Rearlugs wrote:Good photos!
Where actually is the rifle/receiver number? What is it recorded as? The left butt socket, where the number is supposed to be, is scrubbed.
My analysis of the photos:
1. Scope is original, but would have been on a very early BSA or trials No4 conversion;
2. Bracket is original, but comes off a 1943 BSA;
3. Bolt is from a 1945 BSA;
4. mid band is wrong way around;
5. band and woodwork is probably off an Indian rifle, judging by the type of black paint;
6. target swivel is prker hale, wrong for 4(T) - should be just marked broad arrow;
7. wrong butt swivel - should be Savage wide loop pattern (makes it easier to pass the 1907 sling through);
8. rear sight is a Savage - should be N67 or BSA. Bonus is that a savage Mk1 sight is worth about GBP100 on eBay!!!;
9. bolt head proof isn't clear - but if it isn't London, then rifle is out of proof;
10. "S" on cut-off boss is (a) above woodline and (b) appears double-struck => genuine 20% chance, fake 80%;
11. butchered front pad screws - not done in service, so pad has been off;
12. "S1" on forend is meaningless - the butt should have an "S51*" on the underside, on 95% of BSAs;
13.front band wrong way around;
14. no butt socket markings - no number or TR conversion to check;
15. Sykes Ltd butt; possible on a BSA 4(T);
16. magazine from a No4 Mk2;
17. forend wrong grain for a 4(T) - probably whole set is from a standard No4;
18. cheekpiece appears to be a repro (are the screws iron or brass?);
19. front handguard poorly fitted - likely to foul the front sight protector and hence give stringing on shots.
There are a number of other things I'd check, but they are all under the wood.
My opinion is that the rifle is a bit pricey for what it is - a genuine scope (but only a Mk1) and bracket attached to a 4(T) receiver that I'd guess has a 50/50 chance of being an early fake. The rest of the rifle just appears to be a collection of rather indifferent random No4 bits.
Shooting performance on a normal No4 depends entirely on bore condition and forend fit; in this case you'd need to test whether the scope is functional and has enough adjustment range either side of bore. Mismatched scopes often do not boresight adequately, and if the rifle is indeed a repro, then it could be long way off (H%H milled the pads to fit the rifle when it was on a jig).
I can only say WOW....I thought I new quite a lot about Enfields but you sir are really quite something, very impressive indeed! (H%H milled the pads to fit the rifle when it was on a jig) I never new that, good luck to people buying pads on flea bay and trying to "pimp T" their No4 then........I had a chat with a chap at my local range who had done exactly that last year and he couldn't zero his rifle for toffee, now I see why!
