Help with my 1912 Enfield

rattus

rattus

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Maple Ridge, BC
I have a 1912 Enfield No1 MkIII sporterized that I'm trying to restore. My Granddad gave it to me when I was 13 and I'm fortunate that neither he nor anyone else messed with it too much. So I have a bunch of questions and I've been doing a bit of research but I figure asking for help never hurts. So, first up, what type of wood stock would be most original? The sporterized stock was a very light hardwood which I assume was the cut down original. Good assumption? Second, it has 3 small threaded holes on the left side of the receiver, "Bubba" or original? It looks from the markings it was re-arsenaled in '42, what would that have meant? And do any of the other markings say anything to anyone? Thanks in advance!

markings1.jpg

markings2.jpg

scopemount.jpg
 
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Two of the three holes on the side are from a commercial scope mount. So in that sense, yes, it is bubbatized and not economically restorable. That being said, if it has sentimental value, a decent gunsmith could plug the holes with screws, cap weld the plugs, file them down and re-blue the receiver so they would be invisible. Be prepared for this to cost more than the gun is worth.

I would also get that barrel checked out at the same time. It looks to not be fully screwed in. An you are correct, it looks to be a british (not Indian) 1942 refurb. As such, it would have either an Enfield made straight-profile walnut forestock or a beech made dispersal-type forestock.
 
I'd say replace the furniture on it with walnut (make sure it's mkIII and not MKIII* wood if it has the magazine cut off) and make it look proper, and then decide from there if you want it as a shooter and can live with the holes or want to have them fixed too.
 
Thanks for that. It doesn't have the magazine cut off but I wonder if I should put one back on or not? And of course, the volley sites are gone.
 
Straight MkIII, but with the re-arsenal in '42 was anything changed? I suspect the bolt was replaced and numbered to match. (maybe a pic would help???)
 
Pics are good. By that point in time a lot of things likely had been changed, but that's all part of the rifle's history. Claven's right most mkIII were converted to mkIII* by '42, but it wasn't a given, only the markings on the rifle will reveal this. Sometimes the * can be hard to see.
 
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