Advice on No4 T

[EnfieldC]

Hello All,
If this is the wrong place to post my apologies I’m new to the forums. I recently acquired a no4 T that has all the correct markings but albeit the wood stampings are very faint. It has had the scope and mounting pads removed. It’s a 1944 and is full of cosmoline. I’m looking for some advice on how to bring it back to its former military glory. My current plan is to take it apart and boil the metal parts to remove the cosmoline, wipe the stock down with mineral spirits and use a heat gun to sweat out the cosmoline, then oil with raw linseed oil. I also plan on acquiring new pads and a mount from Fultons of Beasley. Does anyone have other recommendations and advice on scopes? I have been looking for an original scope for months to no avail. Thank you all for your help here’s a photo of it from the day I picked it up.

Information

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[EnfieldC]

Attachment 121636

Heres the rifle

[Roger Payne]

Welcome. Looks quite a nice find. Can you make out the original scope serial number stamped into the butt just behind the cocking piece at the back of the bolt? Scopes are about, though not cheap. We can tell what mark of scope it originally wore from the serial, if legible.

[EnfieldC]

Thank you for your quick reply Roger. From my reading on here you are the local expert on these rifles. The scope number is currently not legible. Could this be the cosmoline in the stock? I have considered trying to get a rubbing with paper and a crayon to see if that would give the original number

[Gil Boyd]

I can see the pronounced T on the side of the action above the screw head. Personally, I would leave it as it is, the wood shows it has had a full and operational life, and like Roger says, be good to see a few numbers from the wrist and elsewhere if you can put them up regardless of how week, and someone will no doubt tell you lots more about the rifle and hopefully, Roger might just be able to assist on scope advice and what you should be looking for.
Good Luck.

[tr63]

Need to see a better picture of the scope serial number on the wrist of the butt stock .

[Roger Payne]

You may find that degreasing of the area & the gentle use of something such as an old toothbrush may help you discern the scope serial number digits. Even if they are only partially discernible it may give us an idea. eg., if it were to be 198XX we would know that it was a Cooke Troughton & Simms Mk3.

I can't quite see from your photo's, but does the rifle serial have a letter prefix? If it is a 44 rifle it may have none, or almost any letter from A through to about R.

[Gil Boyd]

Could be my eyes but it looks like M47C to me and 5 digits below!

[Surpmil]

EnfieldC, you'd be well advised to dig hard to find out where the pads went. Some misguided civilian removed them, and they may still be around somewhere.

The pad bearing surfaces were machined AFTER fitting to the rifle, so they are to some extent unique to each rifle. At times replacement pads and brackets have been found to collimate well, and other times not so well!

[EnfieldC]

I have been traveling for the holiday and haven't gotten back until now. I pulled it out of the safe and cannot for the life of me get an idea of the scope number. Any of the markings are filled with cosmoline and almost unreadable. I think if the stock were properly removed and sweated they may show up. Here is the photos I was able to take. I appreciate everyones feedback! Surpmil thank you I did not realize that. Could a qualified gunsmith grind it down to the receiver and fit pads properly?