Search found 79 matches

by brewstop
Sat Oct 16, 2010 11:22 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: Where to buy parts?
Replies: 6
Views: 6401

Re: Where to buy parts?

Obviously the dimension that actually affects headspace is the portion from the front face to the rear face (ie before the screw thread starts), as this rear face sits on the bolt body when the bolt is closed. (Hence the need to make sure the bolthead does not over-rotate by more than 20 degrees. If...
by brewstop
Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:15 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: Where to buy parts?
Replies: 6
Views: 6401

Re: Where to buy parts?

Be aware that the boltheads vary in size - ie a "2" can be a "1" or a "3" - and that they need to fit so that the bolthead does not rotate past the rib by more than a few degrees. I normally have to try 15-20 boltheads to get the correct set-up for a particular rifle; y...
by brewstop
Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:33 pm
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: ANyone know if Alfred J Parker are still in business?
Replies: 5
Views: 4768

Re: ANyone know if Alfred J Parker are still in business?

I bought a SMLE from them a few years back and it has developed a nasty habit of the bolt head un-clipping itself from the raceway track so the bolt head blocks the rear travel of the bolt and of course it wont lock until the bolt head is clipped back into place. I need a half decent smith to take ...
by brewstop
Tue Sep 28, 2010 3:58 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: ANyone know if Alfred J Parker are still in business?
Replies: 5
Views: 4768

Re: ANyone know if Alfred J Parker are still in business?

They were more or less dormant for several years, but are now closed & sold up. Someone bought up all of their tools and stocks without it ever really being advertised to the Trade.
by brewstop
Thu Aug 12, 2010 3:49 am
Forum: The Best of Milsurp After Hours
Topic: 1919 Ishapore makings
Replies: 14
Views: 14853

Re: 1919 Ishapore makings

In the Australian service the Armourers always understood that wire wrapping was for safety reasons and I don't think that a split handguard would have required the care and expense of the work and the copper and solder that went into the job. The wrap extended for, as I remember, some 3 to 4 inche...
by brewstop
Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:53 am
Forum: The Best of Milsurp After Hours
Topic: 1919 Ishapore makings
Replies: 14
Views: 14853

Re: 1919 Ishapore makings

:shock: They were serviceable rifles in every respect but strengthened for their special role by being wire wrapped to stop large splinters flying if they happened to burst their barrels. :shock: I think I'll stay with my statement!! The wire wrap was nothing to do with bursting barrels - it was th...
by brewstop
Fri May 07, 2010 2:42 pm
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: Help me identify this Enfield.
Replies: 3
Views: 4413

Re: Help me identify this Enfield.

The date, number and prefix would be correct for a No4 Mk1 rifle manufactured by BSA. The "M1" is most likely a mis-stamp of "M47C", the BSA factory code. The "England" is a 1960s US import stamp apllied before the rifle was shipped out of UK - probably by Interarms. Th...
by brewstop
Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:51 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: SMLE & Lee Enfield Bolt Heads
Replies: 16
Views: 18324

Re: SMLE & Lee Enfield Bolt Heads

The 2A1 extractor claw itself is about 1.5 mm longer than a .303" item, but otherwise all of the components are the same. Some 2A1s do turn up with coil springs inside the bolthead, but these are probably just "local repairs".... A 2A1 receiver has the ejector screw about 8mm further ...
by brewstop
Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:29 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: SMLE & Lee Enfield Bolt Heads
Replies: 16
Views: 18324

Re: SMLE & Lee Enfield Bolt Heads

Ishapore 2A/2A1 boltheads are identical to No1 MkIII items - in fact many of them are either recycled No1 boltheads (ie with visible older British or Indian inspection marks) or otherwise indistinguishable from the concurrent .303" No1 production items from Ishapore. [BTW, so far there is no ev...
by brewstop
Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:57 am
Forum: Classic British Firearms
Topic: No1 MkV1
Replies: 12
Views: 8250

Aha, it looks like they did the same bodge that i did! All of the No1 MkVI and No4 Mk1 trials rifles use a spring and steel ball detent, just as on the preceding SMLE No1 MkV. The rearsight has a corresponding cup on the base into which the steel ball fits. When the trials rifles were refurbed as is...