Delisle carbine:

[Robert McNamera]

I read that the Delisle Carbine used in WWII by some "hush hush" units was nothing more than a Lee Enfield modified to fire a .45 ACP round. The of course there was the suppressor too. How difficult would it be to make one of these things in this day and age. I know the suppressor ain't legal and I dont want one. But a short bolt action .45 rifle might be interesting especially since I have a #1 Mark III that has been bubba-ed to death.

any comments?

R.Mac

 

[Bobby Ironsights]

"nothing more than" huh?

Yes, it was a lee enfield, integral suppressor, and there's a guy down in the states who makes conversions and conversion kits, both with real, and fake suppressors, and match barrels, and can take the 1911 magazines.

 

[teenahlake]

Here ya go
http://surplusrifle.com/articles2008/sia_45_enfield/index.asp

 

[Robert McNamera]

Delisle

Well fair enough. The Delisle was more of a work of art than just a Lee Enfield that had some work done to it.

 

[Beater]

there is a fella hear on the site that makes exact replicas of it aswell , except for the functioning suppressor. top rate work

 

[Mudpuppy]

How difficult would it be to make one of these things in this day and age. I know the suppressor ain't legal and I dont want one. But a short bolt action .45 rifle might be interesting especially since I have a #1 Mark III that has been bubba-ed to death.

any comments?
R.Mac

So you want to build a De Lisle, well here is a list of things to get you started:

PARTS TO BE MODIFIED

Butt stock - hollow out for De Lisle cleaning kit
Trigger guard Assembly - attach new magwell and plate
Fore stock - cut to size
Bolt Body - cut to size & rethread and counter bore for firing pin spring (may require annealing and re-hardening), dovetail bolt handle for insert
Firing Pin - cut to size & re-thread (requires check for firing pin protrusion)
Firing Pin Spring - cut to size
Bolt head - recess face for 45 case and cut for ejector
Extractor - enlarge and re-cut for 45 case
Receiver - line bore for barrel, remove charger bridge, drill/tap for ejector assembly, enlarge existing ejector screw hole, drill/tap for barrel retaining screw, drill/tap for end cap assembly screw
Barrel - thread for receiver, barrel locknut, turn so OD fits inside line bored receiver, counter bore for bolt head, cut chamber, cut extractor recess, cut for magwell/feed ramp, profile and crown
Magazine - shorten and re-form feed lips, modify follower, weld/solder guide rib on back of mag, cut guide rib for Enfield mag catch


PARTS TO BE FABRICATED

Magwell assembly including bottom plate and magwell reinforce band
Front hand guard and attaching boss
Hand guard hangar and pins
End caps for suppressor tubes (front and rear are different)
Suppressor tube
Front swivel
Front sight protector
Front sight
Bolt insert
Suppressor support rods and end caps(2)
Barrel lock nut
Rear sight unless you can find an original Lanchester!
Stock spacer
Ejector assembly
Plus you will need screws for: front sight(2) hand guard(1) ejector assembly(1) barrel lock screw(1) end cap assembly screw(1) suppressor tube retaining screw(1)


PARTS USED AS IS

Butt plate and screws
Stock bolt and washer
Rear swivel
Rear trigger guard screw
King screw and spacer
Cocking piece
Firing pin retaining screw
Extractor spring and retaining screw
Trigger assembly
Bolt head release catch and screw
Mag catch assembly
Mag spring


Once you have all the parts modified or fabricated you can then assemble and final fit for feeding-extraction and ejection and then re-finish the whole carbine.

One of my favorite passages on the De Lisle -- "In fact every De Lisle was virtually a "one-off", with components manufactured individually for each gun. Staff Sergeant Harry Weeks, an Armourer of that era with knowledge of Sterling De Lisles nos 26, 28, 31 and 39, described them as "an absolute nightmare".

 

[Juster]

There is the De Lisle Lite, just a 45 ACP conversion kit and a big can, popular enough in the USA where folks just want a quiet 45, which implies a big can anyway.

 

[sendero]

The same pic as always, i never had the time to finish the project yet loll

Anyway, it fire very well, i use a choped synthetic stock for the front, the rear is looking very much better now too

VERY easy to do BTW

Sendero

 

[Juster]

Sweet! Classic lines .

 

[TheTooner]

You might find something of interest from a U.K. firm called Armalon.

 

[Michael J]

Here's some info (mostly pictures) that may come in handy:
h ttp://www.rifleman.org.uk/The_DeLisle_carbine.htm

And this fellow on my other forum built his (or had it custom built i think?)

He is from Prexis/sten, maybe you can try out their website, and ask for information on building also. Although that tutorial looks pretty well in depth.

The dummy suppressor is a must, just too cool to pass up!