N49 No4 forend too long?

[jonh172]

Is it typical for an unissued No4 forend (N49 stamped) to be too long?
I am trying to fit one and no matter how I position it it won’t seat.
With the rear hard against the socket face, the nose absolutely will not clear the front sight.
If I install it at the front first, just behind the front sight as normal, the back end absolutely will not clear the socket.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Jon

Information

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[RobD]

Have you got access to another No4 rifle, so you can compare lengths of the barrels and of the fore-ends?

[browningautorifle]

We need some pics of this one, I expect your barrel has been either set back by one or two threads or the front sight has been sleeved onto a barrel that has been shortened. Both have been seen before...

[Roger Payne]

Often it is just the fore end (metal) cap, rather than the wood itself that is fouling. A tickle to the metalwork may just allow clearance. The caps were pretty rough & ready stampings & sometimes removing a burr or minor ding will do it. That is, assuming it is nothing more major along the lines of BAR's thoughts..........Remember that if it is a new unissued stock it will need some playing with regardless.

If you can post any photo's of the offending fore end & action/barrel it might help.

[Simon P]

Quite common, also same with handguards they need to be fitted, need material removing so they sit correctly, align with fore-end barrel band recess & clear of the from sight.

Several weeks ago had an unissued No4 Mk2 Fore-end that had the same issue, the metal end cap was not quite formed, a few minutes with a planishing hammer on a mandrel and it fitted snug on the fore-end & clear of the front sight, other occasions just needed a bit of filing & touch up with Suncorite

---------- Post added at 06:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 PM ----------

Just a thought is the front sight in the right position, might not have a locating pin and may of been pushed back slightly

[jonh172]

Thanks guys!
I checked the nose cap and it seemed like there was a gap so I tapped it tight to the nose of the forend and still won’t clear.
Here are some pictures of what I’m dealing with.
Basically with the nose in place, the rear won’t clear and with the rear dropped in the nose won’t clear. I also added a picture of the draws to show where they are making contact, maybe I could shave a RCH off the face of them but with this contact the nose is not yet seated so i don’t want start working the draws until I can get it in place first.
Thanks everyone!
Jon

Ps. Bonus points to the first one who can spot what makes this restoration extra special

[browningautorifle]

How about a pic of the knox form at the barrel ring to see if the barrel has indeed been set back one turn. Common solution for excess headspace and a #3 bolt head... That's just about the length of distance we're dealing with by the pics...

[Hal O'Peridol]

No4T restoration

[Roger Payne]

Yup. Looks like a bit of front body pad visible in one of the pix.

If you haven't already done it it might be worth taking off the foresight protector to see if the transverse locking pin is missing from the foresight block. If it has been removed at some point then the block could have offset backwards. May or may not be this, but if it is it's an easy fix.

[jonh172]

No4T restoration

Bonus points awarded!

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 AM ----------

Yup. Looks like a bit of front body pad visible in one of the pix.

If you haven't already done it it might be worth taking off the foresight protector to see if the transverse locking pin is missing from the foresight block. If it has been removed at some point then the block could have offset backwards. May or may not be this, but if it is it's an easy fix.

Thanks Roger,
Looks like maybe on the right way here?




---------- Post added at 08:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 AM ----------

How about a pic of the knox form at the barrel ring to see if the barrel has indeed been set back one turn. Common solution for excess headspace and a #3 bolt head... That's just about the length of distance we're dealing with by the pics...

Thanks for the tip!
This one is full length, I even compared it to 2 barrels here, one that is full length and one that is turned down one thread.