refinishing a reproduction SMLE fore-end

stevebc

stevebc

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I bought a SMLE fore-end from Numrich, and it seems to be a reproduction. My questions are:

1) how best to break the "surface glaze" on this so that I can apply 100% tung oil: I don't want to use sandpaper, and was thinking of using that 3M scratchy-pad stuff, which comes in varying grades of scratchiness. Or 0000 steel wool?
2) or should I leave it alone? It occurs to me that it's not that bad a finish on it now, but it doesn't match the 100% tung oil finish I have on the butt and rear handguard.

Here's a pic that shows the current finish:



The tung oil finish on the butt and handguard came out as a sort of satin that I rather like, a bit glossier than the forend you see.
Thoughts?
 
Just go ahead and rub in some tung oil. The forend should become a close match to the hand guard and Butt. Possibly the color will be a bit off between them, but changing that is more work. After the oil cures, you can rub the forend with a terry towel rag and it will produce a bit more shine if that's what you're after.
 
Don't use sand paper. You can gently rub it a little bit with No.0000 steel wool, but that shouldn't be necessary unless there's some rough-ish surface somewhere. Put down the tung oil bottle, pick up the linseed oil bottle, give the forend a few really thin coats over a few days. :) These repro forends are actually pretty good, I've used a few over the past two or three desporterizing projects with very nice results!

Lou
 
You can thin out the first one or two applications of linseed oil with some varsol for better penetration, then do a couple coats at full strength.
 
Thanks gents. Some good advice for which I'm grateful. Smellie and Lou, the Lee Valley tung oil is what I've got, and I like how it turns out. This rifle is never going to be anything but a bitser, so I'm not too concerned if it's not historically accurate. But I use thin coats, and not too many of them.
The fore-end is nice, but "some fitting WILL be required". :D
 
Sorry to ask a dumb question if it is, I'm just very curious. The OP stated this is a repro stock. Who makes it?
 
Im not so sure numrich makes them, i got one last month they say the volley inlet is done by them, but didnt sayanything about the complete forend. The woman when ordering told me they had 30 in stock so not sure whats goin on there, mine was as new but has crown stamp on the bottom near the nose cap and a broad arrow .hmmm
 
yes man said:
Im not so sure numrich makes them, i got one last month they say the volley inlet is done by them, but didnt sayanything about the complete forend. The woman when ordering told me they had 30 in stock so not sure whats goin on there, mine was as new but has crown stamp on the bottom near the nose cap and a broad arrow .hmmm
Click to expand...

I got one about 3 months ago, assumed it to be repro with "fake" stamps. If they were original and in that kind of shape wouldnt they want a small fortune for them?

It would be great though to find out who's making them. Maybe they could be convinced to make them for other rifles? ;)
 
I have had a couple and i was under the impression they were part of that deal for enfield parts out of greece that marstar was involved in...ie the good stuff went to the states ..the two forestocks that i have had were properly stamped walnut they were even stamped in the barrel channel with inspector markings...IF they are repro you have to ask why/who would bother doing such a good job ...the wood out of India and POF for their military rifles is always proud of the metal almost like semi finished but it did the job so i doubt the forestocks were made there ...these forestocks are just too good imho to be repro...fella above mentions the d with no broadarrow but im sure if he looked closer he would see that D is the Enfield D over E... anyways it would be cool to know for sure where and when this wood was made
 
Why couldn't it be out of India? I heard a rumour that one of the big repro US rifle stock makers gets theirs out of India and that's why they are so cheap. Everyone seems to love their stuff.
 
Springfield Sporter had SMLE Mk.III Enfield 'ED' and /|\ marked forestocks 10 to 15 years ago. Maybe they still do? They were new, unfitted and I find it hard to believe there were repros made that long ago. Maybe there is a hoard of them out there?
 
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