[jame]

What in the hell is wrong with me? I ordered one of the first No. 4 Enfields from AIM, and was extremly disappointed with the quality. After a soon to be completed refurb project, it's soon to be a presentable item. I may even have it converted to a more conventional caliber, because I really like these old Brits.

After all that work and money down the proverbial drain, I order ANOTHER one? It's a gunsmith special for only $80 but what in the hell.......... Jeeeeeze...........!

I can't believe someone convinced me that a C & R license would SAVE me money. Maybe I should slap him.......

[Third_Rail]

For only $80, if it is functioning enough that you can repair it, it's a deal.

But since you wanted it.... :slap!: :D :D :D


I'm interested to see pics of the refurb, if you can.

[iamkris]

Hey jame

I have one of those Enfields from Centerfire Systems. I am also fairly disappointed in their outside appearance but the bore is in good shape.

What did you do for the refurb? My wood is in fairly good condition but the heel repair is crap. The metal has so much black paint, dirt and grease caked in the crevises that the rear sight can't be worked. The flat parts of the metal are bare of any finish. Amy thinking about stripping it all down and having it reblued...don't think it would hurt any collector value since there is none at this point.

[jame]

I ended up with another stock set purchased from a member on a C&R forum. I have yet to recieve it, but it should be here tomorrow.

As far as the metal finish, on mine, it was gone. Down to bare steel. The Mod # was even electro-pencilled in after the arsenal "repairs". I sandblasted with 120 grit and applied flat black Gunkote from Brownells. After the "paint 'n bake" it looks pretty good.

I'm thinking of rechambering to 7.62 x 39, but we'll see how it turns out first. I was hoping this project was a success, which is why I ordered another. If things go well with the new one, I might rechamber to 7.62 x 54, assuming no collectors value will be lost, as was the case with the first one. This would give a pretty cool brace of milsurp shooters.

I hope to make a bragging post next week, but I guess time will tell.......

[Dollar Bill]

You should be slapped, but not for BUYING the Enfield but for even thinking about re-chambering the old war horse. Yes, any re-chambering will lessen collector value to next to nothing. The old .303 Brit. is a fine cartridge and there would be no gain at all to re-chamber to 7.62x54, another century old cartridge. Buy a Mosin Nagant if you like that cartridge. A long, heavy rifle in 7.62x39 makes no sense to me either. The electro pencil markings on the Enfields was the way they came and the proper metal finish is British black paint.

It's your rifle, do with it what you must, just don't tell everyone!

[iamkris]

Jame -- thanks for the info. I frankly never thought of the Gunkote product...that's a good idea and will be much cheaper than having it professionally reblued.


Dollar Bill -- if the proper finish is British black paint, was it a gloss or flat finish?

I closing, I have to agree with Dollar Bill on the rechambering bit. If you want a 7.62x54R rifle, cough up the $80 and buy a Mosin Nagant. Enfields are 303 British....period.

[jame]

Bill, have you actually SEEN these No. 4's? When I say electro-pencil-I mean that they wrote over the original markings that were ground off. Add an Ishapore asenal screw, grind off 98% of the finish, and ship me a rifle that should have a 4 piece stock set that is currently a 6 piece stockset. I doubt many curators will shed many tears over this one.

7.62x39 is CHEAP shooting, which means a LOT of shooting with a 30-30 power level rifle. It makes perfect sense in a rifle that will otherwise do nothing more than collect dust. I own shooters, not museum pieces.

7.62x54 is still used in many previous Soviet Bloc countries and is far from antique. Ammo is just as powerful, (arguably) more accurate, and cheaper.
Wolf ammo can be found everywhere.

Try that with a .303 Brit.

And I'll tell who ever I feel. I've done my share of research, and my work is tastefully done. I assure you, my rebuild will be better done than the rebuild it recieved in India. I have the blessing of the fellas on the C&R forums that know C&R's. I have absolutely zero regrets.