These ones are pretty much coming together. I have a few more in different stages of progress.
Finding original wood is a no starter. There is none to be found, so restocking with new made wood is the only option. I have my wood duplicator up and running, so I am making lots of scrapwood and sawdust. Not quite ready yet to have at a $100 chunk of walnut yet, but I am getting there.
This will hopefully be my solution to finding replacement wood, however, these two items seem to be the hardest ones to find for a restoration.
Nosecap and barrel band.
There were not alot of carbines made when compared to the volume of rifles. Probably the only spares floating around between collectors are take off from other carbines. Good luck in finding some. If you do, you will need to be ready to pay good money
I have a couple of nose caps from the second batch of castings made earlier this year. Very nice investment casting.
Repop on left, original on right.
Some slight varience to the original, most noticeablly,the repop is a little thicker in the sight protector ears.
They do need a little hand fitting but fit right up. The ears can be slimmed down and the ears' profile changed a bit to suit either Enfield or Metford front sight ramps (lower height on Metford).
So the barrel band is the challenge. I have chatted with other restorers and a couple use smle bands. They are not quite the right size, but can be made to work. If new wood, then not a problem making the wood fit the band.
I was chatting with a gent at the Bracebridge gunshow last weekend. He had tables with several Lee Enfields laid out and a nice No.4T displayed sitting on its transit chest. Chatting led to potential horsetrading, and when I asked about cavalry carbine barrel bands, he came up with a tip on how to make one. Modify a long lee band by forging.
So simple I had to get right on it. I had a couple of 'less than perfect' barrel bands in the bins, so why not. I donned my blacksmith apron and went looking for my hammer.
