Charnwood Ordnance???

[snayperskaya]

I have got a Lee Enfield No4 Mk1 in immaculate condition that is chambered in 7.62 NATO and was made/built by Charnwood Ordnance.It appears the original receiver marks have been removed and replaced with a C.O serial number.On the stock just behind the triggerguard is a "40" and a "F" stamp.The mag is pretty much the same shape as a .303 one and has "1965" stamped on the follower and i dont think it is a Sterling mag.I have had a look on tinternet but can't find much about Charnwood, can anyone shed some light on who they were/are and on the history of how my Enfield came about.Thanks in advance :)

here it is with its '39 Mosin Nagant stablemate :)

[bnz41]

I also have one of these rifles, mine is a original Savage receiver and some metal parts like barrel bands, front sight protector is stamped "F" for Fazakerley. All I can confirm is your mag is not a Sterling, it's the proper Enfield 7.62 that they used on the Envoy/L39A1 rifles etc and they sell for over £150 on e-bay some dealers are asking 200+ if you need a replacement. I have also tried to find out info on Charnwood but did not find much.

with info on Charnwood.

[Rearlugs]

The owner of Charnwood, and two other dealers, bought up all the parts on hand when Enfield closed.

Charnwood's share included things like barrelled actions for the fifty or so Enforcers that had not been completed. hence many high-number Enforcers were assembled later..

The 7.62mm No4s are assembled out of completely mixed and random parts, which is why any combinations of markings occur. Charnwood did skim and re-blue many of the rifles, so they have few marks apart from the Charnwood serial number.

I am not sure that Charnwood carried out the milling on the underside of the boltway that is usually (but not always) necessary to fit the Enfield 7.62mm magazine. These rifles often turn up with Sterling magazines (which need no milling, the ejection being provided by a separate replacement ejector button in the Sterling kits), or with Enfield or Charnwood magazines that do not load or eject properly.

The 1965 date on the follower is there because Enfield made a vast number of 7.62mm magazines for the intended L8 7.62mm No4 programme. These magazines are the ones that were subsequently used on Enforcers, Envoys, L42A1s. Charnwood had a lot of the followers only, so used Enfield tooling to make up new magazine shells. Hence if the side of the magazine has "CR 141A 65" on the side, it is a genuine Enfield item. If the sides are blank, then the shell is Charnwood repro. These Enfield mags require precise fitting of mag to rifle (hence the milling) for the ejector tab to work. Many/most of the Charnwood magazine shells do not work as ejectors - something evidently went wrong in the manufacture.

[dodgyrog]

I have a brand new Sterling mag in its' original packaging - anybody out there put a value on it for me. please?

[bnz41]

snayperskaya,

Does your No4 have the added stripper clip guide fitted to be able to use 7.62 clips.

Roger, PM sent

[dodgyrog]

Got the pm - thanks
Might see you at Bisley

[waterford103]

I have a brand new Sterling mag in its' original packaging - anybody out there put a value on it for me. please?

I have a cr141a mag box - no spring or follower :goodjob:

[snayperskaya]

snayperskaya,

Does your No4 have the added stripper clip guide fitted to be able to use 7.62 clips.

Roger, PM sent

Yes it does, the mag has got "CR141A 65" on the side as well.

Anyone know what it would be worth,as I said it is immaculate and I paid £375 for it.

[bnz41]

Mine cost £425 and had a Parker Hale 5C target sight included in the sale. The sights go over £150 so i got a good deal

I would think £350-400 would be the going rate for one depending on condition for a standard rifle, although one dealer has one on Gunstar for £495.