As Smellie and Lou have pointed out the SMLE is a great rifle to restore. Yes the bits and pieces can be a little bit daunting to find but sometimes you just have to be patient and some times have deep pockets. As Smellie pointed out, the peddled scheme rifles amounted to less than 5% of total production. Yours is one, I have a LSA that I have been looking for parts for the last 4 years. Someday I will complete the rebuild, will I get my money back? Probably not, but I probably will never sell it. I find it a pleasure to bring back a old warhorse. I think the days of lopping of some wood and hacksawing off a few inches of the barrel are behind us now as the price of these fine old rifles increases. $300.00 to $400.00 added to the cost of a $150.00 sporter is starting to make sense. As long as you do the restoration to as close to original specifications all should be good. The only downside are the people that will take advantage of the market and flog a incomplete, pieced together "all original" rifle to some poor unfortunate soul.
Re thinking evaluations of cut down Lee Enfields.
- Thread starter H4831
- Start date
I made the decision to buy my forend from Numrich because:
a) I couldn't find one anywhere in Canada (and I'd been looking for quite some time),
b) the number of suppliers in the US was shrinking,
c) I could only find one (there may be others I missed) who still had stock.
In the end, it came down to "If I want to do this, I'd better jump on it now while there's still some available."
Here's what $60.00 US and a hefty shipping charge will get you:
I was really looking for a lighter coloured forend in coachwood or Queensland maple, so I'm open to a trade, but if anyone has a replicator of some kind and needs a forend as a model, I'd be willing to loan mine. Seems to me the biggest problem would be having properly dried stock blanks. I've previously suggested using a synthetic material such as nylon as a substitute, but have since wondered whether it could withstand the heat from multiple shots: imagine the heat buildup if the full stock (rear and front handguards, forend) were all plastic of some sort. Still, if offered in black, OD, or brown, it might not be too ugly.
a) I couldn't find one anywhere in Canada (and I'd been looking for quite some time),
b) the number of suppliers in the US was shrinking,
c) I could only find one (there may be others I missed) who still had stock.
In the end, it came down to "If I want to do this, I'd better jump on it now while there's still some available."
Here's what $60.00 US and a hefty shipping charge will get you:
I was really looking for a lighter coloured forend in coachwood or Queensland maple, so I'm open to a trade, but if anyone has a replicator of some kind and needs a forend as a model, I'd be willing to loan mine. Seems to me the biggest problem would be having properly dried stock blanks. I've previously suggested using a synthetic material such as nylon as a substitute, but have since wondered whether it could withstand the heat from multiple shots: imagine the heat buildup if the full stock (rear and front handguards, forend) were all plastic of some sort. Still, if offered in black, OD, or brown, it might not be too ugly.
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
I've got a barreled action, bolt and mag in the safe. I don't even know where dad got it, I think he found it in the bush.
It's not in that bad of shape, one of these days I should dig it out and see exactly what it is but I'd have no idea what to do with it afterwards seeing as restoring is getting pricey.
Edit....
Just went down and looked at the poor old girl, she's looking tired.
Unfortunately she doesn't have the desireable markings like Bruce's. I'll be starting my vacation tomorrow and I'll post back with more, maybe there's some parts I could donate to a worthwhile project or something.
It's not in that bad of shape, one of these days I should dig it out and see exactly what it is but I'd have no idea what to do with it afterwards seeing as restoring is getting pricey.
Edit....
Just went down and looked at the poor old girl, she's looking tired.
Unfortunately she doesn't have the desireable markings like Bruce's. I'll be starting my vacation tomorrow and I'll post back with more, maybe there's some parts I could donate to a worthwhile project or something.
Last edited:
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I think I have his card from the last show, he was workign on making wood for hte Ross as well. I'll have to check him out again.
90% of the guns I own were bought because of a romantic post that Smellie wrote!!
Now back to the original thread. I believe that restoring these old rifles is way more enjoyable then buying a mint example. Yes it gets expensive but to me it's worth it as I've saved yet another unwanted gun. The other thing is when you spend months or years working on a resto you really get to know the gun and how it works etc.
For me the fun is the process and I guess I've always been a guy who likes to tinker so spending hours in the workshop fitting wood and playing is worth far more to me then the money it costs to do a resto.
