Churchill Lee Enfiield restorable?

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Battleworn

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Hey guys

My dad just gave me this rifle though he said I must keep and cannot sell it. I wasn’t very interested in lee spotters before but I’m interested in possibly restoring it. Though I’m not sure if it’s doable with this one looks like the barrel has been changed. 1F8F1F32-35D6-4792-968D-F0A0EFFE40E4.jpgFF97CE96-95BC-4D56-A58F-773BA3465333.jpgB6C76E3D-2FA1-46A0-BF1F-5C8C5DB0DA9A.jpgC0BEFEC2-5DFD-4306-B7AD-6331E196A95B.jpgC53F6013-BDC2-41A1-879E-C2755022B2DF.jpg
 

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I would leave it as is and enjoy it as is. As it stands it's a piece of your families history. Restoring is a expensive and painful endeavor which is harder than just slapping wood on a rifle (which is what most do). Up to you though
 
I’d keep it as is. That’s a very nice hunting rig! Also, as it used to be your dad’s, I’m sure he’d rather you leave it as he gave it to you...
 
The receiver has been drilled and tapped and the barrel has been chopped. These can all be repaired with time and cash. You would need a new barrel, but it wouldnt have any of the proof marks or match serial numbers. To correct the drill and tap the holes would need to be welded and the receiver re heat treated, unless you went with the cheaper fill and file method. But personally I’d leave as is, give it a good cleaning and oiling. Then enjoy the gift from your father.
 
dyspnea said:
the receiver has been drilled and tapped and the barrel has been chopped. These can all be repaired with time and cash. You would need a new barrel, but it wouldnt have any of the proof marks or match serial numbers. To correct the drill and tap the holes would need to be welded and the receiver re heat treated, unless you went with the cheaper fill and file method. But personally i’d leave as is, give it a good cleaning and oiling. Then enjoy the gift from your father.
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collector67 said:
i’d keep it as is. That’s a very nice hunting rig! Also, as it used to be your dad’s, i’m sure he’d rather you leave it as he gave it to you...
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eaglelord17 said:
i would leave it as is and enjoy it as is. As it stands it's a piece of your families history. Restoring is a expensive and painful endeavor which is harder than just slapping wood on a rifle (which is what most do). Up to you though
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^^^^^^

this
 
Please do not "restore" that rifle. It is fine just as it is as a reminder of your father and "it was only new............once".
 
Thanks for the advice and information guys. I really appreciate it. I do like the rifle as is. Reminds my of some safari rifles. So maybe I’ll just pick up another lee. Should I refinish the stock? It also has some minor pitting on the exterior I’d probly clean that up. Don’t know if I should be looking at reblueing or not.
 
Battleworn said:
Thanks for the advice and information guys. I really appreciate it. I do like the rifle as is. Reminds my of some safari rifles. So maybe I’ll just pick up another lee. Should I refinish the stock? It also has some minor pitting on the exterior I’d probly clean that up. Don’t know if I should be looking at reblueing or not.
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The stock finish looks fine and certainly matches the rest of the rifle. The bluing likely isn't worth messing with. It's a neat period piece from when these sporters were a competitor to proper commercial rifles like a Model 70 and were priced not too far off.
 
Battleworn said:
Thanks for the advice and information guys. I really appreciate it. I do like the rifle as is. Reminds my of some safari rifles. So maybe I’ll just pick up another lee. Should I refinish the stock? It also has some minor pitting on the exterior I’d probly clean that up. Don’t know if I should be looking at reblueing or not.
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Nothing wrong with a little pitting or scratches. I’d keep it as is and hunt with it.
 
It doesn't need to be "restored". It is in it's best form now. Although it might be good to own an "origina"l No.1, and I have several, it also good to keep something your Dad had and gave to you as it was when handed over to you.

I have a Churchill No.1 that I bought in 1965 at our local MacLeod's store. I also bought a nice old No.4 Churchill a few years back. The wood finish was rather scruffy on the No.4 so I redid it with linseed oil. Very nice wood on the No.4.
 
Anything is restorable if you throw enough time and money at it.

But wanting to restore this one is not unlike buying a hot rod car and wanting to restore back into an original Ford T sedan.

It can be done.

To restore this fine sporting rifle back to mil spec, to replace everything that has been modified with standard parts, will need a replacement barrel, receiver, fore stock, butt stock, hand guards, metal bands and hardware. All still available. You can easily find them on line. $$$.

You might be be able to use your bolt, current trigger guard (maybe) and trigger group, mag, the rear sight assembly and probably the butt stock bolt.

So you will in effect, be restoring your bolt back into an original service rifle. And the bolt will be non matching! :)

Churchill are still in the business of rifle makers. They did sporterised versions of surplus Lee Enfields in the 1970s and are sought after by hunters. They are good quality and well put together by professional rifle makers. Better quality than a lot of them out there.
Although not particularly valuable, they can command a price. This one would not last long without a buyer if it was put up for sale. It looks to be a nice one!
 
Battleworn said:
Hey guys

My dad just gave me this rifle though he said I must keep and cannot sell it.
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You should ask your dad about “restoring” it, I’m sure he’ll set you straight lol. I wouldn’t do anything to it other than enjoy shooting it and hunting with it, as far as most Enfield sporters go it’s a nice looking one. Plus it’s been in the family and obviously well loved by your dad.
 
Battleworn said:
Hey guys

My dad just gave me this rifle though he said I must keep and cannot sell it. I wasn’t very interested in lee spotters before but I’m interested in possibly restoring it. Though I’m not sure if it’s doable with this one looks like the barrel has been changed. View attachment 345355View attachment 345357View attachment 345358View attachment 345359View attachment 345360
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I wouldn't mess with that. It's a well-set-up hunting rifle. LE sporters are long out of style, but still kill a pile of moose, bears and deer, and I know of people with lots of money who still like them. Novelist, now senator, David Adams Richards hunted with one. I've got one here (not mine) that belonged to ?Jack? Irving, one of the billionaire Irving family. They are an underrated action, very smooth to operate compared to a Mauser, and also quite ergonomically pleasing IMHO.

Go hunting with it!
 
I have a Churchill Lee Enfield No4 , built on a Long Branch receiver. These rifles are very collectible! Churchill, Parker Hale, made some of the nices hunting rifle, on LE receivers. My Churchill built No4, is worth probably in the $400.00-500.00 range,....maybe even more . Has the 5 grove barrel , and shoots as it should. If you were to buy one of these rifle,(newly made) now-a-days, I bet you would buy it for under $1000.00, the stock alone is probably worth more, then most of the new plastic stock stuff out there.
If it wasn’t a “hand-me-down” from your father, I would be very happy to make it part of my LE sporting rifle collection, nice rifle! Keep it! And pass it on...
Cheers
Brian
 
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