Lee Enfield Finishes

One thing only: Linseed oil. (boiled)

Try to stay away from linseed oil that has dryers added. Apply really thin coats and let each dry for at least a day.

Lou
 
mr.bean said:
I know about the stock but was hoping someone might know about what was used on the steel?
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Whatever you do, don't touch the steel! Or the wood, except to rub in a coat or two of linseed oil.

Is this that greenish Lithgow No 1? Great finish on that rifle...wipe in a coat of oil if it needs it.

Changing the finish will destroy the value.
 
sunray said:
"...what was used on the steel?..." Hot bluing. Unless your rifle is sporterized don't do anything to its finish.
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"Hot bluing" is a process which did NOT exist until the 1930s (@1938).

The British used "Browning" (similar to Rust Bluing) to finish all firearms.
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/topic/8427/t/British-Blueing-amp-Browning-Formulas.html

WW2 production introduced Oil Blackening (crude heat blueing), Salt (hot) Bluing and Phosphating (parkerizing) to British military gunmaking.

Note* That I personaly believe that "oil blackening" was a cheapened form of "machine blueing"

In the UK No1 & No4 rifles were blued until @1944 when phosphating and "Suncorite" painting took over.

Coincidentally British No1 rifle production stopped c.'44 so they would never have been suncorited as produced.

Australia started "Phosphating" @1942, previous to that all Lithgow No1 SMLEs were Browned/Blued.

India seems to have continued "Browning/ or Bluing" into the 1980s
 
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