My new Number Four is here!

Big Dog · 01-08-2005, 06:13 PM

Alrighty then . . . I got it today!

First inspection shows an Indian rifle, as I expected and feared. Dated 1944, and looks like it was FTR'd about '54 or so. It does have the "Ishy Screw", but done far less odiuosly than my No. 1 Mk.III wire-wrap (which had a big ol' honkin' MACHINE SCREW & NUT through the fore end!) - this one is a smaller slotted screw in the left side, somewhat recessed and only a tiny mar on the right side. I could fill and finish it pretty easily, or just leave it.
It is all here, and looks sound. Good strong rifling, and not the feared two-groove either! Great. Should be a decent shooter.
I'll get a pic of it, once I clean it up. It needs a good scrubbing, but isn't slathered with cosmo like I expected. The spike bayonet is heavily coated, but will clean easily. Serial numbers are all force-matched by electro-pencil, so it's likely a Frankengun. The rack number of the stock is different from the numbers on bayo and scabbard - three different numbers - so nothing really matches.
The stock has "character", but will clean up very well. Don't know yet if I'll totally refinish or just give it a good cleaning.
Metal finish is heavily worn, and totally gone in the scrubbed areas.
Hey, what do I expect for Ninety bucks?
Pretty good deal from AIM - it's as advertised. The only thing that pizzes me is the friggen Indians ground off the original markings - I can't tell where it was originally made. Even the date is an educated guess, but there is a barely visible set of markings on the receiver under the safety. The Makers markings on the right side are totally scrubbed - with a disk grinder it looks like!

So, overall, I'm pleased with it. It doesn't come close to the No.4 that I stupidly sold several years back. Dang! Wish I still had it.

Interestingly, this is not a Century import! The import stamp under the barrel is "TG Knox Tenn 303 British" - so I'm thinking Tennessee Gunworks brought 'em in.

jerry · 01-08-2005, 07:55 PM

sound like a proud pappa :right:

Big Dog · 01-09-2005, 05:54 PM

"Proud Papa" indeed! Baby needs a diaper change, bad!

I just dismantled it - whoowee! Mega loads of grease! She really pooped her britches . . . :insane:

Looks like they dipped the barrel in cosmo, then plopped it into the stock and put her together. Well, no rust on this gun, for sure!

I'll be stripping the stock after all - too much grease in there to leave as is.
Take it to the range now, it'll sweat oil like a fat longshoreman!

Big Dog · 01-15-2005, 08:45 AM

Alright, Mates! The Number Four has proved itself a good shooter! Excellent deal from AIM, for $89.
After giving the stock a good scrubbing, getting the gunk off, I gave it a couple coats of Tung Oil to freshen it.
I shot it this morning, using both some surplus Mk.VII .303 ammo and some Portugese-made FNM .303.
Both turned in good groups, with the FNM being centered for windage. The Mk.VII is shooting a tad right of center, but did the better group. It put four rounds into an inch at 100 yards!
I'm happy!

It's cold and windy, so I'll wait til a better day to really wring it out.

NRAJOE · 01-15-2005, 01:14 PM

I took a #2 this morning.....

Big Dog · 01-15-2005, 03:04 PM

Yeah, but how did you "group" . . . . ? Hehehe.

NRAJOE · 01-15-2005, 03:10 PM

Not well....

PAPA G · 01-15-2005, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRAJOE

Not well....

in other terms he missed the target by a mile

Big Dog · 01-15-2005, 05:54 PM

Well, I just hope Joe don't get a round stuck in the bore . . . :insane:

Just funnin' . . .

How's the Ohio/Guntucky rain and flooding situation looking? Hope y'all are getting thru it okay.

01-08-2005, 06:13 PM	#1
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	My new Number Four is here! Alrighty then . . . I got it today! First inspection shows an Indian rifle, as I expected and feared. Dated 1944, and looks like it was FTR'd about '54 or so. It does have the "Ishy Screw", but done far less odiuosly than my No. 1 Mk.III wire-wrap (which had a big ol' honkin' MACHINE SCREW & NUT through the fore end!) - this one is a smaller slotted screw in the left side, somewhat recessed and only a tiny mar on the right side. I could fill and finish it pretty easily, or just leave it. It is all here, and looks sound. Good strong rifling, and not the feared two-groove either! Great. Should be a decent shooter. I'll get a pic of it, once I clean it up. It needs a good scrubbing, but isn't slathered with cosmo like I expected. The spike bayonet is heavily coated, but will clean easily. Serial numbers are all force-matched by electro-pencil, so it's likely a Frankengun. The rack number of the stock is different from the numbers on bayo and scabbard - three different numbers - so nothing really matches. The stock has "character", but will clean up very well. Don't know yet if I'll totally refinish or just give it a good cleaning. Metal finish is heavily worn, and totally gone in the scrubbed areas. Hey, what do I expect for Ninety bucks? Pretty good deal from AIM - it's as advertised. The only thing that pizzes me is the friggen Indians ground off the original markings - I can't tell where it was originally made. Even the date is an educated guess, but there is a barely visible set of markings on the receiver under the safety. The Makers markings on the right side are totally scrubbed - with a disk grinder it looks like! So, overall, I'm pleased with it. It doesn't come close to the No.4 that I stupidly sold several years back. Dang! Wish I still had it. Interestingly, this is not a Century import! The import stamp under the barrel is "TG Knox Tenn 303 British" - so I'm thinking Tennessee Gunworks brought 'em in. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-09-2005, 05:54 PM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	"Proud Papa" indeed! Baby needs a diaper change, bad! I just dismantled it - whoowee! Mega loads of grease! She really pooped her britches . . . :insane: Looks like they dipped the barrel in cosmo, then plopped it into the stock and put her together. Well, no rust on this gun, for sure! I'll be stripping the stock after all - too much grease in there to leave as is. Take it to the range now, it'll sweat oil like a fat longshoreman! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-15-2005, 08:45 AM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	It gets to prove itself! Good show, Lads! Alright, Mates! The Number Four has proved itself a good shooter! Excellent deal from AIM, for $89. After giving the stock a good scrubbing, getting the gunk off, I gave it a couple coats of Tung Oil to freshen it. I shot it this morning, using both some surplus Mk.VII .303 ammo and some Portugese-made FNM .303. Both turned in good groups, with the FNM being centered for windage. The Mk.VII is shooting a tad right of center, but did the better group. It put four rounds into an inch at 100 yards! I'm happy! It's cold and windy, so I'll wait til a better day to really wring it out. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-15-2005, 01:14 PM	#5
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	I took a #2 this morning..... __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

01-15-2005, 03:04 PM	#6
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	Yeah, but how did you "group" . . . . ? Hehehe. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-08-2005, 07:55 PM	#2
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,870 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	sound like a proud pappa :right: __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

01-15-2005, 03:10 PM	#7
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	Not well.... __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

01-15-2005, 05:54 PM	#9
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	Well, I just hope Joe don't get a round stuck in the bore . . . :insane: Just funnin' . . . How's the Ohio/Guntucky rain and flooding situation looking? Hope y'all are getting thru it okay. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.