Enfield Target Rifle

Buckmastr

Buckmastr

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I picked up this custom Number 4 Mk1 with a S&L 308 barrel, single shot. I want to restock it similar to the Enfield Envoy target rifle with pistol grip wood stock, hand guard etc. What would you suggest to find a suitable repo or sporter stock for my project?
Thanks!

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I won't be much help for your plan, but a head's up - the British rifles were mostly all Mark 1 versions - the Savage and Long Branch almost all Mark 1* - so inspect closely at that bolt head dismount slot - that inevitably chips or wears out - pretty much a known "weakness" for the Mark 1* version - is about the main difference to the original Mark 1 - how the bolt gets removed.

You might want to review some literature - I do not know - I would have thought that the Envoy types would have been built to the Mark 2 or Mark 1/2 standard - trigger mounted to a block on the wrist - I think the Mark 1 and Mark 1* both have the trigger mounted to the trigger guard - each can be set up properly - not certain if the military two stage were even used on those Envoy versions - but the attachment system might be an issue.

Good luck - will be an interesting project. I am working away at a similar - M1917 receiver, S&L heavy Palma type barrel, Parker Hale front sight, AJP 3/53 Twin Zero rear sight.
 
Thanks for the info. I forgot to mention that there is a canjar trigger in this rifle.

Your m1917 project sounds great.
 
m1917 project - I sort of got stalled at the stock stage - not really finding suitable for a target rifle - so is living in a "moose gun" former mil-surp stock. I came into a Parker Hale TX 1200 that was made for the 1969 Palma match, so the m1917 kind of got put away for "one day" ...
 
OP - you asked about stocks - I no longer have either, but within perhaps past five years on EE I had bought a heavy forearm that was apparently "prepped" commercially, and separately, a L42/Envoy hand guard. So with receiver ring and stock band, would be able to assemble to a "wanna be" Envoy, I think?

That forearm had similar appearance / profile to the one on this PH 1200 TX - heavy, broad - had 1950-ish type epoxy bedding installed - I do not remember if bottom surface was set up for hand stop or not - I seem to remember that forearm was actually for a Parker Hale T4 rifle (or similar name for it). I am pretty sure that forearm was not meant to use a hand guard - so would likely need to find appropriate forearm - target style - to use with hand guard and bands.

Hand guards were made by a specific British maker - C. Moon? - that one had that stamp - for heavy diameter barrel, not for standard profile 303 British milsurp barrel. So, bits and pieces were made and sold, back in the day - no clue where you could buy them today??

At least one former mil-surp stock here - I do not remember which action it was for - it might have been originally for a Swede 1896 or similar - was "slabbed" - slices cut off sides of forearm - then more-or-less matching wood blocks glued on and entire forearm re-shaped to look like a target forearm, although inside inletting was all military. Some wood worker did a very good job joining those blocks to that forearm - made it fat and heavy and wide - and very nicely re-finished.

Go here - scroll down - various sketches and photographs of PH T4 and others - might be what you have in mind??

https://www.rifleman.org.uk/L81A2_Cadet_Target_Rifle.html
 
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Yes good link thanks. Without the hand guard but close enough to what I had in mind.

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A Remington 40X stock might work for your M1917. Maybe if cut up might work for my Number 4 too. (?)
 
You might want to go to this site for pictures of a "Envoy" - appears to be a "for sale" posting of some sort - but pretty decent pictures, I thought.

From that posting, it says that, "The Envoy has a half stocked forend using converted No8 Fore-ends & fitted with a Enfield hammer forged heavy barrel
and built on a No4 Mk2 action." So if you are trying to reproduce an Envoy - likely looking for No. 8 forearm and hand guards, and the Mark 2 would have had the trigger on the wrist block - would be "academic", I suppose, if yours already has a Canjar installed. It appears that Envoy was a repeater - yours is sitting as a single shot - may or may not matter to you - I suspect the correct magazine (ejectors, etc.) would be similar price to a Mark 2 rifle??

The same website also has similar for the British military L39A1 - that one is set up with the same TZ rear sight as you show. Note the comment that some units fitted these with No. 8 butts. Were not built by Enfield Armoury that way, but some would have been "in service" like that.

https://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerms For Sale/no4f.htm
 
Thanks again,
Finding a proper 308 magazine will be a problem but i would either set it up as a repeater and hopefully find a mag, and alter the receiver later, or keep it as a single shot. Depending on the stock I’m able to find.
 
Buckmastr said:
Yes good link thanks. Without the hand guard but close enough to what I had in mind.

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A Remington 40X stock might work for your M1917. Maybe if cut up might work for my Number 4 too. (?)
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That buttstock looks as if it was made by Sile - as used by Parker Hale. If a stock from a PH sporter could be found without checkering, it would serve.
The rifle in the Highwood Classic Arms ad certainly looks as if it was set up in No.8 pattern stocks.

Your rifle, as it stands, is a target rifle set up for DCRA/PRA competition, perhaps 40 years ago. As is, it would be an interesting shooter.
 
Kinda following on from Tiriaq's post #10 - to OP - what you have there in Post #1 looks pretty skookum!! If you are really good with wood, you might improve it with replacements - but most of us would make it worse, likely - but up to you - if you want something with hand guards, then do so!! I am not certain in 2022 that a No. 4 can be built into truly competitive target rifle in most any discipline - but you certainly do already have the "look" that a 1970's competitor would likely die for!! Not certain what is important to you - a common enough saying - "holes on target do not lie" ...
 
There is a boutique gunsmithing shop that specializes in No.4s. I want to say he (and his son) are in Saskatchewan for some reason. The stock you want will be in UK, not very likely in Canada.

As has been mentioned No.4 conversions like yours were very common in the 1970s in the period between the switch over to 7.62 NATO and the rule changes that allowed shooters to 'run what they brung', and before stiff tubular receivers and fast strikers took over.

If you really feel up to the challenge of woodworking and want to make an L42A1/L39/Envoy clone, you'll need more length than the common sporter stock, something with the foreend band channel about 4" further forward. And thicker around the sides. Get a well fitting and nicely inletted foreend. Clamp it into a sled and carefully square the sides and bottom surfaces on a bandsaw or tablesaw. Bisonite slabs of matching walnut or beech on. Then recontour symmetrically. You'll probably have to go back to work on the draws depending on up pressure tuning on the foreend tip.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
There is a boutique gunsmithing shop that specializes in No.4s. I want to say he (and his son) are in Saskatchewan for some reason. .
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If you can attend a major gun show in Alberta/Sask you will see a vendor who produces new wood for LEs and Enfields etc. He would be my go to. If you can make red deer, or the next Stoney Plain show you could talk with him.
 
Links are broken - remove the space between the "t's" to restore them.

The shop mentioned in Regina, Sask. that does the Lee Enfields is likely these guys - ht tp://leeenfieldrestorations.com/index.html

The company that makes the new reproduction wood is likely - ht tps://www.prestigiouswoodstocks.com/ I think they are in Alberta??

I did get a No. 4 cheek rest from Prestigious - I have never dealt with the outfit in Regina.
 
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Potashminer said:
Links are broken - remove the space between the "t's" to restore them.

The shop mentioned in Regina, Sask. that does the Lee Enfields is likely these guys - ht tp://leeenfieldrestorations.com/index.html

The company that makes the new reproduction wood is likely - ht tps://www.prestigiouswoodstocks.com/ I think they are in Alberta??

I did get a No. 4 cheek rest from Prestigious - I have never dealt with the outfit in Regina.
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Yes, thanks for the links. I ordered a set of L42A1-like foreend pieces (Grade B) for a deserving rifle. He's got others still listed.
 
Your barrel profile is not the same as an Envoy or L42. You will have issues with fitting the rear handguard retaining ring as well as the top handguard. You should remove the forend and see how your Canjar trigger has been mounted - generally when these were installed clearance cuts were taken - show us a few pictures of these areas for readers to comment. Single shot adapter will need to be removed - hopefully it's just an aluminum block glued into position. The Prestigious Wood Stocks (Edmonton AB) replacement stock is set up for Mk1 trigger and mag - web would have to be removed and forend fitted. Then there's the mag -original Enfield very expensive and even if a reproduction it's pricey. Could always use a Sterling however they're about the same money. Some challenges in taking this to Envoy/L42. Is it worth it?

You have a very nice example of a DCRA conversion to a heavy barrel target rifle. I'd leave alone - my preference for stocks is walnut so I would swap out the maple for walnut. Some very nice wood out there - just advertise.
 
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Personally, I think you have a really nice example of a vintage target rifle as used in DCRA/PRA competition. I would be inclined to leave it as-is, instead of using it to make up a representation of something else.
 
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