OT; Anybody familar with the Enfiled No.4 MK1?

Ripper

Ripper

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Jul 2, 2000
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Hi,

Some years back I came into possession (via a well established gun shop) of an Enfield No.4 MK 1 (.303) that someone had started to sporterize (mainly cut down wood). I put about 10 to 15 rounds through it then and it seemed to shoot ok. If I remember right, the fired cases didn’t show any signs of trouble and I had no qualms about shooting it.

I recently started restocking it back into military dress; while doing so I noticed that it doesn’t take a lot of pressure to lift the bolt handle when the piece is cocked (with a round chambered or not). There is some resistance, but I can nudge it up far enough, with my trigger finger, that the spring tension will pop the bolt open. Uncocked, the handle lifts under silghtly more pressure. I didn't notice this when I shot before, but it must have been that way because the rifle has sat unfired to date.

It has been been such a long time since I’ve fired another bolt gun that I don’t have any feeling for what a norm would be.

I’ll probably run it by a gunsmith, but thought I’d see if anybody in the cantina has any insight to share.

Regards,
Greg
 
Hi Greg,
I'm pretty sure that your rifle is Okay. Every Enfield I've ever handled does the same thing when the weapon is "cocked" and ready to fire. With or without a round in the chamber.
However if you have any concerns about the safety of the weapon I'd strongly suggest that you take it to a gunsmith in your area that you trust and have things checked out.
I'd have the headspace checked, look to ensure that the bolt lugs aren't damaged, and if you have some of the fired brass I'd check it for bulges, cracks and look to see if the primers are okay.
Hope this helps.
Mike
 
Every Enfield that I've handled is like this.

Remember, unlike most military bolt guns, the Enfield cocks on closing, not on opening. In a Mauser, M-N, Springfield, or nearly any other bolt action of the period, the striker cocks on opening; the main resistance to turning the bolt handle is the firing pin spring being compressed in a relatively short span of time. The Enfield's spring doesn't compress until the bolt is locked shut again. Turning the handle right after a round is fired merely rotates the bolt and little force is required to do this. (Which is precisely why the Brits went with this action, BTW - if your case got stuck after firing, you'd be applying all of your force to freeing it, not compressing the spring.)

If you have any doubts about the weapon whatsoever, please, take it to a gunsmith. If you do this make sure that the 'smith in question is familiar with Enfields, as they have some peculiar attributes compared to Mausers and such.
 
Mike and Dave,
Thanks for the quick replies. That eases my mind; not handling it for a while made me a little antsy when I noticed that. It shot ok when I got it (fired brass was something I checked then) and the place I got it from is pretty reputable (gun shop that has been around for over 30 years out here in litigation happy CA. I'm pretty sure they have their smith check the used guns).
Anyways, thanks guys. Cold one on me if your ever down Tustin way,
Regards,
Greg
 
What Dave said. Cocks on closing. Brits thought that would work better under what we would now call "extreme" conditions.

John
 
I have a Mk. III No. 1 (no "*" :) ) that, when dry fired, pops up the bolt about 20 degrees on its own. Yet, when the rifle is fired, this does not occur.

(The first firing by me was from a vise using a 50' rope.)

Results may vary.
 
While some are more accurate than others, all of the ones I've handled in the alst few years had at least decent combat accuracy. I really like them. They are tough & reliable. You can do a google search & find a lot of info. also, I think 303.com is still up & running. I have meplatted a few rounds & hunted with the FMJ ammo that way. Works great on deer, coyotes & etc.
 
Dave Rishar said:
Every Enfield that I've handled is like this.

Remember, unlike most military bolt guns, the Enfield cocks on closing, not on opening. In a Mauser, M-N, Springfield, or nearly any other bolt action of the period, the striker cocks on opening; the main resistance to turning the bolt handle is the firing pin spring being compressed in a relatively short span of time.
Click to expand...

Point of order!

"...unlike most military bolt guns" is correct, I seem to recall certain Mausers cocked upon opening, but I no longer recall which ones ('94 and '96 models is what comes to mind). Enfield derivitives (P-14 and P-17's) follow their ancestors path, and I can no longer think of any others that do cock on opening. Write it up to old age or a work week at 44 hours already and still have 2 full days left.


Dave Rishar said:
If you have any doubts about the weapon whatsoever, please, take it to a gunsmith. If you do this make sure that the 'smith in question is familiar with Enfields, as they have some peculiar attributes compared to Mausers and such.
Click to expand...
Very good advise with any used weapon (especially ones likely to be 50+ years old).
 
In 1968, on our honeymoon in Canada and Alaska, I got a little bear paranoid, and bought a semi-sportorized surplus Enfield at a rural gun-shop for about $15. When we got home, I contemplated the lousy job the former owner had done, and decided to try my hand at amateur gunsmithing. With the Herter's catalogue in hand, I smoothed up, polished, re-blued the metal, and re-stocked and "customized" the rifle on my kitchen table. I had no power tools, and I did it all with hand tools.

When it came time to mount a set of sights, I realized tis job was beyond my ability, and took the rifle to the only gunsmith I knew about in my recently adopted city of Chicago - the one in the sporting goods department at Marshall Fields Men's Store on State Street in the loop. A mounted grizzly bear about 12 feet tall greeted you when you emerged from the elevator. As I recall, the gunsmith's comment about my custom job was, "I've seen worse...".

BTW, I can't imagine taking the El to the loop and walking down State Street, and walking into a major department store with a rifle wrapped up in a towel today. A different world, eh?
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Pretty is as pretty does, Bri. How's it shoot?

The bus to the airport stops at a hotel about a mile or so from my house. It's easiest to simply walk down there, catch the bus, and not have to worry about parking or any of that. I did just this thing when I was departing for the MWKK '05.

Remember how I had my swords and khukuris packed in guncases? It didn't occur to me just what an incredibly bad idea this was until I was walking past the high school and its gun-free zone signs. No police showed up during my walk (they probably just missed me) but wow, did I get a lot of attention.

Everyone who asked me about it, from the bus driver to the clerk at the check in counter, didn't make things any easier.

"What's in those cases?"
"Swords."
"Uhhh..."

Note to self: God loves fools.
 
That rifle is o.k. but to be sincere I think that almost any kind of sporterising does no good to military rifle.
Its a design thing.
They are after are designed to hunt the most dangerous game, which mostly shoots back.



Jaroslav
 
Dave Rishar said:
Remember how I had my swords and khukuris packed in guncases? It didn't occur to me just what an incredibly bad idea this was until I was walking past the high school and its gun-free zone signs. No police showed up during my walk (they probably just missed me) but wow, did I get a lot of attention.

Everyone who asked me about it, from the bus driver to the clerk at the check in counter, didn't make things any easier.

"What's in those cases?"
"Swords."
"Uhhh..."

Note to self: God loves fools.
Click to expand...

I'm planning to bring some of my khukuris to the upcoming Reno Khonvention and was wondering about how to get a guncase of them declared at the airport without getting shot first. :eek: I think that I'll pack them in a large duffel bag instead. I'll be able to get more of them in a duffel bag anyway.

Bob
 
Big Bob said:
I'm planning to bring some of my khukuris to the upcoming Reno Khonvention and was wondering about how to get a guncase of them declared at the airport without getting shot first. :eek: I think that I'll pack them in a large duffel bag instead. I'll be able to get more of them in a duffel bag anyway.

Bob
Click to expand...

Just a thought: old, "hard-shell," suitcases are out of favor and available cheap at second-hand stores and garage sales. I've seen dozens at the curb for the trash collectors.
 
Big Bob said:
I'm planning to bring some of my khukuris to the upcoming Reno Khonvention and was wondering about how to get a guncase of them declared at the airport without getting shot first. :eek: I think that I'll pack them in a large duffel bag instead. I'll be able to get more of them in a duffel bag anyway.
Click to expand...

The airport was actually the easy part. I've always found checking firearms, let alone swords, to be pretty painless. Getting to the airport was what was interesting.

The clerk will probably ask what's in the cases; whether they do or don't, make sure to tell them that you have knives or swords or whatnot in there. They wanted to see for themselves when I was there. Just open up the cases and let them have a look. If they seem overly curious just tell them that you're a martial artist. That seems to make it okay for everyone.

Use a TSA-approved lock or don't use one at all. TSA will open up your baggage to look at something as interesting as this and in one case, evidently decided to give a WWII villager I was transporting to Maryland a function check. You may want to leave a note for them explaining what they're looking out, how sharp these things are, and to be careful with them.

Tom's recommendation would draw a lot less attention than guncases. If you're not transporting any swords or excessively long khuks, that would be the way to go.

Remember, you're never doing the wrong thing by telling the airline what you're planning on bringing on board. The worst that they can do is say no. Call them a week or two ahead of time for your peace of mind and to double check what procedures are necessary. I've always found them to be very helpful with my questions.
 
Hi all,
Wanted to bring this back up for a moment; to say "thanks" again for the help and to post a photo. I still have a little work to do on the stock, but I'm pretty pleased with how the MK4 is turning out (I might even have to track down a correct sling for it now).
Regards,
Greg
Before and after:
fxysgh.jpg
 
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