First project? SMLE No4 Mk1

A

aletheuo

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Been lurking here a while but this is my first post. I've learned a lot on CGN but now it's time to get my hands dirty. I am interested in getting into projects and my grandfather has passed on an SMLE No. 4 Mk. 1 (1943 Faz). The gun is working just fine but does have a loose barrel cover above the chamber (not sure what that's called - part of a multi-part stock I guess).

I have been thinking that this gun might make a project for complete overhaul but I'm wondering if this even makes a good project gun for a rookie? Seems to me that something built on a 700 action might be more appropriate, etc. To be honest I don't have much attachment to 303's (I know, wrong forum to say that) because I really don't appreciate rimmed cartridges.
 
"...barrel cover above the chamber..." Rear hand guard. If the rifle(it's not an SMLE. Only No.1 Lee-Enfields are SMLE's) is still in military configuration, doing anything to it will drop its value in half. Also altering one to a non-rimmed cartridge isn't exactly easy. Not impossible though.
You'd be better to buy a used, preferably beat up, commercial hunting rifle to play with. Your options for aftermarket parts and stocks are limited with a Lee-Enfield.
 
sunray said:
"...barrel cover above the chamber..." Rear hand guard. If the rifle(it's not an SMLE. Only No.1 Lee-Enfields are SMLE's) is still in military configuration, doing anything to it will drop its value in half. Also altering one to a non-rimmed cartridge isn't exactly easy. Not impossible though.
You'd be better to buy a used, preferably beat up, commercial hunting rifle to play with. Your options for aftermarket parts and stocks are limited with a Lee-Enfield.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's still in military configuration as is. Point well taken. I will begin with another project with easily accessible parts. I also don't plan to part with it at the present, either. It makes me sad that I can no longer call it a smelly - I always liked that term for it :D but I guess I was misguided.

Is it easy to fix this loose rear hand guard? :confused:

The only other thing that concerns me is that the trigger is very light. I don't have a scale to measure but the term "hair trigger" comes to mind. I know that when the safety comes off I better be prepared to shoot. Is this easily adjustable or do some consider this valuable and I should just leave it alone? I suppose if I had a lawyer he'd tell me to have it fixed. :rolleyes:
 
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Hi aletheuo,

On top of sunray's great advice, I'd say - post a few pictures here if you can. It'd be easier for many of us to offer a few pointers.

The loose handguard can be fixed, but it all depends on why it's loose. I'd probably lean towards showing it to someone near where you live, who has some experience with the Enfields.

A nice original No4 can be cleaned and parts adjusted, if done carefully it'll stay original and keep its value, but there are a few things that can go wrong and those are to be avoided. (I know I'm stating the obvious, I'm sort of thinking out loud, as I type).

Adjusting the trigger pull is also something that can be done, but here too many things can be at cause. That too, I recomend, to find some advice locally, with someone who can inspect the rifle in his hands. It is rewarding to fix a trigger pull problem but it's easy yo go too far with a few parts and then end up having to find new parts and start the adjustment all over again.

Let's see that rifle :)

Lou
 
No pics for now Lou... she's in storage, sorry. Looks eerily similar to every other one, however. It's not particularly unique - in fact I don't think it has much going for it except that I shot a mule deer with it this fall at about 75 yards from a behind a nice boulder (i say this because I couldn't much imagine taking a freehand shot with it). It's not much of a mountain rifle nor a sporter but it's what I had to use this year and I'm not embarassed to carry it - it is a piece of history and I'm proud of it (even if I do think the Americans got it right with the 30-06). I'm in elk country, however, and a scope is pretty much standard fare here and to put a scope on it would be a bit insane.

I recall the end of one day near the end of the season my shoulder ached so much that I could hardly lift my arm to put it on the back of the truck seat. I carry on the left side almost exclusively. That was a whole day out. Most of the time I had only been out for the morning and there wasn't any problem with it then. Needless to say, I'm not planning on hunting with it regularly next fall.

JR
 
Congrats on taking it out for real use, and putting meat in the freezer. Now you can understand why many were sporterized :)

In fact, so many were sporterized that they are easy to find. You could have your complete, original Lee Enfield, and get another one already sporterized for next year's hunting season...

On this pic, 6th one from the bottom. Not too heavy, I can carry it on a long walk up a montain without straining my shoulder too much.

mytempcollection.jpg


You're also right about the scope. Again, better leave it in its nice original shape, and scope an already sporterized one. Ideally you'll find one that already was blaspemized (drilled and tapped), it should be even cheaper than an untampered-with one, and you'll get a cheap and fun deer rifle. And true to our Canadian heritage! :D

Lou
 
Nice pics... yes, sporterized is much better. I hunted with a sporterized model like you display in the picture in my youth. So if one were looking for one I see we can find one here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297148

No picture of the overall rifle concerns me, muzzle break looks like a homemade jobbie which makes me think accuracy may be an issue and aside from that there's no scope mounting ability yet, either. Better left to become someone else's headache, yes, no?
 
aletheuo said:
Nice pics... yes, sporterized is much better. I hunted with a sporterized model like you display in the picture in my youth. So if one were looking for one I see we can find one here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297148

No picture of the overall rifle concerns me, muzzle break looks like a homemade jobbie which makes me think accuracy may be an issue and aside from that there's no scope mounting ability yet, either. Better left to become someone else's headache, yes, no?
Click to expand...



If I were you and I was looking for an enfield sporter, I'd post a wanted ad for one. You will get a million responses because everyone has one or two kicking around, and you can pick exactly the one you want.
 
"...the trigger is very light..." Somebody likely tried to do a trigger job. Take off the stock and have a look at the trigger. You're looking for file or other tool marks where the sear and trigger meet. If the trigger is so light it's dangerous, you'll have to replace them. It's not difficult nor does it take special tools. $20 for the pair from Marstar.
A leather shim will likely fix the haud guard. And if you want to call it 'Smelly', go right ahead. Lots of guys name their rifles.
 
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