Lee Enfield SMLE - Parker Hale Sporter

[Da Moose]

I recently acquired the subject rifle, made in either 1941 or 1944. It had obviously seen a lot of use. On checking the trigger pull a number of times, it averaged an unbelievable ONE POUND with no creep! The parts looked original except for the honed areas.

The old gentleman from whom it was acquired told me that he'd honed the action himself. He also said that he'd taken dozens of animals with it over the years.

With a couple friends, both much more knowledgeable than me about military rifles, we bounced the rock hard old recoil pad off the concrete floor a number of times at various angles. Only once did the bolt drop to a half-#### position. The safety worked as it should.

With the usual care and safe handling you would give any rifle, it seems to me that it's still a useful rifle.

Any comments or suggestions L-E folks out there would be much appreciated.

 

[TheTooner]

It was a very good thing of it's kind when it was a service rifle and Parker Hale did their work well when converting them for sporting use.

 

[9.3mauser]

1-pound trigger is kind of scary on a hunting rifle.

 

[TheCoachZed]

I recently acquired the subject rifle, made in either 1941 or 1944. It had obviously seen a lot of use. On checking the trigger pull a number of times, it averaged an unbelievable ONE POUND with no creep! The parts looked original except for the honed areas.

The old gentleman from whom it was acquired told me that he'd honed the action himself. He also said that he'd taken dozens of animals with it over the years.

With a couple friends, both much more knowledgeable that me about military rifles, we bounced the rock hard old recoil pad off the concrete floor a number of times at various angles. Only once did the bolt drop to a half-#### position. The safety worked as it should.

With the usual care and safe handling you would give any rifle, it seems to me that it's still a useful rifle.

Any comments or suggestions L-E folks out there would be much appreciated.

I wouldn't be scared of it. L-E can be carried around de-cocked and cocked quickly, if you're nervous about the trigger.

 

[Pblatzz]

Is it a Parker Hale Sporter? Pictures would be great.

Parker hale chose Lee Enfields based on conditions such as perfect bores, tight headspace, etc. the trigger was left @ a two-stage pull, but a crisp break once the slack is taken up... If your trigger is 1 pound that is scary as the cocking piece and the sear would have had to been altered, as you stated "Only once did the bolt drop to a half-#### position" sounds like your cocking piece is on the cusp of disengaging with the sear... Has the trigger spring been weakened?

 

[cosmic]

Sounds like a little more than honing the sear was done. One lb trigger pull is both dangerous and useless. With the wealth of LE parts around, it would be easy to correct.

 

[anglia2]

I'd be concerned over the trigger , but as cosmic points out , an easy fix . I'd replace the trigger , or the sear , and take it shooting . Personally , I like two stage triggers .

 

[Da Moose]

Thank you for your comments gentlemen. I've attached a few photographs that I took of the mechanism.



I plan to sell it "as is" with a caveat about the trigger.

 

[louthepou]

Likely needs a new cocking piece, at least.

 

[Pblatzz]

Likely needs a new cocking piece, at least.

Lou is correct, The contact area is rounded back. It should look like this one below. A nice sharp edge.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

1-pound trigger is kind of scary on a hunting rifle.

Depends on what ye be hunting.

 

[Ganderite]

It could be ground straight. It would just reduce the length of stroke a wee bit.

 

[GUB]

1 lb.?? sounds like a bubba job
I'm thinking don't sell a dangerous rifle