Restoring a no1 mk3 Enfield

J

jebnert

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Hey all,
I'm sure this topic has been covered before but my forum skills aren't too good (beyond using the EE). I have a sporterized Enfield no1 mk3 that from my reading is still restorable. I know buying a non sporterized version would probably be cheaper but this one has sentimental value to me. I am wondering if anyone knows someone reputable that would be able to restore it for me. I'm not looking to make it collector grade or anything as it's already a mismatch of part numbers. I just want the wood color to match and for it to shoot.
I have Included a couple links of photos of it aswell Bellow:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/f6otddGaDrLnfVWG7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JjuWiLw1trRTCSii6

Thanks for your time!
 
Why not restore it yourself. It is an enjoyable hobby part of which is finding all of the parts. I am on my third and forth. I have most of the metal pieces for the two of them. The forearms are the hard parts to find. The upper wood I have made. To get someone else to restore a rifle is going to cost more than buying an original with matching numbers. Easier than you think. Colour matching or the wood is fairly easy. Rebuild one and you will have a feeling of accomplishment.
 
Send a PM to Louthepou, he's a moderator here and knows his Enfields. He will either help you out himself or direct you to someone who can, it's in his nature to help people.
 
I’ve restored my dads sporterized #4 MK1 Longbranch and a 1917 #1 MK3*. Was a bit challenging to suss out the replacement furniture and hardware, but overall, a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
 
Spare cash. I am always looking for Lee Enfield parts for future builds. The actual amount spent at one time is usually small. Put together a list of what is needed and hunt the gun shows. If you gather the parts over time I have found I spent less money but more time is put in, but that’s part of the fun. I put an ad up on another site and spent two evenings answering emails or on the phone. Most just wanted to chat with someone who where rebuilding LE rifles. I didn’t find many parts but people were very helpful with sources for parts. The easy route is to buy from places in the states, it will cost more than slowly finding them here. I currently have an order coming from the US. Basically I have an itch to finish another no. 1. I bought a kit, full wood and metal for my no. 4 which cost me $450 shipped. I figure it was about twice the price of slowly finding all the parts over a few months. I stumbled on a box of parts last month which I know I could sell for over three times what I paid , but I won’t.
 
britinbc said:
hi
I havent used them myself

http://leeenfieldrestorations.com

But they seem to have a good website

Might try them myself when i have some spare cash

Cheers J
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link J, I've sent them an email. They look like they do good work!
Also thanks everyone else for your input. I recently went to a Canadian military museum and it really made me want to get this rifle restored again.
 
I bought a sporterized SMLE off of the EE earlier this year with the plan to restore it. Thanks to user "Sasquatch807", he got mailed to me all the metal bits and bobs that I would need. I ordered a reproduction stock set off of Marstar. Spent about 4-5 hours yesterday sanding the new stock to fit. I hope to do a final sanding and put the first coat of oil on it tonight. If the oil dries like I hope (24 hours per coat?) I hope to do final assembly by Friday. If not I'll wait until next days off

Here she is as of last night with her first full test fit (Rear handguard isn't attached as it requires rivets to hold the barrel clamp in place, which I will do after staining/oiling). Everything that secures with a screw (trigger guard, buttplate, etc) will be installed after finishing oiling as well

SMLE-Test-Fit.jpg
 
DiMP said:
I bought a sporterized SMLE off of the EE earlier this year with the plan to restore it. Thanks to user "Sasquatch807", he got mailed to me all the metal bits and bobs that I would need. I ordered a reproduction stock set off of Marstar. Spent about 4-5 hours yesterday sanding the new stock to fit. I hope to do a final sanding and put the first coat of oil on it tonight. If the oil dries like I hope (24 hours per coat?) I hope to do final assembly by Friday. If not I'll wait until next days off

Here she is as of last night with her first full test fit (Rear handguard isn't attached as it requires rivets to hold the barrel clamp in place, which I will do after staining/oiling). Everything that secures with a screw (trigger guard, buttplate, etc) will be installed after finishing oiling as well

SMLE-Test-Fit.jpg
Click to expand...

Holy Fek that looks great! Did you re-blue all the metal or did they come like that?
 
bishop4444 said:
Holy Fek that looks great! Did you re-blue all the metal or did they come like that?
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The sporterized SMLE that I bought had recently been reblued by the previous owner. All the other metal bits just happened to come in great shape. I have 5 coats of BLO on the stock now (with steel-wool sandings between each coat) and boy has the grain ever popped and the entire thing is much darker now. My plan is to leave the wood hanging for a week to allow the oil to cure a bit more before reassembly.
 
DiMP - I am by no means an expert but will mention that if you used linseed oil, you can expect that to darken as it ages - exposed to oxygen in air is doing that, I think. Originals, so far as I know - at least the No. 4's - had no stain - just linseed oil - gets darker as the years go by... Some of the P-14's that are here are virtually black - I think that is 100 plus years of air working on linseed oil, with a bit of sweat and gun oils. plus probably dirt, mixed in...
 
Potashminer said:
DiMP - I am by no means an expert but will mention that if you used linseed oil, you can expect that to darken as it ages - exposed to oxygen in air is doing that, I think. Originals, so far as I know - at least the No. 4's - had no stain - just linseed oil - gets darker as the years go by... Some of the P-14's that are here are virtually black - I think that is 100 plus years of air working on linseed oil, with a bit of sweat and gun oils. plus probably dirt, mixed in...
Click to expand...

I had read that. Although I really liked the "blonde" look of the bare stock, one of the reasons I chose Linseed Oil is it is the authentic look. Maybe I'll have it long enough and bring it for enough sunny range trips that my grandkids will be tricked into thinking it's an original with how dark it'll be
 
Snider shooter said:
Looks great. I find it quite enjoyable to put one together. Excellent job. Are you thinking of doing another? Mine are definitely darkening with time.
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I have a future plan to do another... something. I have a sporterized Ross that I would love to re-stock, but it will be a bit more expensive and I just spend my "gun savings" on a k98. Maybe I'll aim for next year to see if I can do the Ross
 
DiMP said:
I had read that. Although I really liked the "blonde" look of the bare stock, one of the reasons I chose Linseed Oil is it is the authentic look. Maybe I'll have it long enough and bring it for enough sunny range trips that my grandkids will be tricked into thinking it's an original with how dark it'll be
Click to expand...

I had been able to buy some NOS british No. 4 wood some years ago on eBay - forestocks, hand guards. I made a soaking tube from 4" x 48" ABS sewer pipe - glued an ABS cap on one end - filled with 50 / 50 mix of turpentine and Raw linseed oil - soaked the wood in there about a week with a blue temporary cap on top. Wiped off with rag as I fished them out - hung for about another week in my shop until no longer tacky - then installed. Butts would not fit into that tube, so got similar treatment in trays stolen (permanently) from wife's baking trays. Had read was a thing when in service they would periodically get a few drops of RLO hand rubbed into the wood every couple months or so - might have also lifted off a bit of grime, but was hand rubbed - to get it warm from friction. I did not want to try to reproduce the "warmed vats" of linseed oil that were used originally - I went with idea the turpentine might help the oil to penetrate. Was at least 5 years ago - that finish is aging nicely, I think... Soaking was to get it into all surfaces - inside and outside - inside holes, etc. - not just what can be seen.
 
Well, did the final assembly today, and I can't stop smiling. I hope to get it to the range on these days off and try it out
PS: Thanks to the wife for letting me borrow her "Welcome to the Garden" bear and exchanging his sign for a rifle, I think it looks better this way


SMLE-01.jpg



SMLE-02.jpg
 
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