No 1 MkIII front wood project

infideleggwelder

infideleggwelder

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Go east they said. it will be fun, they said
My father gave me this 1915 No1 MkIII. It was a Canadian Tire Rifle in a Barrel special back in the 1960`s. he bought 3 for $25. it was missing the front sight blade, so he never used it.
i think its time for this one to get new clothes. i`ve got the front and rear hand guard already made, the rear still needs a bit of tweaking. the clips for the rear guard just arrived from Numerich, still need to install that piece.
the chunk of walnut the rifle is resting on is going to become the new fore end. i`ve not made one of those before, so i`ll make sure to take pictures as I go. i don't have a duplicator, just a router, a bandsaw and a few hand tools.
i will be using a numerich fore end for reference, along with the original sporter fore end, and a spare barrel that i have.
i hope to pick some of the experts brain`s for the bedding/free floating process, along with other advice.


 
That is an exciting project! The pieces you have made look excellent, keep us posted on your forestock project! Step by step pictures would be cool.
 
Dyspnea said:
Enfields prefer to have a slight upward pressure on the barrel from the forestock as opposed to free floating.
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Yes, the No. 1 barrel is only free from above the reinforce to a bit below the lower band. If you go to a website like "milsurps" you'll find countless threads (with pictures) showing how it's done. Definitely more complicated than the no. 4 rifle.

milsurpo
 
Started recording some measurements this evening and laid out the centre line. i plan on making a router template to do the initial cut out for the receiver, I`ll sneak up on it with scrap wood tests before cutting walnut.
on my Numerich Fore end, the barrel channel is stepped about 1/32 deeper right after ( going back from the muzzle) and then is cut tapered after the rear sight with some kind of rotary tool.

Being that the upper hand guards and the fore end are from the same plank, colour matching should be easy.
 
thanks for the encouragement.
installed my first rear hand guard clip today. made the hand guard about 4 years ago, and finally got some spring clips for it. i really need to make some rivet setting tools. the clip, being NOS, is very tight compared to any of my originals so i don't think ill be popping it on and off too often. I'm scared I`ll break it.


 
7ECA said:
So..., once you've got the forend manufacturing down pat are you available to start mass production? ;)

Subscribed for sure.
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thanks. will be keeping a pretty close journal on this project.

manufacturing.... hmmm the issue i have is raw material. seems the common thread. there is no domestic walnut on this rock in the Atlantic. i am running out and have not been able to get hold of my walnut guy in Ontario, and no luck with kijiji, etc ads. it is available commercially but not locally, and cost + shipping is generally prohibitive. i can find standard 3/4 plank, but that is very expensive and needs to be laminated.
 
got started on the fore end. dispensed with the router idea. can`t see routing the receiver recess with a hand held router ending well, and developing hard jigs would be a little overkill on something i may never make again.
anyway, forstner bits and chisels. the long way but less likely to make huge mistakes.


inletting the receiver will be fun....dremel tool will get a workout
 
I'm in awe. I've made quite a number of sporter stocks from scratch and know the challenges. Doing a No1 or No4 stock set is another level of magnitude more difficult. You do very good work sir! Please continue to show your progress.
 
A bit of progress. inletting the receiver and barrel. it is very nitpicky work, and I'm glad i know how to work wood... need to try a smaller router bit to inlet the front half of the barrel, 1/2 inch is too wide. its about half way in, it would be nice to have a receiver with no barrel, but that might cause other problems like alignment. in the stock. not sure when I'm getting back to it, have to take on some paying projects.


 
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