Useing one from any other, Even if it would bolt up, It would not be original to the rifle. First the sling hook up is on the side at the butt plate. It is shorter and has different form.
DD
Numrich Archiver
Joined: February 2010
Posted: February 3, 2007 04:28 PM
Useing one from any other, Even if it would bolt up, It would not be original to the rifle. First the sling hook up is on the side at the butt plate. It is shorter and has different form.
If you got foretsock and hand guards from either of the others you would have to cut to fit. the fore stock and hand guard doesn't go as far toward the muzzle as the others.
DD
Numrich Archiver
Joined: February 2010
Posted: February 3, 2007 06:35 PM
If you got foretsock and hand guards from either of the others you would have to cut to fit. the fore stock and hand guard doesn't go as far toward the muzzle as the others.
The No5mk1 needs no 'forestock' Paul, just your correct mainstock and a proper handguard. A No4mk1 mainstock would fit the action but is too long and would need to be cut about 4 inches in front of the barrel band, tapered, and rounded to simulate the original. The handguard should only protrude roughly 1 inch in front of the band. The No.4mk1 butt would need serious modification to resemble the original and be accurate in style. It would need to be fitted for the much different No5 buttplate with it's attached side sling point and the cut out area of the butt in front of the sling point. Many, many No.4's have been cut down and made to look like No.5's over the years with the addition of cone flash suppressors after cutting the barrel and moving the site back. They often don't have the No.5 buttplate though, which is an early warning sign it's not real and worth half what a true No.5 is.
You say you have the correct mainstock. Are you trying to replace a damaged No.5 stock and restore it with a handguard or what? Let us know what you are trying to accomplish, and someone can maybe better answer your question and help you meet your goal with your rifle. surplusrifles.com has a good photo of a No.5mk1 that will show you what they are supposed to look like.
Numrich Archiver
Joined: February 2010
Posted: February 3, 2007 07:09 PM
The No5mk1 needs no 'forestock' Paul, just your correct mainstock and a proper handguard. A No4mk1 mainstock would fit the action but is too long and would need to be cut about 4 inches in front of the barrel band, tapered, and rounded to simulate the original. The handguard should only protrude roughly 1 inch in front of the band. The No.4mk1 butt would need serious modification to resemble the original and be accurate in style. It would need to be fitted for the much different No5 buttplate with it's attached side sling point and the cut out area of the butt in front of the sling point. Many, many No.4's have been cut down and made to look like No.5's over the years with the addition of cone flash suppressors after cutting the barrel and moving the site back. They often don't have the No.5 buttplate though, which is an early warning sign it's not real and worth half what a true No.5 is.
You say you have the correct mainstock. Are you trying to replace a damaged No.5 stock and restore it with a handguard or what? Let us know what you are trying to accomplish, and someone can maybe better answer your question and help you meet your goal with your rifle. surplusrifles.com has a good photo of a No.5mk1 that will show you what they are supposed to look like.
Unfortunately, you have been misinformed if you believe that ANY SMLE forestock will fit a No5 MkI. The SMLE is a term that applies only to some Lee Enfield rifles made from 1901 until 1926. It does not apply to rifles such as the No4 or No5 which were not made until after the term was no longer used officially. That being said the No5 is similar to but not the same as a No4. Most differences are minor such as the rear sight or lightening cuts in the No5. The furniture (wood) is not interchangeable except that the buttstock of a No4 will fit a No5 but not look correct. The No4 forestock is longer than that of the No5 but will interchange if attacked with a saw.
Numrich Archiver
Joined: February 2010
Posted: February 7, 2007 10:31 PM
Unfortunately, you have been misinformed if you believe that ANY SMLE forestock will fit a No5 MkI. The SMLE is a term that applies only to some Lee Enfield rifles made from 1901 until 1926. It does not apply to rifles such as the No4 or No5 which were not made until after the term was no longer used officially. That being said the No5 is similar to but not the same as a No4. Most differences are minor such as the rear sight or lightening cuts in the No5. The furniture (wood) is not interchangeable except that the buttstock of a No4 will fit a No5 but not look correct. The No4 forestock is longer than that of the No5 but will interchange if attacked with a saw.
