The .30 cal battle rifle thread got me thinking, what should I do with this rifle?

I was given this Enfield No.4 Mk.I and as you can see, it has been partially Bubba'd. It seems to be original to the magazine box, and then things go to hell. The forend has been modified, the front metal, front sights, butt plate and handguards are all missing, and the barrel has been cut to 21.5 inches.

Should I keep this as is on the odd chance that I acquire another No. 4 in the future and then would have parts, restore it to its former glory, or have someone finish the Bubba job so I have a Crocodile Dundee hunting rifle?

Restoring it is unlikely, due to the extent of the modifications. Even if you collect all the hardware and stock parts needed, and have it rebarreled with a new barrel, the receiver will still be drilled and tapped, which severely hurts the collectors value. The juice wouldn't be worth the squeeze.

Keep it for parts, part out the salvageable original parts and sell them somewhere like the Gunboards milsurp forum, or turn it into a hunting rifle if you're so inclined.

At a glance, you should be able to salvage the buttstock (if not too heavily sanded/refinished), trigger assembly, magwell, magazine, bolt assembly, safety assembly, rear sight assembly, and some assorted screws. Everything else is toast, including the barrel, forestock, and receiver.

That's kind of what I figured. I'll likely try to find a decent No.4 for the collection and use this as a parts gun.

I've already had to do the firing spring in my No.1 Mk.III* as the 100 year old disintegrated into about 15 pieces.

In the other thread, you mentioned wanting a No. 5 Jungle Carbine. It would be possible to convert this into a quasi-Jungle Carbine. It wouldn't be 100% authentic, but it would be close.

There are repro Jungle Carbine stock sets out there, as well as repro Jungle Carbine front sight/flash hider assemblies. Those repro parts, plus a barrel band and the installation of a ladder style rear sight, and some gunsmithing to cut down the barrel a bit more, recrown it, and attach the repro front assembly, is all it would need.

It would still be drilled and tapped, and wouldn't have the correct No. 5 lightening cuts to the receiver and bolt, but it would be a good approximation and potentially a fun shooter.

There were a couple companies over the years that made similar repro Jungle Carbines from cut down No. 4s and some repro parts.

Thanks for the suggestion. That might be fun to do, and it would make a fine range blaster and pig gun for the Florida swamps.

Numrich, Apex, and Sarco together appear to have the parts you'd need for that. You might also check eBay or Gunbroker.

Front sight/flash hider assembly
Rear sight assembly
Barrel band with sling swivel and screw
Buttstock with buttpad assembly
Handguard with handguard retaining ring
Potentially a new forestock, but you might be able to use what's on it currently.

Check out this site and see if you can get some info and help: Enfield-rifles.com

I say (as long as the bore is good) knock the barrel back to 16.5 inches, install a front sight to match the rear peep sights and maybe a nice recoil pad and stock re-finish and you've got yourself an actually usable (and more comfortable to shoot) "jungle carbine", Crocodile Dundee style.
That's what I'd do anyway. I think it's sad to see a functional rifle relegated to a parts gun.

If it were me, I’d restore it to its prior glory & fill in the holes in the receiver.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Thanks for the suggestion. That might be fun to do, and it would make a fine range blaster and pig gun for the Florida swamps.

That's what I'd do with it. It's plenty stout for putting down FL pigs. Have fun with it. If you need parts for another Enfield then rob parts from it.

Having restored a couple of lightly sporterized Enfields recently (no mods to metal), I can tell you it's a labor of love, and with the mods already done to yours, it will be a money-losing pit. I'd look for a no-drill scope mount (S&K makes a good one) and throw a scope on it. Leave the rest as-is.

I do not believe I would attempt to restore a No 4 with a cut barrel unless it was a Trials rifle or a "T". Especially one that was D&T'd. Original barrels that are in spec are basically nonexistent. Unless you can do it yourself, figure the cost will be in the $300+ range to buy a good used barrel and have it changed.

I'm in the put a scope back on it and call it good camp on this sporter.

If you want a free sporter buttplate with no trap, shoot me an email as I think I still have one in a box. You'll need to come up with screws.

That gun is destined to be Alligator Dundee. No practical path to restoration with the drilled reciever........

I remember when I was buying those rifles for $69. Probably should have bought more than four.

As the others have said I would finish what Bubba started.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
I remember when I was buying those rifles for $69. Probably should have bought more than four.

This. Racks of them at Trigger Hill in Salinas, CA in the 80s. In hindsight...