Enfield Longbranch furniture

[EDnSKY]

Hi All,

I have recently bought an Enfield No4 MK1* Longbranch 1942 from Steve at MFL :shakeshout:

Whilst disassembling the rifle to remove some cosmoline I found strips of cloth placed between the woodwork and barrel.

From what I have read online, the barrel should be free floating and looking at the marks on the pieces of cloth it seems to be marked by the barrel.

Has anyone an idea as to why they are there and will it be ok to remove them? ( they are not fixed in place)

Bernie

[bnz41]

Hi
Are there any date stamps on the wood ie 1940's if not it may suggest it's new ish manufacture and overly loose around the barrel so the packing has been used. Barrel should have only a very slight amount of movement at the muzzle. Steve's a good dealer so maybe see what he has to say.

[EDnSKY]

Hi
Are there any date stamps on the wood ie 1940's if not it may suggest it's new ish manufacture and overly loose around the barrel so the packing has been used. Barrel should have only a very slight amount of movement at the muzzle. Steve's a good dealer so maybe see what he has to say.

Hi bnz41,

No date stamps that I can see.

The lower stock piece has the same serial number stamped into it that is on the receiver and the bolt. There is also, I presume, an inspectors stamp, B66, which is repeated on the butt, as well as the Longbranch LB and a capital C with an upwards facing arrow within it and a capital A near to the trigger guard.

On the upper pieces there are only the Longbranch LB and a capital C. The metal shoulders show the letters CCM.

I have put the pieces back on, minus the packing, without clamping them and there is minimal upwards movement of the barrel and all joints sit tight together.

The colour of the pieces all match.

It doesn't bother me about the packing as I have removed it and a preliminary fit seems ok. I'm just nosey as to why they would be there!!

Bernie

[bnz41]

Hi Bernie,

If it fits together ok without excessive barrel float then I can't see any reason not to use without the packing. Never seen packing like that before on a Enfield or on any other make of rifle. As you say the wood seems to match each other so if changed, all was changed at the same time maybe through refurb. You will know when you shoot it if the packing is needed shots will tend to open out your grouping.
Good luck when you take to the range, let us know how you get on. Do not use S&B ammo as they spread anyway.
As to the B66 stamps some on other forums say they could be inspectors or manufacturing sequence stamps take a look on Milsurps.com

Neil

[EDnSKY]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for your input.

I'll put it all back together soon and bimble off to the range when work allows. I'll see what it does.

At least I might be able to blame the rifle when I cock it all up :lol:

Bernie

[Gaz]

When you reassemble it the barrel should lie in the 6 o'clock position, centrally, with 3-5lbs force needed to lift it up. If it doesn't then the packing may have been someone's attempt at getting the correct setup without properly bedding the rifle.

[Charlie Muggins]

I concur with Gaz, looks like jury rigged bedding. There were many different schemes tried after 1945 and maybe this is someone's attempt with what they had on hand and a half remembered conversation about mid barrel bedding.

Peter Laidler has written some excellent articles on bedding the no4 correctly, and tuning it generally. Just don't mention the word epoxy at him.

[Rearlugs]

Someone didn't understand how the rifle is supposed to be bedded and the handguards fitted.

So long as the barrel is pressing down at the front with about 3-7 lb pressure, it should otherwise be entirely free floated back as far as the chamber. The barrel should be free to rise vertically up within the handguards, without any touching at the sides. The amount of available vertical movement where the barrel enters the front hand guard should be at least 2mm.

[EDnSKY]

Hi All,

Many thanks for your info and guidance.

I just have to re-oil the furniture with linseed oil over the next few days and then i can fit it all back together and give it a first fit check.

I'll report back my findings.

Bernie

[EDnSKY]

Just an update to finish the thread off.

Rifle reassembled without any packing. It took 5.25 pounds to raise up the barrel and it is free floating from just behind the muzzle to in front of the receiver.
Took it to the range and checked over 50 yards. The grouping was as it should be with no stringing of shots.

So it looks to be that the packing isn't needed and alas I cannot now blame the rifle when it all goes wrong.

Just need to find a supply of .311 bullets so I can start reloading as Henry Krank has sold out and apparently they are starting to be hard to come by.

Bernie