My first restoration project. (pic heavy)

[the11]

So about a year and a half ago my son and I went to the range in Camrose, but there was a rental group using it, so we could not shoot. But then we heard that there was a gun show in town, so we went. And lo and behold an old sporterized Lee Enfield called to me. The first thing I noticed is that it had the magazine cutoff. The date was hard to read, but later examination confirmed that it was a 1915! Couldn't help myself. So I bought it.

Here is what I stated with (took the pic after stripping the ugly peeling and bubbling varnish off the stock)

Had to find some parts, like this little beauty ...

And a NOS forestock from ebay pre inlet for volley sights, with what looks to me like a "13" on it! Of course this meant I had to buy the repro forward volley sight from Numrich. But I found an original for the back one.

Had to try doing some colour matching, which was hampered by the forward handguard that came with the forestock being a very dark black walnut, while everything else is English walnut. But Oh well. Maybe a more closely matched one will turn up. But without further ado, here is the finished product!

With a 1915 bayonet. Pretty brown, but I don't want to mess with it.

So for the "like it looked back in the day" look, the 1918 bayonet.

Can't wait to take her to the range!!

 

[deemoney]

Pictures not working

 

[the11]

Yeah ... working on it ...

*edit*

More info on the rifle. The bolt did not match, and the mag had no number on it. I think the FTR date is 1944, as that is the date on the barrel. The bore is in very good shape, and slugs to .313". I bought the nosecap from Sarco, and it is unnumbered as well. The buttstock had the faint remains of a "1941" on it, but it is obvious that whomever did the sporterizing had sanded it down, and put on the ugly varnish. So I did not feel very bad about stripping it with noxious chemicals. I then used stain to colour match as best as I could, and finished all the wood with BLO mixed with turpentine. I think about 8 applications, and wipeoffs. The Piling swivel has an "E" on it, which I know means "Eddystone". But I am pretending it stands for "Enfield".

 

[tplumtree]

Nice Job! I de-sportered one similar last year but it was a 1917 so it didn't have the mag cut-off or volley sights. It can be a real challenge to find all of the walnut stock parts and get them all to match in colour - more or less. As yours is a 1915 it may have originally had a brass disc on the butt stock. Looks really great.

 

[the11]

Thanks.

I have considered putting a disk on it. I have a blank disk, but no screw. I would like to get a British or Canadian disk for it. If I find one, I will put it on.

 

[infideleggwelder]

looks good. i have the black/purple front hand guard too, but you`ve seen my thread and am working on a replacement. mine is a 1942, and have a volley sight for end as well.

 

[hollowedpoint]

Looks awesome man! Love that bayonet!

 

[SA85M1]

Nice job bringing the old girl back !

 

[Gov'tGrant]

Nice job indeed!

 

[Eaglelord17]

Very nice looking rifle, can't wait to hear about the range report

 

[rob bishop]

Very nice job! Glad to see you got it finished.

 

[flying pig]

Looks really, really good. You'll have to load up some of Smellie's pet load and go try er out!

 

[ctmm]

You`ve done a GREAT Job. As far as I`m concerned any attempt to restore a sporter Is a step in the right direction for our hobby,

 

[recce]

Thanks.

I have considered putting a disk on it. I have a blank disk, but no screw. I would like to get a British or Canadian disk for it. If I find one, I will put it on.

Nice job, it looks great! Personally, I would just but the blank butt disk on it. That way no one will try to accuse you of passing it of for something it is not, even if that is not your intention.

 

[VancouverSkiBum]

very nice.

 

[the11]

Nice job, it looks great! Personally, I would just but the blank butt disk on it. That way no one will try to accuse you of passing it of for something it is not, even if that is not your intention.

That's a good point actually. I don't have a screw for the disk however, and I think I would like to compare it to another one, because I am not absolutely sure it is an SMLE disk. It came in a parts lot I bought, and I have never actually seen one up close and personal before.

 

[XRCD011]

Looks 300% better then when it was a sporter, great job done.

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Really good job.

 

[louthepou]

Great to see it completed! How does it shoot?

Lou

 

[the11]

I have only shot it once, before I started restoring it. I used Remington UMC 174 grain FMJ. It seemed to be grouping fairly well. I put several shots within a couple of inches. And I had some flyers. But I was not being terribly careful either. At least there were no keyholes. However, it became obvious right away that the headspace was an issue, with misshapen empties, and a couple that even split a bit at the base. But I found a bolt body and head that won't close on the .074" gauge. Once the stupid weather starts to cooperate a little more, I will head off to the range. I hope I can find some of the same ammo. Should have bought more of it when I saw it.

So we will see how it goes. It was my first time bedding one of these. And only like my third time bedding anything. (Yeah, I know how that sounds .... )