beech butt on fleabay and jumped on it since I'm 6'6".

[ssgross]

...and a little alcohol on a paper towel and q-tips to degrease.
Attachment 113605
Time to re-lube and put back together.

[ssgross]

action went back together easy enough. I don't remember my mk 1* being so easy. Had to play around with the safety for like a half hour. it looks like there are a dozen or so or more engagement points on the spirals...each resulting in a different depth of the locking sear. I figured it out right away - a 2017 milsurps thread on just the topic...but then spent the whole half hour trying to get it in the right spot.

[30Three]

Has it been used as a target rifle? The photo of the barrel appears to show some centre bedding material.