Advice on No4 T

[CINDERS]

I am sure perhaps Roger Payne may have a set of mounts (repro's) possibly at hand but may have sold them all.
I would not be so hasty as to grinding the pad dowel off if you have the rifles ser No. those of us with Peter L & Skennertons book on the T can see if its in the book from when they conducted the pad trials as there was an issue with the front pad becoming loose in service, I for one have a T involved in those trials.

These rifles are worth going the extra yard to as far as possible keep original as issued NOS old pads & brackets if they exist rarely come up on the market and if they do cost serious $'s so the repro path is the go for those but an original scope is worth the wait who knows put the serial No. up here and see if the original is around, the repro scopes seem a bit hit and miss as far as reliability goes.

And your post #10 pics did not come through!

To bring it back Brian Dick has done a few T's flick him a PM and yarn to him about getting this rifle back to how it was, as in the whole scheme of things there were not many of them made up into the sniper configuration when you consider the total numbers made of the No.4 rifle.

[EnfieldC]

Attachment 121802

[EnfieldC]

Hello thank you for letting me know about the pictures I am still learning the photo system and will post some more. Thank you for your input. I read that the Fultons of Bisley are as close to the original pads and mount as possible are they that far off and unusable? How did they solve the pad coming loose? I purchased this rifle for what I thought was a very good deal as it cost me about the same as a very nice original no4 I am beginning to see the work involved is more than anticipated. The wrist read as follows from top to bottom M47C 1944 3827(x) TR. If the last number of there serial is needed I can provide it over PM.

[EnfieldC]

I found it interesting that it has a Savage rear sight perhaps taken off of a spare laying around. Also it has two small holes in the side of the buttstock. I have owned a number of no4s and never seen this before

[smle addict]

Savage rear sights are fairly common of No4 Ts. Two of my T's have Savage rear sights installed (with battle aperture ground off). Nothing unusual about it.

[CINDERS]

You may have to clean the top of the wrist up with some 50/50 RLO/Min Turps and 0000 steel wool really carefully to try and reveal the scopes number its not a faker "T" thats for sure.

[Roger Payne]

Yes, or some acetone with a toothbrush - being sure to re-linseed again after.

I just looked at the wrist area blown up & it looks like the first digit is most likely an '8', & the second could be a '9', although I'm far from sure....

I'm also unsure as it is difficult to see from the views that we have, whether the rifle has a serial prefix. It looks like it might not, to me, in which case it would be of early 1944 manufacture, & an 'early' Mk2 scope around the 8900's would be quite feasible.

[EnfieldC]

Would you recommend acetone over mineral spirits and heat? Correct me if I’m wrong but the cosmoline is so thick in places I think the entire stock needs removed, heated, and wiped down with acetone or mineral spirits. Also would a photo of the wrist help? I can provide one I’m not sure how worried I should be about the serial number on such an old rifle

Also thank you for everyone’s help. I’m only 22 and do not have many years of experience with Milsurps I am a history buff mostly

[Roger Payne]

I reckon so long as it doesn't cause any lasting damage to the wood you could use whatever you have access to. I just happen to have access to plenty of acetone. Any organic solvent will dry out the wood fibres as it removes the grease & crud, hence re-oiling once you've achieved what you want to.

[Gil Boyd]

Do you have access to a Ultra Violet light source?
It is certainly worth trying before you do anything, as those numbers have been impacted into the wood and have effectively been shocked through the wood, and certainly in the past through serious crime, I have seen some remarkable recovery using UV.
Just a thought. They are purchaseable on key rings for crime prevention and often given out free by Police Forces.