Desporterizing LE No4. - what do you look for?

STR8 Shot

STR8 Shot

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Good morning.
As the title asks, what constitutes a worthy candidate? What criteria does one follow?

For me, just seeing a full wood on one of these rifles puts a smile on my face. I don't necessarily bank on the specimen being of any significant historical value so long as it shoots well.

Curious as to what the hive mind thinks.
 
No extra drill and tap holes and excellent, uncut barrel condition. Everything else can be made to look pretty.

An unbuggered butt stock with a swivel is also nice but not a selling or turn-down point by itself. Magazines are available, but a nice magazine saves cash, again, not a deal breaker.

Matching numbers are nice but barrel condition is far more important if you're only looking for a pretty shooter.
 
so on a No4 that I look at for de-sportering things I look for

uncut barrel, preferably a 5 groove, likely a FTR rifle if it is a 5 groove, 6 groove is always better but harder to find
matching serial numbers for the bolt and receiver, if FTR it will likely be a forced match / renumbered bolt
no extra holes drilled in the receiver and no milling to the charger bridge / rear sight
if its a No4MkI* or No4 MkI/3 that the bolt ways are not chipped

after that things get easier to find

a nice butt stock that is not sanded and still has the swivel is good and the rear handguard band and front sight ears are a bonus if they are still there.

parts are out there, but getting harder to find, as for metal parts, I've run out of front and mid barrel bands, and sling swivels but I have all the other parts needed.
 
Sporterized wood doesn’t matter to me. You might be able to us the butt, probably not. No extra holes drilled for scopes or dovetails cut in the barrel. Full length barrels with front lugs still on. Condition of the receiver and barrel is important. I shoot everyone I rebuild so they must have a good bore. I have parts here that match that get put aside waiting for proper receiver and barrel to show up. I try to match a worn metal finish to a stock that shows some wear to it.
 
I would check out the cost and availability of the needed parts first. A wood set is $400 plus and unless you find original wood, repro wood always looks like desporterized repro wood.

To be honest unless there is something special about the donor rifle I would just buy an unmolested No 4 instead
 
55recce said:
I would check out the cost and availability of the needed parts first. A wood set is $400 plus and unless you find original wood, repro wood always looks like desporterized repro wood.

To be honest unless there is something special about the donor rifle I would just buy an unmolested No 4 instead
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yup, I've given up on desporterizing them, unless its something special, like a early Savage / Longbranch No4MkI but then your stuck looking for a waisted front sight, low cut forestock, button cocking piece, hinged bands.. etc...

I've been buying only the odd balls and the pre 1906 rifles for the last few years, but then that requires a whole new level of finding or building parts.

and any other sporters I pick up go into the project pile, and will be getting new barrels and chambered in things like 22Hornet, 308, or 44mag :)

now that I have built the receiver wrench for the No4 I should get on with some of those projects :)
 
C'mon guys, give the OP a break.

He's looking for a SHOOTER GRADE FULL STOCK LE No 4.

"For me, just seeing a full wood on one of these rifles puts a smile on my face. I don't necessarily bank on the specimen being of any significant historical value so long as it shoots well."

He wants one that shoots well, and you folks, with good intentions, are expressing your personal wants and desires.

In this case, it boils down to the KISS factor, and the OP will be a happy camper.
 
Id still avoid....I see alot of no4 mk2 wood work on mk1s....bet they aren't sorted well. There is a couple guys id buy one from on here thats de sportered.. one is lou...
 
The thing I think a few posters are missing is the joy of building the rifle. Much more satisfying shooting a rifle you have built. I also know I can build them a lot cheaper than I can buy full wood for. My last couple where under $400. CD5C3E6A-B859-4A9D-BC62-E056D2A45C04.jpeg
 

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C'mon guys, give the OP a break.
He's looking for a SHOOTER GRADE FULL STOCK LE No 4.

Well, no he isn't because if you carefully read the thread he clearly states that he is looking to desporterize. And if he did not want the opinion of many experienced Enfield guys then why did he ask?
 
55recce said:
C'mon guys, give the OP a break.
He's looking for a SHOOTER GRADE FULL STOCK LE No 4.

Well, no he isn't because if you carefully read the thread he clearly states that he is looking to desporterize. And if he did not want the opinion of many experienced Enfield guys then why did he ask?
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It's interesting to read everyone's personal opinions, particularly why I asked. I have a few ideas in mind, but wanted to hear from those who are experienced. So far, each of you have mentioned things I will consider, and appreciate your time taken to answer.

I was lucky and scored a couple of sporters from GP a while back, I believe he is also a member here. Both have beautiful actions and bores. One is a Savage made full barrel, FTRd in 54. The other is a shortened Long Branch.

I have a separate thread started as I am making a custom full stock from black walnut for that one.

Here is my Savage so far....pardon the mess.20240324_184633.jpg
 

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55recce said:
C'mon guys, give the OP a break.
He's looking for a SHOOTER GRADE FULL STOCK LE No 4.

Well, no he isn't because if you carefully read the thread he clearly states that he is looking to desporterize. And if he did not want the opinion of many experienced Enfield guys then why did he ask?
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Because he was looking for ideas to get him where "he wants to be" not where you want to be.
 
55recce said:
So in effect he is asking for his own opinion and not mine?
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He's asking for advice to get to where he wants to be.

Take a look at what he does by viewing some of his other posts.

He wants a pretty, shooter grade Lee Enfield.

He's not worried about minor details, but if they are present, it will be a pleasant surprise.

The information you gave him was bang on as to what you and I would look for if we were desporterising a rifle for our own use.

He isn't quite so fussy and he does some amazing work, carving out stocks.

I'm not patient and skillful enough for that sort of work, so like most here, I purchase NOS wood when I can find it or one of the present knock-off products, some of which are better than others.
 
There's a British fellow in my town that does an absolutely beautiful job restoring Enfields. His business is custom handmade guitars and he re-builds Enfields on the side, he even uses the correct wood species that the rifle would have been manufactured with depending on factory and year.
 
Several different types of Walnut, Beech (Birch), Maple, Coach Wood, and maybe a couple of others, depending on where, when and who.
 
Thanks Bearhunter, I don't know if I'd describe my stock work the same way.... still learning and a long way to go. I appreciate it all the same though :)

Interesting to hear about the fellow who does the Enfields and handmade guitars, sounds like my kinda guy.

I'm mostly impatient so I've taught myself how to build things I can't wait for ha,ha,ha. It is a curse sometimes :)

Put it this way, I've spent as much on three sporters, I could have just bought a full wood Enfield. But I am a tinkerer.
 
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