Lee Enfield No4 Mk1
- Thread starter Dan24157
- Start date
- Location
- Southern Manitoba
Interesting. Did they say it was genuine? Reproduction?
- Location
- Southern Manitoba
Well as for who made it, I am not sure but it is not a genuine Enfield. One give a way are the front sights. Looks well made though. How does it shoot?
Edit: As others have said, sporterized.
Edit: As others have said, sporterized.
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That rifle is an original Lee Enfield, but it has been sporterized, most likely by a factory in the UK after the war. I believe it came from the Maltby factory in the UK in 1942, Factory Thorough Repaired by Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerly (as shown by the markings ROF(F)FTR on the receiver in electropencil). The muzzle was cut back during the sporterization, removing the bayonet lugs and the sheet metal ramp was added to the original front sight to give a cleaner look. There may or may not also be a stamp on the top of the barrel saying "Surrey" where it may have been sporterized. Many of those rifles had the painted fore end tip. The markings on the barrel and the front of the receiver are standard British government proof marks when it was sold to the public. Not an original but not a reproduction. Look up photos of a No 4 Mk I Lee Enfield to see how it would have looked coming out of the factory.
This one was made in Fazakerley England then it was sadly sporterized. Nothing special here as for the year it would say on the receiver after the "No4MKI (F)" or right by the safety when its up. As an example it would say 12/43 meaning December 1943. You might be able to make something out at the right angle in the right light. but it appears to have been scrubbed off, probably during the factory through repair (FTR) process. I don't see the FTR marking but that would be my guess
Yes i did it with mine. The issue is finding the parts. Then finding parts at a price that is worth it.
Good luck it gets harder everyday. Ebay is a good place to look
Cottage Hill Bill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Pensacola, FL USA
No, it can't be restored economically because the barrel has been shortened.
Anything is restorable providing that you throw enough time and money at it.
For a military style rifle, this might not be a good one to use as the base for a rebuild. The barrel has been permanenetly modified, so to get it back into a military stock and looking right, the barrel will need to be replaced or repaired.
If you had the expertise, not a problem. The barrel change is a straight forward process. However, it requires special tools, gauges and often a lathe, not something for the home mechanic. You will need to pay a gunsmith for shop time. A good used replacement barrel would have to be found. Good luck.
Criterion are making new high quality replacements but the cost is up there. So unless you were building a competition target rifle or similar, not really viable. You would spend more money on restoring it than it would cost to buy a complete and original example.
But it is your money. Restoring can be a lot of fun or frustration or both.
I am into restoring, so will give you every encouragement to have a crack at it, but must warn that it can be a rough road to travel.
Your rifle is what it is. It is a classic sporter Lee Enfield, rugged and reliable, it will get the job done. Try it, you will enjoy shooting it. Ammunition can be expensive, so all the serious shooters that I know hand load. That is a hobby in itself as each Lee Enfield likes ammo tuned to the rifle. One can get some surprising results just by playing with different loads and bullets..
If you want a military rifle, I would respectfully suggest that you go find one that needs less shop time than this one.
Replacing the wood also requires some black magic to to get it stocked up right. It is not a drop in fit, each has to be hand fitted. This fit of the wood can have a severe effect on accuracy.
Thinking of restoring this one is similar to buying a zooped up hot rod car and then thinking to restore it back into a 1925 Ford T saloon. It can be done, but a lot needs replacing.
For a military style rifle, this might not be a good one to use as the base for a rebuild. The barrel has been permanenetly modified, so to get it back into a military stock and looking right, the barrel will need to be replaced or repaired.
If you had the expertise, not a problem. The barrel change is a straight forward process. However, it requires special tools, gauges and often a lathe, not something for the home mechanic. You will need to pay a gunsmith for shop time. A good used replacement barrel would have to be found. Good luck.
Criterion are making new high quality replacements but the cost is up there. So unless you were building a competition target rifle or similar, not really viable. You would spend more money on restoring it than it would cost to buy a complete and original example.
But it is your money. Restoring can be a lot of fun or frustration or both.
I am into restoring, so will give you every encouragement to have a crack at it, but must warn that it can be a rough road to travel.
Your rifle is what it is. It is a classic sporter Lee Enfield, rugged and reliable, it will get the job done. Try it, you will enjoy shooting it. Ammunition can be expensive, so all the serious shooters that I know hand load. That is a hobby in itself as each Lee Enfield likes ammo tuned to the rifle. One can get some surprising results just by playing with different loads and bullets..
If you want a military rifle, I would respectfully suggest that you go find one that needs less shop time than this one.
Replacing the wood also requires some black magic to to get it stocked up right. It is not a drop in fit, each has to be hand fitted. This fit of the wood can have a severe effect on accuracy.
Thinking of restoring this one is similar to buying a zooped up hot rod car and then thinking to restore it back into a 1925 Ford T saloon. It can be done, but a lot needs replacing.
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