New Lee Enfield Owner

[PatrickZS]

I'm expecting my first Lee Enfield No4 Mk1 1943. I've always wanted one (well, fully intact), and have read and watched videos on them for quite some time.

The barrel hasn't been chopped, and I hope one day to restore it to it's proper configuration. My background is in cultural heritage physical property preservation and conservation. So everything screams in my head not to. After all, when a Lee Enfield has been converted into a sporter, that's just part of it's history. Then again, if I restore it back, then THAT becomes part of it's history as well. LOL

But if any Lee Enfield owners have new ownership tips, I would love to hear them. My ego isn't so big that I believe I've learned everything I can about any specific topic.

Cheers!

Oh, I'll post pics when it gets in.

 

[Snider shooter]

Since I rebuild Lee Enfields I say put it back to original. You can hunt down all original parts that match the original maker and the FTR( factory through repair). New wood is also available through Prestigious woods. A couple of site sponsors have some of the natal pieces you will need. I have been finding a lot of parts locally off of Gun Post. I constantly buy parts so that I will have them when I decide to rebuild one. Parts can also be found on the EE. I have rifles sitting waiting for the correct parts to show. I was hunting for Long Branch parts for over four years preparing to rebuild one. A couple of weeks ago I finally found an original forearm so the only thing left was to find a action and barrel. So I decided to search Gun Post. I found an OL marked first year LB. I already had an OL marked bolt. I drove an hour to pick it up. Had it together in under an hour after getting home. I enjoy the ones I have rebuilt more than the sporters.

 

[PatrickZS]

Since I rebuild Lee Enfields I say put it back to original. You can hunt down all original parts that match the original maker and the FTR( factory through repair). New wood is also available through Prestigious woods. A couple of site sponsors have some of the natal pieces you will need. I have been finding a lot of parts locally off of Gun Post. I constantly buy parts so that I will have them when I decide to rebuild one. Parts can also be found on the EE. I have rifles sitting waiting for the correct parts to show. I was hunting for Long Branch parts for over four years preparing to rebuild one. A couple of weeks ago I finally found an original forearm so the only thing left was to find a action and barrel. So I decided to search Gun Post. I found an OL marked first year LB. I already had an OL marked bolt. I drove an hour to pick it up. Had it together in under an hour after getting home. I enjoy the ones I have rebuilt more than the sporters.

I'm leaning more towards restoring it if I get a chance. I just love the look of a proper Lee Enfield.

What part of NS are you in? I used to live in Yarmouth and Wedgeport some 20 years ago. Damn. That number just surprised me. I miss it. So much more quiet than central -drive me nuts- ontario...

 

[milsurpo]

Since there's no shortage of non-sporterized and desporterized Lee Enfields, how about going the other direction and completing the sporterization with new sights, fancy wood, etc. A real "sporter" done by a talented gunsmith can be a real gem. The usual "sporter", with nothing done other than sawing off the forend and or chopping the barrel and leaving the military sights, etc, are no tribute to Bubba's talents. Regarding restoration by fitting of a new forend, doing it properly is a major challenge and to learn all you need to know just to do a one-off doesn't make a lot of sense. If you collect them you'll eventually be forced to learn things like patching the draws or be forced to leave part of your collection as non-shooters but, with a collection you will also have examples of original, in spec bedding to look at and use as a model for your work. The first one I did this sort of work on was a very tired No. 1 Mk III, and I probably had to go back and re-do things three times before I got it right- something to keep in mind if you buy an expensive new forend and start chiseling on it.

I guess I'm suggesting you find and buy one in original configuration and set the "sporter" aside and think about it. Go to some of the larger Canadian auction sites and check out prices on recent sales of No. 4 rifles. There are some good buys to be had.

milsurpo

 

[55recce]

Unless you can source correct, original parts, which is expensive and time consuming, it will be difficult to restore to a truly original configuration. The current trend of buying new repro wood and putting it on results in a piece that just looks wrong to any serious Enfield collector. In the past I have been able to distress some pieces of wood to make them a closer match to the original by adding dents, scratches and dirt but that is going to be difficult on a complete new wood set. Colour matching is always difficult.

Unless you start with something rare (such as a 1941 No 4 Mk 1 Long Branch without the *), I do not feel that restoring a run of the mill sporter is worthwhile. Of course if you really want to go ahead please fill your boots. This is just my opinion based on many years of collecting Lee Enfield rifles.

 

[Butcherbill]

OP, as you know it’s only original once. That said if it makes you happy to desporterize it, go for it. I’ve done it to one Enfield, it has sentimental value as it was the only gun I inherited when my dad passed away. I prefer it in full wood than the sporterized state it was in and I know my dad would as well, I have a soft spot for Enfield sporter’s as it’s a bit of Canadiana. Regardless of what you do to it I hope you shoot it and enjoy it, I wish I shot mine more. Started hunting with my No.4 this year as I missed carrying it around the last two years, it’s like an old friend is back while I’m out bear hunting with it.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Wondering why you bought a bubba'd rifle to restore when there are loads of good and not hugely expensive original rifles?

I just (yesterday) brought home a minty No4 MK2 Irish Contract rifle that appears to have hardly been shot. While there is some copper in the bore, the bolt face looks new. I'm not overly interested in the "collector value" of the rifle as I paid a fraction of what I see other Irish Contract rifles listed at. My goal is to turn it into a knock-off No4 (T) via the addition of the No32 scope and its mount and cheekpiece. Basically something I can have fun shooting.

 

[PatrickZS]

Unless you can source correct, original parts, which is expensive and time consuming, it will be difficult to restore to a truly original configuration. The current trend of buying new repro wood and putting it on results in a piece that just looks wrong to any serious Enfield collector. In the past I have been able to distress some pieces of wood to make them a closer match to the original by adding dents, scratches and dirt but that is going to be difficult on a complete new wood set. Colour matching is always difficult.

Unless you start with something rare (such as a 1941 No 4 Mk 1 Long Branch without the *), I do not feel that restoring a run of the mill sporter is worthwhile. Of course if you really want to go ahead please fill your boots. This is just my opinion based on many years of collecting Lee Enfield rifles.

I don't disagree with you at all on this. And while I'd LOVE to be a serious collector, you clearly know enough about the subject to know what costs are involved. And sometimes a long term goal involves going with what you can afford and moving on from there vs saving and buying something outright in one shot. But I certainly get what you're talking about.

OP, as you know it’s only original once. That said if it makes you happy to desporterize it, go for it. I’ve done it to one Enfield, it has sentimental value as it was the only gun I inherited when my dad passed away. I prefer it in full wood than the sporterized state it was in and I know my dad would as well, I have a soft spot for Enfield sporter’s as it’s a bit of Canadiana. Regardless of what you do to it I hope you shoot it and enjoy it, I wish I shot mine more. Started hunting with my No.4 this year as I missed carrying it around the last two years, it’s like an old friend is back while I’m out bear hunting with it.

There is certainly a nostalgia factor involved with these things, eh? Mine stems from my work at the Canadian War Museum years ago. The ams vault was something to see...

Wondering why you bought a bubba'd rifle to restore when there are loads of good and not hugely expensive original rifles?

I just (yesterday) brought home a minty No4 MK2 Irish Contract rifle that appears to have hardly been shot. While there is some copper in the bore, the bolt face looks new. I'm not overly interested in the "collector value" of the rifle as I paid a fraction of what I see other Irish Contract rifles listed at. My goal is to turn it into a knock-off No4 (T) via the addition of the No32 scope and its mount and cheekpiece. Basically something I can have fun shooting.

I suppose because expense is relative to the user's bank account. If there's a fully intact no 4 for $250, I'd love to see it last on the market for more than 30 seconds LOL

Since there's no shortage of non-sporterized and desporterized Lee Enfields, how about going the other direction and completing the sporterization with new sights, fancy wood, etc. A real "sporter" done by a talented gunsmith can be a real gem. The usual "sporter", with nothing done other than sawing off the forend and or chopping the barrel and leaving the military sights, etc, are no tribute to Bubba's talents. Regarding restoration by fitting of a new forend, doing it properly is a major challenge and to learn all you need to know just to do a one-off doesn't make a lot of sense. If you collect them you'll eventually be forced to learn things like patching the draws or be forced to leave part of your collection as non-shooters but, with a collection you will also have examples of original, in spec bedding to look at and use as a model for your work. The first one I did this sort of work on was a very tired No. 1 Mk III, and I probably had to go back and re-do things three times before I got it right- something to keep in mind if you buy an expensive new forend and start chiseling on it.

I guess I'm suggesting you find and buy one in original configuration and set the "sporter" aside and think about it. Go to some of the larger Canadian auction sites and check out prices on recent sales of No. 4 rifles. There are some good buys to be had.

milsurpo

The possible future desired intent and what actually happen is probably going to be like most of my plans. Unless money aligns in ways I'd prefer, I will more than likely just be using my sporter as it is and indeed doing little things to make it mine like you suggest. In the short term, I'll be cleaning up the wood's finish since it has no intrinsic historical value as far as I'm concerned. And adding a scope is certainly on the to do list.

I'll be starting a new thread to share pics and info.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

I suppose because expense is relative to the user's bank account. If there's a fully intact no 4 for $250, I'd love to see it last on the market for more than 30 seconds LOL

By the time you put that rifle back to its original configuration you will have spent more than you could buy a really nice original and complete rifle for. The economics of restoring butchered rifles is simply not there.

 

[bearhunter]

By the time you put that rifle back to its original configuration you will have spent more than you could buy a really nice original and complete rifle for. The economics of restoring butchered rifles is simply not there.

It is if you looked ahead and bought all of the components needed 5-10 years ago.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

It is if you looked ahead and bought all of the components needed 5-10 years ago.

If you had just bought a nice, complete rifle 5-10 years ago, we'd be in the same position.

I get it if a guy is interested in the work involved in reconditioning a rifle. But trying to "save money" rebuilding a basket case never works out. It always takes 10x more work than anticipated. Parts cost more than we think and there is always some little piece that is fricken impossible to find.

There are very nice, complete and original rifles being posted in the $800 range and I bet with a little wrangling one could knock $100 off that price. A replacement stock set costs $400+. Combined with the cost of a donor rifle and whatever misc parts are needed to complete the rifle, one cannot rebuild a rifle for less than an original rifle can be purchased.

 

[bearhunter]

If you had just bought a nice, complete rifle 5-10 years ago, we'd be in the same position.

I get it if a guy is interested in the work involved in reconditioning a rifle. But trying to "save money" rebuilding a basket case never works out. It always takes 10x more work than anticipated. Parts cost more than we think and there is always some little piece that is fricken impossible to find.

There are very nice, complete and original rifles being posted in the $800 range and I bet with a little wrangling one could knock $100 off that price. A replacement stock set costs $400+. Combined with the cost of a donor rifle and whatever misc parts are needed to complete the rifle, one cannot rebuild a rifle for less than an original rifle can be purchased.

Not so. IMHO.

Today, I would agree, if you don't have the parts needed for a build, it's going to be very expensive.

As for the work to put them back to factory condition, mostly it's a labor of love and for the folks that only do one, well worth the time and effort.

I picked up a very nice stock set at the Salmon Arm gun show last weekend from a walk in. He wanted $150 for it. I told him it was worth more but he just shrugged and asked me if I would give him $150. I didn't want to disappoint him as I had known him for years. He even put the stock set into my pick up for me and brought back the keys. Yes, I agree, it was a one off.

 

[cosmic]

If you had just bought a nice, complete rifle 5-10 years ago, we'd be in the same position.

I get it if a guy is interested in the work involved in reconditioning a rifle. But trying to "save money" rebuilding a basket case never works out. It always takes 10x more work than anticipated. Parts cost more than we think and there is always some little piece that is fricken impossible to find.

There are very nice, complete and original rifles being posted in the $800 range and I bet with a little wrangling one could knock $100 off that price. A replacement stock set costs $400+. Combined with the cost of a donor rifle and whatever misc parts are needed to complete the rifle, one cannot rebuild a rifle for less than an original rifle can be purchased.

As per Bearhunter, my opinion is contrary to yours. The majority of sporters were "cherry picked" years ago for condition. Finding the wood and associated bits can be relatively inexpensive if you know where to look, or have squirrel like tendencies like many of us older folk . I've had particularly good luck with Swedish mausers and Pattern-14 Enfields, but have also done No 4 Lee Enfields. An alternative way is to buy a complete rifle with defects such as a sewer pipe bore, and swap out the stock set with a nice sporter.

 

[Snider shooter]

I don’t find it all that expensive to rebuild a LE. Lately I have been buying parts lots with a lot of different pieces from different factories. I buy my parts ahead planning on future builds. My costs with new wood was $585 being highest and $315 with original wood so prices can vary. If your buying one or two parts at a time it is going to cost more. It’s the enjoyment of building these rifles back to original and taking them shooting. Hunting for correct parts can take a long time. My OL Long Branch took over four years to get correct pieces. Still missing one piece. I have a LB front band but it’s not an OL band. Eventually I will find one.