enfield no1 mkIII you vote

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stovepipe699

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OK here's the deal. I have a sporter no1 mkIII, good condition, except it was drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Is it worth trying to put back to original, or should I just find one in original condition? Other than the EE, where should I look for "milsurp" rifles? :ar15::D
 
Waste of time to try and put it back to original,since it can never be original, with an extra pair of holes in it.
 
If the barrel is still full length then I say go for it even if it's just to learn how to do it. It really won't cost you a whole lot if you order the wood from Springfield Sporters, and better far to make your mistakes on a rifle that you don't really worry about before going for one you do.
I know Lou the Pou will be along shortly and he'll say go for it :D
 
Why try to "restore" a gun that is not restorable to a collector status. For your own use it will make a great rifle to shoot. There are many that the metals are unaltered except the woods have been "sporterized" They are readily available and are closer to original condition. I have 2 such #1 Mk.III* guns refurbed and one is a .303 and the other a 2 1/2 " .410.
 
Hmm, always a tough call :)

A "non-drilled" sporterized No1 Mk3 costs about $100. And it's a fun project for a first refurb job.

A drilled refurbed rifle looks too weird. Option here would be to weld the holes and reblue the affected metal, then proceed with the refurb. I did this with a Jungle Carbine once, just to see how much trouble it was.

I would keep the drilled one as a candidate to receive a scope (you could always sell it before deer season...), or sell it now and buy a non-drilled one with the money... Or keep that one just because and get another one for a refurb project... You can't have too many Enfields :D
 
Thanks for the opinions everyone. Too bad it got drilled. It was given to me by my father, who bought it from his uncle in the 70's, so it's a keeper. I'll just look for one(or many:D) that's original. Rob
 
stovepipe699 said:
Thanks for the opinions everyone. Too bad it got drilled. It was given to me by my father, who bought it from his uncle in the 70's, so it's a keeper. I'll just look for one(or many:D) that's original. Rob
Click to expand...

Rob, you could post a few pics, who knows, you may have a commercial sporterized Enfield (some companies sold them), which isn't the same thing as a "Bubba's Own Basement Job".

And good idea to keep it. It has some of your family history - no other No1 Mk3 can say that ;)
 
Since it's already drilled, I'd leave it as a sporter. What lou mentioned is a good point, if it is a commercialized conversion they are usually very well done and IMHO is collectible in it's own right.
 
It's a keeper for sentimental value. My Dad and my Uncle each carried it for their first season of deer hunting(and got skunked:p). I'll take a pic later. The #'s match, I think it has 1918 on it, and mkIII*. When I put it on paper, with 180 factory loads, I had to crank the sight up or it would shoot too low. I think that's why everyone got skunked hunting with it. The crappy part about the holes drilled in it is they probably don't line up with a proper scope mount, since the mounting job was an abortion. On the topic of collecting Enfields, what would be a good reference guide to tell me what all the stampings mean? I have a no4 mkII with matching no's, bayonet, nice shape, and I'm itching to know more about it. IMO it's a darn nice rifle.
 
Holes

I vote that you return it to mil spec. The holes could always be filled and the repair made invisible. Where exactly are the holes?

If you know, or could find a good welder who has TIG equipment.

In brief, make steel screw plugs to fit the holes, screw them in to just below the surface. A tiny TIG weld to fill each hole then carefully grind the weld down to the surface and refinish.

Your rifle will never have collector value, but then again, you aint interested in selling it to a collector are you? It is for your own collection.

This suggestion, by the way, is coming from a guy who regularly spends $300 in parts and labour on a junker and ends up with a $200 rifle.

Or the cheap and cheerful way. Do up the screw plugs and screw them in to just below the surface. JB weld (epoxy) over them. Sand down flush. Refinish the rifle with black high temp paint as many wartime rifles were. Cheap, quick and easy and can be done in the kitchen while the old girl is out shopping. :onCrack:
 
I had a similar dilemma with a K98 a few years ago... I found middle ground.

EBay, by the way, is a great place to find parts... anyhoo... I took my Great Grandfather's sportered K98, for which he carved his own stock, and basically re-stocked it, found stock bands, sight hoods, etc... but kept his stock, and trigger... Now, I can easily present it as either "military" or "Great-Grandpa'd"

EB
 
englishman_ca said:
I vote that you return it to mil spec. The holes could always be filled and the repair made invisible. Where exactly are the holes?

If you know, or could find a good welder who has TIG equipment.

In brief, make steel screw plugs to fit the holes, screw them in to just below the surface. A tiny TIG weld to fill each hole then carefully grind the weld down to the surface and refinish.
Click to expand...

Did that with a Jungle Carbine once, it worked great. But one difference, I don't own a TIG, just a MIG.


englishman_ca said:
This suggestion, by the way, is coming from a guy who regularly spends $300 in parts and labour on a junker and ends up with a $200 rifle.
Click to expand...

You know Englishman, you're not the only one like that! (Not sure it'll make you - or me - feel any better :D)
 
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