A refurbed SMLE, and a nice... sporter?

[louthepou]

I know, sporterized Lee Enfield rifles are not what I usually play with, although recently a few came through. But here's one I may just keep for a while.

Finished a couple of refurb jobs recently. One is a 1917 SMLE; pretty typical refurb; slight colour difference between the butt / rear handguard and the forend / front handguard; aside from that detail, I'm fairly happy. Hope it shoots decently.

The second one is a sporterized No4Mk2, with the mention "Whitworth rifle company" on the barrel. The refurb was interesting. Even if the varnish was chipping, I had to use a wood scraper to get the varnish off once soaked with wood stripper, so it took a bit longer than usual. I used tung oil for refinishing the wood, I had some good quality tung oil lying around so might as well use it. I also reblued the barrel, receiver and trigger guard; they looked bad when the rifle got here.

I probably will keep this sporter, I like the way it looks. Now I hope it shoots well too...

Lou

 

[Panman]

Some of the professionally built sporters are historic pieces in their own right. Many of them are quite nice too, being factory built from spare unissued parts and actions, with new barrels and sights.

I know some consider all of them "Bubba'd", but I picked up a really nice Parker Hale conversion a while back, and I really enjoy it. Chrome bolt, really nice blonde stock, and factory scoped. With the factory 5rnd mags, they hardly look like an enfield until you see the rear band.

 

[wcmd]

Thanks for sharing Lou,
Two very nice pieces.
I only wish they could talk......I guess they do....
Bill.

 

[OEM]

That's a very nice one Lou! Love the colour and detailed pinstriping. Is that a peep sight of some sort?

 

[Mike Webb]

Nice rifles. I have a Whitworth No.4 sporter and like it too. OEM, I think the peep is original military No.4, mine was cut off before I got it. I have a Parker- Hale No.4 base and rings on it(discontinued unfortunately) and get a little under 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with a slightly heavy double stage trigger.

 

[Vimy Ridge]

Nice looking pair.

 

[louthepou]

Thanks folks, much appreciated.

OEM, as Mike Webb mentions, it's the original rear sight on a No4 Lee Enfield.

Lou

 

[smellie]

Louthepou, what is the rifling inside the barrel of your Whitworth sporter like?

Friend of mine is really into converted P-'17s and we pickjed one up last Summer, a Whitworth conversion. It had been rebarreled by Whitworth with one of their own barrels: nice wide-groove Mauser-type rifling, narrow lands; it should handle boat-tailed bullets very well.

I'm just wondering if yours is the same, or if you still have the equal-land-and-groove Enfield rifling that lasts forever and likes flatbase slugs.

Thanks for looking.

 

[collector67]

That is a very nice looking Sporter, one of the cleanest I've ever seen. Kudos to you on the resto of your SMLE. I wish mine would have turned out half as nice!

 

[Hawkshadow]

Just goes to show that every rifle has her own personality, no matter how many millions were made!

 

[louthepou]

Louthepou, what is the rifling inside the barrel of your Whitworth sporter like?

I'm just wondering if yours is the same, or if you still have the equal-land-and-groove Enfield rifling that lasts forever and likes flatbase slugs.

Thanks for looking.

Hi Smellie,

I just checked, and it looks like a very-Enfield-like two groove rifling,

Lou

 

[FishDoc]

Lou - you're just egging us all on to continue to emulate you! WE'RE NOT WORTHY! Great looking guns (as usual!)

 

[grant580]

While you guys are on the topic of sporterized enfields, anyone ever heard of a Sandhurst conversion? I have a rifle of my Dad's that was bought from Sears many years ago, and it is an awesome rifle. I think back then he paid $99 for it.