Question about No4 SKN action

[Hal O'Peridol]

"A friend" currently has a skeletonized No4 rifle, done by MOD with a SKN serial number complete with skeletonized barrel of about 12 inches. The question is on the legality of the item in the United States.

There is a full length cut through the chamber and receiver ring about 1/4 inches in height. The barrel itself also has had the bore blocked during conversion. Some people have clamed that it is a short barreled rifle, and therefore subject to ATF rules.

What would be the best way to resolve this?

[Hal O'Peridol]

Here is a quick representation of the work, with the cut extending fully across the reciever ring.

Attachment 121781

[Brian Dick]

I imported a quantity of them in the late 1990's. They are considered a firearm because the body hasn't been torch cut in three places which is ATF demil specification. My advice is to rebarrel it with a scrap 16" barrel. That's what I did at the time with no worries. I also gave the guys who bought them the original barrels.

[rcathey]

I asked ATF this very question. Was thinking about making one.
They said they’d have to see the actual rifle in question to make a ruling.

So it’s possible they’d rule a cutaway sufficiently deactivated to not be a firearm anymore. I wouldn’t hold you breath…but I guess there’s a chance.

[Buccaneer]

Unfortunately you are asking for common sense to be used, something that disappeared many years ago on this side of the pond and I suspect on your side as well. Anyone who things that these little instructional pieces should be treated as viable firearms once they have actually seen what has been done to them has obviously lost the plot as they are totally incapable of discharging anything apart from a loud click when demonstrating how the Enfield action works....

[Alan de Enfield]

Unfortunately you are asking for common sense to be used, something that disappeared many years ago on this side of the pond and I suspect on your side as well. Anyone who things that these little instructional pieces should be treated as viable firearms once they have actually seen what has been done to them has obviously lost the plot as they are totally incapable of discharging anything apart from a loud click when demonstrating how the Enfield action works....

Do you recall a post many years ago from PL where he was called as an expert witness in a court case involving an SKN ?

They 'won' the case but it was ruled that it did not set a precedent.
When I was buying mine I was a little worried but PL said if it came to the worst, he'd happily act for me as an expert witness.

Mine was one of the many 100s found when the AJP building was 'broken into' (years after closing) by 'urban explorers', and sold by ScotArms Auction house.
The RFD at ScotArms checked their status with Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire Police and they all said they considered them as 'non-firearms'.

[mrclark303]

I did hear some years back that Yorkshire Constabulary (is it a single force?) had an "issue" with SKN actions and cutaways in general.

My own force area is fine with them, the caveat I was given when I sought advice on building a collection of Cutaway instructional actions was always buy from an RFD and carry out your own due diligence checks that no licenced and controlled parts are left in a live and pressure baring condition.

All very sensible really....

[Hal O'Peridol]

Unfortunately the standards for cutaway in the US and England are quite different. What "the owner" may end up doing is making up a 16 inch barrel to place on this, or adding an extension. The extension if done right with a No4 barrel would be a decent way to go. Maybe.

[Brian Dick]

I'd just replace the barrel. There are plenty of shot out No.4 barrels around. You can mill out the chamber area as original and touch it up with red paint. That's what I did at the time and they turned out great. I kept one tagged to the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. You may remember the Australian SMLE SKN's for sale at John Jovino in the late 80's, early 90's. They were also set up with 16" barrels before resale.

[Emb145]

Compare it to a L59 DP #4 if the cuts are the same its a non gun
Carl