So i have become rather obsessed with the Lee Enfield's lately as i do not own one but i do want one. I was wondering if it was possible to buy a cheap sporterized version, buy the wood stock that is needed and restore it back to full wood condition, as i would rather not pay $7-800 for one, when i get can get a cheap sporterized for $250 or less depending on condition as i am on a budget. Thanks all for your input!
Restoring a Lee Enfield to full wood ?
- Thread starter Kondor
- Start date
Depending on the Lee Enfield variant and the degree of accurate restoration you're looking at, you won't find it much cheaper to restore one than to buy an unmolested one. Myself and lots of other guys on this site have restored the old Lee Enfields, and good parts are getting scarcer. For instance, if you are trying to restore a Long Branch LE in walnut furniture with all the correct parts it would take a long time and lots of searching and cash to find the period correct hardware and wood. At the end of day, most of us have restored the rifles for the sake of historic accuracy and you don't save any significant amount of money in doing so. If you just want one that looks correct, they're on the EE and at the local gun shows. Lots of luck.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
If you're talking about No1MkIII then good luck to you. Full stocks arent cheap to buy when you find a complete one. You can try and scrounge around but that may take you years if not decades.
The days of cheap No1s and No4s are long gone but you should be able to find a mixmaster/put together for about the same amount it would cost to build one. Say $450-$500.
Agree with Bearhunter. I've put 3 Enfields back together from sporters, and I ended up paying about 400-500 to do so. About 200 or so, for a sporterised Enfield Rifle (with full barrel) and another 200 or so, to find all the parts (give or take). You may end up with a bit of a mixmaster Enfield, but it will (mine at least) look far better than a sporter does.
It can be done, but just from my experience in the last couple years, supplies ARE drying up quickly, as far as finding old stock parts from commercial sellers.
It can be done, but just from my experience in the last couple years, supplies ARE drying up quickly, as far as finding old stock parts from commercial sellers.
restoring is not cheap and parts hard to find,you wont save any money by restoring but there is a certian amount of satisfaction to be had and a little to learn.You can pick up a nice full wood if you shop around for a good price just have to be patient, should be able to find one for 450 -550 range
GunsNotPuns
CGN frequent flyer
Ain't that the truth. I bought a sportered about two years ago with an eye to restoring. You aren't only killed on the wood... replacing the bits is pricy as heck as well. I finally sold it unrestored and put the money towards an intact one.
If the rifle is in decent shape..patience.. time and scrounging can be alot of fun...alot more #4 parts around than the #1Mk3 it seems...start digging around, watch the EE,...you will find what you need...but beware. .they will multiply when you aren't looking ..
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
funny I have been scrounging for years and now I find I have a nice matching set of wood for a No4 Mk1* but not a rifle to put it on. time to go shopping.
I know I need some wood for a No4 Mk1/2, was an early production savage that was converted to the Mk2 trigger.
just takes time and a sharp eye to find the bits you need, as long as you are not in a hurry you can find good deals.
I know I need some wood for a No4 Mk1/2, was an early production savage that was converted to the Mk2 trigger.
just takes time and a sharp eye to find the bits you need, as long as you are not in a hurry you can find good deals.
Butcherbill
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Send it my way lol, that no4 Mk1 I just picked up is a good restoration candidate.
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
oh I'm not worried about finding projects.
problem is sitting on some of the harder to find stuff, waiting for the missing bits. early style cocking piece (button) long branch marked, to go with the 5C serial number rifle. nice to find a low sidewall stock to go with it, might end up looking to splice the one it has to a new foreend, as a temporary fix till the right wood comes along.
as long as I don't get distracted by the carbines, LEC, LMC, and a Martini carbine that just arrived that needs my attention.
and the wife keeps askign when the basement reno is going to be fininshed.... I got the hanging ceiling done in one room last night so just 2 rooms to go. I can start with some flooring now so I need to move everything around again.
I can't wait till I can retire so I have more time to get work done....
problem is sitting on some of the harder to find stuff, waiting for the missing bits. early style cocking piece (button) long branch marked, to go with the 5C serial number rifle. nice to find a low sidewall stock to go with it, might end up looking to splice the one it has to a new foreend, as a temporary fix till the right wood comes along.
as long as I don't get distracted by the carbines, LEC, LMC, and a Martini carbine that just arrived that needs my attention.
and the wife keeps askign when the basement reno is going to be fininshed.... I got the hanging ceiling done in one room last night so just 2 rooms to go. I can start with some flooring now so I need to move everything around again.
I can't wait till I can retire so I have more time to get work done....
Here is a project I did a couple years ago.
Funny how some of the scarce pieces fell into place. Done for the appreciation of the history .... Not for the money invested ...
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1159500-EE-Purchase-Pic-Heavy
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
HAHAHAHA.....I retired for 10 years and found that I still didn't have any time to get things done. Friends envied me, thinking I had the freedom to just point the truck in a direction in the morning and drive for days. Life isn't like that.
I always said when I was retired: " I don't know how I got anything done when I worked". Now I am back to work, and really don't get anything done at home.
Back on topic: For the wannabe Enfield restorers: Expect that the smallest screw on your Enfield rifle is going to cost you $3, and quite often that is if you can find it. Quite often that will be in American dollars, and you will pay postage on top of that. As an Enfield hoarder myself, I like to have a minimum of 20 of anything (actually I prefer to have a hundred.....then I don't feel the same level of anxiety if I sell something off). And if I do sell, it's not a question of "what did I pay for it" but rather "what will it cost me to replace it.
I did drag a bunch of British no4mk1 lower stocks and LongBranch buttstocks to the Calgary show this year, as I don't collect British rifles, and I have a glut of the LB buttstocks. 3/4 of the stocks left my tables before the show even opened to dealers who know how hard it is to find these things. Can't blame them...I would have done the same thing myself.
