welded muzzel

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   Last night-whilst I was @ the Legion-the Sgt @ arms & I dug thru the rear catacombes of the Branch, to the locker whereby our Enfields were supposed to be stored.(No-one has seen them in approx.7 yrs.)We finally dug 'em out & Lordy-Lordy, they had proper parade slings! Another bonus was that I had been told that the bolts had been WELDED, so as to make them "non-guns" to comply with what some all purpose idiot thought was the new long-gun laws(@ the time) in Canada.Well..the bolts WEREN'T welded  But..there is a small weld in the muzzel to close it off . These are 1917 BSA models. Otherwise in PRISTINE condition.The question here is..how difficult is it to re-open something like this, & return them to service condition? (The bayos are perfect as well!!)
I wont be able to dig 'em back out very easily for pics.) If I / we can rescue them-I'll offer to buy 'em.
Hoadie

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hoadie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680	Post Options Post Reply Quote hoadie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: welded muzzel Posted: April 14 2013 at 11:08pm
	Last night-whilst I was @ the Legion-the Sgt @ arms & I dug thru the rear catacombes of the Branch, to the locker whereby our Enfields were supposed to be stored.(No-one has seen them in approx.7 yrs.)We finally dug 'em out & Lordy-Lordy, they had proper parade slings! Another bonus was that I had been told that the bolts had been WELDED, so as to make them "non-guns" to comply with what some all purpose idiot thought was the new long-gun laws(@ the time) in Canada.Well..the bolts WEREN'T welded But..there is a small weld in the muzzel to close it off . These are 1917 BSA models. Otherwise in PRISTINE condition.The question here is..how difficult is it to re-open something like this, & return them to service condition? (The bayos are perfect as well!!) I wont be able to dig 'em back out very easily for pics.) If I / we can rescue them-I'll offer to buy 'em. Hoadie
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LE Owner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 04 2009 Status: Offline Points: 1047	Post Options Post Reply Quote LE Owner Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 12:31am
	Check under the wood to see if the welded up barrel has been welded to the receiver ring. If not its would be best to rebarrel these rather than trying to open up a welded up muzzle. Even if you could drill out the weld and counterbore welded barrels may have become unsafe due to compromised heat treatment. When muzzle brakes of SAFN rifles have been welded on for import some owners have reported very poor accuracy. The welding having changed barrel harmonics. Some were not affected. If these rifles bear no DP markings a rebarrel may do the trick. Caution that no other de-milling has been done, such as bored through chambers or milling away of load bearing portions of the action body.

hoadie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680	Post Options Post Reply Quote hoadie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 12:43am
	Thanx.The only thing done to them was this weld on the muzzel.(Its a small bead, as well)Actually goes concave.I'm not really interested in re-barrelling.(I'd pass on the project). Hoadie
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LilysDad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: March 22 2013 Location: IL, USA Status: Offline Points: 183	Post Options Post Reply Quote LilysDad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 1:05am
	I bet you could still sell them for a bit.

hoadie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680	Post Options Post Reply Quote hoadie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 1:57am
	Not if I'm paying $375 each Cdn(before repairs) Hoadie
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paddyofurniture Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 7942	Post Options Post Reply Quote paddyofurniture Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 6:32am
	Hoadie, Check and see if it is really welded or just a bead of weld stuck in place.
	Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.

TRX Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 20 2009 Location: Arkansas Status: Offline Points: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote TRX Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 9:15am
	Cut the barrels off 1/8 inch at a time until you hit rifling, then buy a .312" piloted crowning tool. You could disassemble the rifle, remove the barrel, set it up in a lathe and steady rest, and counterbore the muzzle until you got to rifling (some arsenal refurb Mosins are counterbored like this) but it'd be far more work than it was worth, in my opinion.

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 9:32am
	I'd be concerned about the metal that was heated enough to weld a puddle into the barrel muzzle, as LEowner mentioned.

White Rhino Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 05 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5153	Post Options Post Reply Quote White Rhino Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:08am
	Bet Hoadie had a beer in his hand when they went searching !!!!
	"White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields

paddyofurniture Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 7942	Post Options Post Reply Quote paddyofurniture Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:15am
	I do not think Hoadie had a beer in his hand. He was on a Enfield hunt. He in search of the great Enfield rifle, beer, women, and money meant nothing.
	Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.

LE Owner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 04 2009 Status: Offline Points: 1047	Post Options Post Reply Quote LE Owner Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:16am
	Could be a soldered in plug rather than a weld. Try heating one up and find out for sure. Soldered in plugs often leave the bore or chamber deeply pitted from the action of acid based flux.

White Rhino Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 05 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5153	Post Options Post Reply Quote White Rhino Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:19am
	I know Hoadie !!! He had a beer in one hand , Enfield on the Mind and a Girlie waiting on him to get back from the search !!!!!
	"White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields

Lithgow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lithgow Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:41am
	Surely they must have something else done to stop them from being fired? Imagine somebody putting a round in and firing one not realising the barrel was welded shut at the muzzle. Only a fool would weld a barrel shut at the muzzle and not at the breech as well.

paddyofurniture Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 7942	Post Options Post Reply Quote paddyofurniture Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 10:46am
	I am thinking the firing pin is cut, the bold head is missing, and the weld is in place so you can not shoot. Hoadie is hot for Enfields and a beer will not quench that thirst.
	Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.

hoadie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680	Post Options Post Reply Quote hoadie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 11:22am
	Didn't check the firing pins-no time or place for that(remember where we were-needed a flashlight as it was..& then it took 20 mins to find the right key for the locker!)Bolt heads are intact.NO weld in the breach(we're not talking overly intelligent people here.)They intended them to be for cenotaph & parade duty only-not for any firing.The only operational Enfield (when they HAD a colour party) was MINE.(My Vimy Vet). So Keep the advice & opinions coming folks!I appreciate the insight.I'll keep ya posted re:progress.(or lack of it) Hoadie
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hoadie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680	Post Options Post Reply Quote hoadie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2013 at 11:28am
	Oh-almost forgot..I DIDN'T have a beer in my hand..cuz we were in room BEHIND the bar-in the dark-& I did't wanna spill it. ...& yes-there WAS an old broad "gaurding"my beer while I was gone(Miss Carol-fell & broke her hip 9 weeks ago..so she had nothing ELSE to do! ). Wouldn't believe the uniforms & medals etc in that back room!NO IDEA who-where-what or why about 'em.Guess I'll hafta crawl back in there & start rooting it out & documenting it Hoadie
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