Hi everyone,
Just thought I'd share the story of this rifle with you guys.
Got this Lee Enfield No5 in bad shape. Missing rear sight, drilled and tap holes on receiver ring and on bridge. Wood was ugly. Bore had some spider web, dust, etc.
I took apart the rifle, refinished the wood (after I cleaned it, a thin coat of linseed oil, steel wool, linseed oil, steel wool, a few times.) The butt has a repair that shows, but at least it's not a deer head carving
Then, my first attempt at filling scope mount drilled holes (with a MIG welder). The repairs on the bridge, I have to say, I'm quite happy with.
On the receiver ring, I probably could have used a hotter setting, the perimeter of the holes still shows. Mind you, that way nobody can try to pretend the holes never existed.
I carefully used a dremel to bring the weld flush. I used a home reblueing stuff on the bare metal, so a proper complete reblueing could do the rifle a favor, but other projects are on the way and this rifle, for me, was a tutorial more than a project per say. Far from being a nice success, but I'm sharing this so we can chat a bit about the value of welding holes even if it doesn't make the rifle a more collectable one.
Anywho, not sure what I'll do with it. The bore, after serious cleaning, shows two pitted spots, but at least it still has rifling. Will likely take it to the range to be sure it fires somewhat in the general direction of the target.
Cheers!
Louis
Just thought I'd share the story of this rifle with you guys.
Got this Lee Enfield No5 in bad shape. Missing rear sight, drilled and tap holes on receiver ring and on bridge. Wood was ugly. Bore had some spider web, dust, etc.
I took apart the rifle, refinished the wood (after I cleaned it, a thin coat of linseed oil, steel wool, linseed oil, steel wool, a few times.) The butt has a repair that shows, but at least it's not a deer head carving
Then, my first attempt at filling scope mount drilled holes (with a MIG welder). The repairs on the bridge, I have to say, I'm quite happy with.
On the receiver ring, I probably could have used a hotter setting, the perimeter of the holes still shows. Mind you, that way nobody can try to pretend the holes never existed.
I carefully used a dremel to bring the weld flush. I used a home reblueing stuff on the bare metal, so a proper complete reblueing could do the rifle a favor, but other projects are on the way and this rifle, for me, was a tutorial more than a project per say. Far from being a nice success, but I'm sharing this so we can chat a bit about the value of welding holes even if it doesn't make the rifle a more collectable one.
Anywho, not sure what I'll do with it. The bore, after serious cleaning, shows two pitted spots, but at least it still has rifling. Will likely take it to the range to be sure it fires somewhat in the general direction of the target.
Cheers!
Louis
