No. 4 Mk.1* stock length
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Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Info for New Enfield Owners
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URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5313
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Topic: No. 4 Mk.1* stock length
Posted By: badbob47
Subject: No. 4 Mk.1* stock length
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 3:30am
| I recently purchased an excellent 1944 Longbranch No.4 MK1*. I plan to use it as a shooter but the problem I have with it is that it appears to have a long stock on it and I'm a short person (5'5"). There is an "L" stamped just forward of the butt plate on the comb. From what I've read, the "L" indicates that it is a long stock. The length of pull is 13 1/2" which should normally fit me but the funny grip makes it feel longer. I've noticed that Springfield Sporters lists a "normal" length stock for the Longbranch rifles. How long is "normal"? Also, would a stock from a rifle other than a Longbranch fit? I tried calling Springfield Sporters for info on their stocks but they're closed for the week. |
Replies:
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 4:41am
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Excellent find ! post some pictures if you can CM
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Posted By: badbob47
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 5:42am
Bright sunlight today. Hey, anyone know how to adjust the sling? The hooks seem to be really tight.   |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 7:00am
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IIRC each stock length change is 1/2", as for the sling what you have to do is crush the material towards the center, unhooking it. Once unhooked you move the end to where you want it, crush there hook one side in & flatten again working the opposite hook in as you do so. There are 4 ways to set up an Enfield sling, 3 or them wrong  the correct way is with the smooth sides of the rivets facing the wood & the hooks facing out away from it. Start with about a 1" loop at the front, make the length what you want & hook the rear in at that length.------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: badbob47
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 8:05am
| I figured out how to adjust the sling. The way the sling was configured as received is wrong. Thanks. |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 12:30pm
| SWEET ! Nice Pics !! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 04 2012 at 8:52pm
The funny thing is the sling fitting isn't just a cosmetic, or collector being right thing, it actually matters on an Enfield as the hoooks will gouge the wood if you don't get it fitted right! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 05 2012 at 12:25am
Your right but most soldiers in combat would put the hooks to the inside so they would'nt hang on brush , but being turned would damage the wood. I keep mine to the outside not to damage the wood, but if I had to carry her into combat I would have reverse them to the inside.
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Shamu wrote:Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 05 2012 at 4:25am
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True dat! but, as always, "Tommy" can usually dream up a "TFM" to bollux up the whole system. I've seen electrical tape, rubber bands & even bits of old socks & a short length of a tie used as brush gaiters! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 05 2012 at 7:10am
Exactly
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Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: July 05 2012 at 9:00am
it has been my understanding for more than ten years that the buttstock loop is to be one hand slack with the spare taken up at the forend swivel , but i agree on the hooks out / smooth rivet heads in , a sling can dress OR undress the situation if you know what i mean .....im not always proper but my rifles are if i have anthing to say about it
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Posted By: badbob47
Date Posted: July 06 2012 at 4:40am
| I've noticed that the grip section of the stock on my Longbranch is quite slender. I visited a friend yesterday and compared my Longbranch with his Fazakerly No.4 Mk2 and noticed that the grip on his stock was noticeably thicker. I'm wondering of the grip on my stock was sanded down or is that a characteristic of a Longbranch rifle with a long stock. Any one know? |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 06 2012 at 7:26am
Interesting, you have me curious now, going to go check mine 
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Posted By: Moondog55
Date Posted: July 06 2012 at 8:16am
| I have 5 butt-stocks here; none of them a long tho; all from different factories and there is a small difference between each of them, 2 are much "fatter" in the hand. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 07 2012 at 10:36am
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There has been some discussion about this elswhere, but I'm only going from a shooter's perspective. I remember we did drill with DPs, but shot with real shooters. Iterestingly we not only had different slings for both (no-one wanted to be seen dead on the range with a white blancoed sling), but we rigged them differently as well. My friend AIFWIKIR, who posts on here once in a blue moon, calls my Mk2 my "parade rifle" because of the glossy finish, for example, & this illustrates the difference a little. For shooters you want the brass "knuckle dragger" free of the wrist, hand & forearm. However for parade purposes appearance is everything, so it is tighter than normal & sometimes rigged for effect instead of performance. Horses for courses you might say, & sometimes there really is more than one way to skin a cat! Personally for display I'd rig like a DP rifle, but I'd hate to try shooting one that way. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |