|
No4 Mk2 Finish |
Post Reply 
|
Page 12> |
| Author | |
murphy2133 
Newbie 
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: No4 Mk2 FinishPosted: January 05 2022 at 3:48pm |
|
Recently acquired a No4 Mk2. It's in not great condition and still has tons of cosmoline (I'm literally taking a break from my mineral spirits/heat gun treatments to draft this).
My question is regarding the metal finish. It appears to be painted? It seems like a satin finish, not matte like parkerizing. Is this factory or?? I know refinishing classic rifles is faux pas to many. I just want this rifle to be nicer looking than it is. Don't really plan to do anything to the wood other than some Tru-Oil once I bleed as much cosmoline out as I can but for the metal I'm at a loss. I've considered getting it blued, possibly cera-kote (if it is indeed a factory "paint" like finish). On another note, what are some resources I can use to determine dates/factory by serial number? Most of the resources I've found pertain to No4 Mk1... Thank you for any responses! EDIT: found out it is a paint finish. The paint on mine is pretty poor condition. Would removing and Cera-koting provide similar look? Bluing? Also, in pictures I've seen the bolts appear to be blued. Mine is mostly bare metal. Any in bare metal finish or were they blued or painted?
|
|
 |
|
|
Goosic
Senior Member 
Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8842 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 7:48am |
|
The paint you are questioning is called, Suncorote/Suncorite and it was baked on. The same finish can be achieved using BBQ grille paint or automotive VHT header paint. To get the baked on finish you can use a heatgun on low and slowly go over the barreled action no closer than 6 inches for no less than 60 minutes or bake it in the oven on low, 175°- 200° for 60 minutes as well.
If you can supply us with the actual serial number we can determine a when and were.
|
|
|
|
|
AussieShooter
Senior Member
Joined: April 14 2019 Location: Chicago, IL Status: Offline Points: 343 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 8:26am |
|
Hi Murphy, I have an Australian No1 MkIII with the suncorite. Unfortunately the condition is not great, but I was advised to leave it as is. It's part of the history. Apparently it is difficult to remove, and in doing so you risk damaging the finish of the rifle. So I left it as is. With my rifle, we were all (the royal we on this board) a little puzzeled on how it became painted, as the Aussies were not "known" to paint their rifles, and there was no evidence it made its way to India or Pakistan. It could have been a field requirement but we were unsure. During WWII the British War Department approved the painting of No1 No2 and No3 rifles, and I attached an interesting read for you. Now, yours is a peace time rifle, but as they say with Enfields, "Never say Never"!!
|
|
|
"Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges" - Tacitus
The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates |
|
|
|
|
Shamu
Admin Group 
Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 8:58am |
|
The Suncorite is the original & correct finish. You can replicate it with several semi-gloss black paints, but it will devalue the gun to collectors, odd as that seems. The bolts were also painted with Suncroite at the factory, but normal wear removes it fairly quickly. If you repaint it the bolt will be "sticky" until it wears off again!
|
|
|
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
|
|
|
|
|
britrifles
Senior Member
Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 9:21am |
|
It’s unfortunate that some people will sand off the metal finish on these old military rifles, and not realize they have a fairly rare milsurp rifle.
My early 1941 Long Branch Mk 1/2 had been sanded, all the paint and most of the phosphate was sanded off. In that case, I think you have to refinish it. I decided to cold blue the entire action and barrel, along with all the other metal parts that had been sanded. I used Birchwood Casey Perma Blue. I liked how it turned out, almost a black finish. But, not the origional finish. Before:  After:  |
|
|
|
|
AussieShooter
Senior Member
Joined: April 14 2019 Location: Chicago, IL Status: Offline Points: 343 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 9:33am |
|
Great job. Very nice recovery from the bubba'd original.
|
|
|
"Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges" - Tacitus
The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates |
|
|
|
|
murphy2133
Newbie
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 12:36pm |
|
Thanks! Here is a picture of the serial number!
 |
|
|
|
|
murphy2133
Newbie
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 12:50pm |
|
Great job on the bluing!
I attached some pictures of the barrel finish on my rifle. You can see in another reply the condition of the receiver, or part of it.   |
|
|
|
|
Goosic
Senior Member
Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8842 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 1:09pm |
|
It was made in March 1950 by Fazackerly.
No4Mk2 (F) =Fazackerly 3/50 = Date of manufacture |
|
|
|
|
britrifles
Senior Member
Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 3:41pm |
|
That’s a tough one. Looks like wide scratches/gouges on the paint finish. The barrel is 95% covered by the wood, so probably just as well leave as is. Perhaps just touch up the wide scratches with a stove paint that is close to the same sheen of black, “satin”?
|
|
|
|
|
murphy2133
Newbie
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2022 at 10:42pm |
|
Thanks Goosic for the serial number info! Britrifles, I've included a few more pictures now that I was able to get the rifle broken down further. These are after cleaning with mineral spirits, toothbrush and heatgun. I'd like to take it down further, but that spring behind the mag release looks a bit tricky to re-install...
  The bare metal bit is the import marks. Hard to make out unless I run a silver Sharpie over it...  |
|
|
|
|
britrifles
Senior Member
Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 07 2022 at 2:25am |
|
Murphy, you can easily remove and reinstall the mag release/sear spring with needle nose pliers. The mini Vice grip type needle nose work great for this. Then you take the pins out with a brass drift/punch and get it all cleaned up.
One of my No. 4’s has about 90% of the paint finish removed, not sure when that had been done. May have been bead blasted by Fulton’s when it was assembled as a target rifle. It also had a new BSA barrel installed at that time that appears to be blued and not painted. My UF 1956 No. 4 Mk 2 rifle appears to have a blued (black) finish and not painted, this rifle is a DCRA 7.62 conversion, Long Branch may have refinished it. Anyone on the forum with late production (‘55/‘56) Fazakerley rifles? What does the action body finish look like? |
|
|
|
|
murphy2133
Newbie
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 07 2022 at 7:55am |
|
Britrifles, thanks again! Time to go find my locking pliers...
I've been using 0000 steel wool to gently remove any surface rust. This doesn't cut through any paint that is left but takes the rust off. I'll get the rest of the action area broken down and cleaned up. Some, grease, oil and wax and back together. Still not sure if pursue refinishing the metal. If I do I'll take it to a pro rather than attempt touching up or full re-finish on my own. More than likely I'll get this all cleaning and rust removal done then put money into ammunition for it. I've got about 100rds of the WW2 surplus that may or may not all fire. When it's all done I'll put some new pics up! Thank you all for the information and responses!
|
|
|
|
|
shiloh
Senior Member
Joined: January 08 2019 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 3049 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 07 2022 at 9:35am |
|
For the action just thoroughly soak it in a penetrating de-greaser let sit for awhile then blast is all out with a non chlorinated break cleaner, spray can type. I`ve done this many times with out completely taking them apart, works good, once clean lightly lube up all the moving parts.
|
|
|
|
|
murphy2133
Newbie
Joined: January 05 2022 Location: North CO, USA Status: Offline Points: 20 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 07 2022 at 10:10pm |
|
Got it all done. Those trigger pins were certainly unpleasant. Got all the surface corrosion cleaned off and here's what we have. Put a coat of Birchwood Casey Wax on the wood inside and out and all the outer metal surfaces.
Not great, but miles ahead of where it was. The trigger is amazing now! The action is a smooth as it should be! Now I need it to not be 20 degrees with 3 foot drifts at my range so I can shoot!   |
|
|
|
|
britrifles
Senior Member
Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 08 2022 at 3:04am |
|
Looks good. Looking forward to a range report. What ammo do you have?
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
Page 12> |
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options