Interesting long branch

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The problem with the one-piece stock on the J5550 was that there was precious little wood at the recoil transfer point at the back of the action. They hacked away a lot of the metal from the 'socket", but had to leave the upper area as this helps align the cocking piece and is the mount for the safety lever etc.

It seems in hindsight (20-20, as always) that a rear "leg" like that on the SKS may have been a better modification of the socket / ferrule. Better strength may also have been acheved by retaining the thread in that "leg and also retaining the stock bolt to reinforce the spindly wrist.

All a bit academically speculative, now.

The idea obviously lived on in Canada, as Ellwood Epps and probably others, did several variants on a light commercial basis post WW2.

Any Canadian members have any of these Epps specials tucked away or in actual use?

Image of a SMLE-based version here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ps044cf234.jpg

[Alan de Enfield]

Whatever "black art" there is to fitting a forend to a Lee Enfield action, the fact that a buttstock is attached merely means when the forend is scrapped, the butt goes with it!

It is interesting to note a comment by PL in a very long post about FTR's

Extract :


Woodwork that was went to a specialized woodwork shop where the expensive butts were patched as necessary. You’ll identify these perfect toe and heel patches with their perfect oak pegs. Strangely, the butt was more expensive to produce than the fore-end. As for the fore-ends, you will identify some of these by the internally patched reinforces and occasionally, when the need arose, small dovetail patches at the rear right hand side of Mk1 fore-ends to close off the bolt head catch opening to suit needy Mk1* ‘no bolt head catch’ rifles. Mk1* rifle type fore-ends were not produced in the UK. Converted yes, produced, no!

[BurtonP]

Any Canadian members have any of these Epps specials tucked away or in actual use?

I too would be curious to see any of the commercial faux-lightened rifles out there. I'm going to use this opportunity to show off my Faux-lightened No4 once again. It came to me as a half finished project gun with a hand-carved stock which I remade into this. Since the last time I posted I've strengthened the draws, fixed the blowout at the rear of the receiver, added a LB safety, and done some cosmetic stock work. I can definitely see the appeal of a lighter one piece stock for a No 4, and why it was preferred by Canadian troops over the No5, but there is no way the stock is as strong.

Cheers,
Burton

[browningautorifle]

Nice piece of work, at least you have a representative.

[Cantom]

Anyone who watched the auction will know...the bidding went to $17,750 (I think) and the rifle did not sell. (big reserve on it presumably)

Only 2 bidders were up at those lofty heights.