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Just bought a No 4 MK 2 “mummy” wrapped

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2700fps View Drop Down
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    Posted: December 20 2021 at 3:11pm
Avid mil surp collector. I reload and shoot everything I buy. I do like to work on my own rifles without getting into anything too complicated.

I intend to take the wrapping off, clean and fire my new LE but I am a little reluctant to dismantle this one since it was put together at the factory and not touched since all be it 66 years ago!

Just looking for some expert opinion and suggestions on cleaning products etc.

Thank you.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2021 at 2:24pm
If you are familiar with the Lee Enfield, particularly how to remove the forend, you will not damage the rifle by stripping it down.  There is only one way to remove the forend without damaging the wood bearing surfaces at the sear pin lugs known as “the draws”.  Don’t pull the barrel and forend apart at the muzzle, keep barrel and forend parallel as you separate them.  

I think Shamu has a good video on unwrapping and cleaning a new unissued No. 4.  




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2021 at 3:31pm
I wish.
Cry
lots of still pictures.

I do have a video of shooting mine.
Before you start, get your tool/cleaning kit.
A couple pf boxes of disposable cleaning cloths (J-cloths)
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/301937620195-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

A quart bottle of "Denatured Alcohol" (A.K.A. yellow "Heet") from the car parts store or supermarket.
A small wide mouth container (film can)?
A bottle of gun oil,
A cheap toothbrush or 12,
A pack of green & a pack of tan "Scotchbrite" pads.
A .30 cal cleaning kit, including a cylindrical jag & rods.
A bottle of "Stand Oil" from the local art supply store. (It's the modern equivalent of the original oil finish).
NOT B.L.O. from Home Despot!
A big bag of 3" shotgun cleaning patches.
A high quality (not cheap) "Schraeder valve" tool.
A set of gunsmith screwdrivers.
Lots of patience.
A bucket of elbow grease.
But its worth it all.
My two, one 100% mint, the other now my "Holy Grail Rifle".








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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2021 at 7:23pm
Very nice!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2700fps Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 26 2021 at 3:40pm
Hi Shamu

That is exactly what I was looking for. If you have any more still photos or even a video, that would be great!

If you PM me I’ll give you my email address.
I’m thinking of cleaning it really well without dismantling it, then shooting it to get some sort of a base line accuracy test then dismantling it and clean it similar to yours then shooting it again. I need to determine the approximate torque values of the action screws and the hand guard screws.

Many thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 27 2021 at 2:52am
There is a video online of an unwrapping of a Faz No. 4 Mk 2.  That rifle was well soaked in cosmoline and needed full disassembly. He primarily used boiling hot water IIRC. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 27 2021 at 9:48am
PM sent.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2700fps Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 27 2021 at 7:26pm
I replied. Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 28 2021 at 9:07am
I'll have to do a little work on the files to make them small enough to e-mail.
give me a couple of days.
PDF sent to confirm good contacts both ways.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tallinar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 21 2022 at 8:48pm
Hi folks. Lurker here! 

I just picked up a 1955 Faz. No. 4 Mk 2, myself. It was not in mummy wrap, but is still pretty caked with cosmoline. It appears that the previous owner did some light cleaning, but didn't disassemble the rifle beyond removing the bolt and giving a superficial cleaning to the action and bore. It seems to be in near-mummy wrap condition. 

I did quite a bit of milsurp shooting and reloading when I was younger, but have never done any cosmoline clean up work on my own. Dad used to do the heavy lifting, and I was just the wingman who didn't fully understand everything we were doing. :)

I've done quite a bit of reading online concerning various methods in general that folks use to remove cosmoline, but am really looking for some more step by step hand-holding as relates to this rifle in particular. I've stripped down the bolt, and purchased a quart of mineral spirits. Now I'm looking at everything and hesitant to know what my next steps are. I don't want to damage my gun, or burn down my house with careless use of mineral spirits or something. :)

Shamu, would you be willing to PM and share the information you sent to 2700fps? 

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 3:39am
Your on the right track Tallinar, ask before you tear the rifle apart.  There are some things you can damage by doing the disassembly wrong, removal of the fore-end stock in particular. If you are unfamiliar with the Lee Enfield, I recommend you pick up a few books on the subject.  Skennerton has a Handbook for the No. 4 rifle disassembly and assembly manual you can get on Amazon.  

DO NOT remove the fore-end by prying it away from the action at the muzzle!  Tap the upper rear surfaces on each side of the fore-end with a wood block with the rifle horizontal supported at the butt and muzzle.  The fore-end must be kept parallel with the barrel as it is moved away from the action.  




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tallinar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 5:20am
Thanks so much for the tip about the foreend. That’s the piece in most concerned about screwing up, and you’ve answered one of my questions. I understand bedding tension with the wood is a key part of how these rifles were put together, and probably one of the easier parts for me to screw up by taking things down with ignorance. 

I’m not completely unfamiliar with Enfields. I’ve owned a few Indian No. 1 Mk 3’s, and a Long Branch No. 4. But I never took them apart, as I had no compelling reason to. Long ago, I had my mind set on collecting them, and had a few books about them. Dad was collecting Mosins at the time, and we had begun researching Enfields together. But I quickly lost interest and sold them. I decided I was more interested in shooting than collecting, and it made more sense at the time to redirect my limited funds toward cowboy action, which was the more pressing interest that I was into with Dad and Grandpa at the time. At this point, I’m older, Dad and Grandpa are gone, and one of my sons was interested in getting into some kind of high power bolt action rifle. After teaching him about various WW2 era rifles, it seemed like a great time to get back into a No. 4. 

As for stripping the gun down for cosmoline removal, one question I have besides the topic of bedding, is whether or not I should go through the trouble of removing the extractor spring. There was a lot of cosmoline caked in the extractor claw itself, so I went abead and gently worked the claw out. The spring definitely has a bunch of junk in there, but I can’t figure a technique for removing the spring without fear of getting too aggressive. Should I just leave it and soak the bolt face in mineral spirits and see how it turns out? Or is there a technique to this that I’m just not finding online?

Also, should I bother removing the rear sight? 

The stock as a whole seems to have very little cosmoline in it, with the exception of the magazine channel beneath the chamber. There is a some evidence of it elsewhere, but the main surfaces of the stock are not gummy or greasy to the touch, and I’m inclined to do nothing with them. I’m inclined to think that a previous owner did at least a little work on it. I seem to have gathered on this forum that it may be worthwhile to use Murphy Oil Soap on it anyway. 

Anyway, any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks folks. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 10:46am
PM sent.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 12:50pm
Tallinar, I’m sure Shamu sent you good instructions, follow those.  

If that was my rifle, I would fully strip it, including the bolt.  I would not remove the barrel however, and clean the action body with a toothbrush and mineral spirits.  I’d want to get it squeaky clean.  But first, be sure of your knowledge on how to take things apart.  You will need a striker (firing pin) removal tool, which are available online. 

Probably no need for complete disassembly of the rear sight (I assume you have the Mk 1 machined rear sight).  The rear sight is easy to remove from the action body, drift out the small retaining pin thu the left end of the axis pin, be careful as you withdraw the axis pin, there is a spring loaded plunger pushing up on the rear sight leaf.  

Murphy’s Oil Soap is good for cleaning the wood.  After it dries, won’t hurt to give it some BLO.

I’m envious, would love to get my hands on an unissued No. 4 Mk 2.

I’m also much more of a shooter than a collector of vintage military rifles.  I’m quite active in the CMP Matches across the South East. 




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tallinar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 1:37pm
Thanks again, britrifles. I had already ordered the striker removal tool from Numrich the other day. Seemed like a good investment, rather than trying to YOLO it with a pair of pliers. 

Any tips on removing that extractor spring? 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2022 at 2:00pm
Removing, no. Just undo the screw & remove the spring. Do note which side faces IN & which OUT.
Reinstalling yes.
Re install the screw only, no spring.
Take a 12~18" piece of dental floss or strong fishing line. Make a few turns through the "U" of the spring & threaded back through the bolt head & wrapped round a screwdriver blade or similar. Attach the head to the bolt but don't screw in fully, this will become your "handle" for the next step.
FIRMLY pull the the bolt head & screwdriver apart "sucking" the spring into the head till it clicks as the bolt enters the detent.
Unravel the line!
Hug
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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