Reviving the Lee-Enfield: Restoration specialist attends Moose Jaw gun show
- Thread starter HuskyDude
- Start date
It is good that an article like that was published. Positive press is not something seen all that often.
Rebuilding, restoration, refurbishment can mean different things to different people.
Bead blasting and spray coating the metal parts from a sported rifle, then stocking it up in new wood can result in a good looking shooter, but the rifle has essentially no collector value.
Rebuilding, restoration, refurbishment can mean different things to different people.
Bead blasting and spray coating the metal parts from a sported rifle, then stocking it up in new wood can result in a good looking shooter, but the rifle has essentially no collector value.
To be honest, I know what goes into properly fitting enfield wood to original spec, it's a challenging job if you're not well experienced. I cringe at the number of restored sporters I see floating around with new made wood, gaps in all the wrong places, etc. or crappy indian DP wood from the 50's and 60's on a WW1 era restored sporter.
If collectible value is what you are after, you need to be VERY aware of what original and collectible looks like.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Sault Ste. Marie
Which is why I avoid buying non-matching Enfields. That cottage industry we had for a few years made too many poor restorations to trust.
Same issue with garands built on danish receivers. Too many were thrown together with questionable parts and poorly fitted wood.
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I have a no4 he did. Its bedded and fitted very well.
I got burned on a no4 mk2 before that off of here. Forend was warped left, and had no up pressure. Shot like ####.
Thats why I went with him. I knew what I was getting cause I live close to regina, so I could look and pick from what I wanted. Its a numbers matching no4 mk1* savage stevens. He had about 6 no4s to pick from. He's got quite the work shop.
I got burned on a no4 mk2 before that off of here. Forend was warped left, and had no up pressure. Shot like ####.
Thats why I went with him. I knew what I was getting cause I live close to regina, so I could look and pick from what I wanted. Its a numbers matching no4 mk1* savage stevens. He had about 6 no4s to pick from. He's got quite the work shop.
Landborough is running even hotter.
I find it's very model-specific. If you want to sell a Finn M39 you may well see silly high bids at auction. A standard Lee Enfield not so much. If you play the auctions correctly you sell what's faddish and buy what isn't.
milsurpo
Tarrantula
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Parts unknown
I think the biggest barrier to younger generations is the price. They want the guns they grew up seeing in the movies and video games; M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, No4 Mk1, K98k, SVT40 are the big ones. When a standard matching no4 mk1 is generally $1300+ it can be a big investment for a young/new shooter. Heck try finding a matching No1 in decent shape for under $2k. $2500+ M1 Garands same deal. Nice K98's can easily push $3-4000. It is hard to draw people in at those prices, when the younger generations typically have a bit less disposable income compared to older collectors who crank up the prices and expect top dollar from sales. You can still find decently priced Jungle Carbines out there though. That, Mosins, SKSs, certain Mausers (Swedes, Yugos, etc) are all that's left that's remotely affordable, unfortunately. And they are typically less desirable due to their relative lack of historical significance and/or occurrence in the media.
There are all sorts of collectors, just as Tiriaq states in his post.
I've put together a few of No1, No4 MkI/MkI* and MkI/3, MkII rifles for a few folks.
When I've asked them if they want the rifles correct, as in all original stocks, they mostly go for the cheapest option.
Putting a rifle together with "all correct" parts can be a daunting task, and even if it looks fantastic when finished, it's still not "original"
Some of the new old stock wood has shrunk and warped, which makes it very difficult to get fitted properly. Likely such wood was discarded back in the day, and maybe why it survived?
When they find out how much time it takes to properly fit the ways, most folks just don't want to pay for the job.
Most people aren't looking for a "collector" grade rifle. They just want something to shoot reasonably well with issue or commercial ammunition at the local club "milsurp matches"
The wood on those is "repro" as are some of the parts. Glass bedding is a great option for such rifles and let's face it, it's much more durable.
I had an MP marked "match" rifle and when I stripped it down to clean it up and inspect the ways, it had been skim coated with acra glass.
I love the old "original" Lee Enfields as much as anyone, but depending on who has had access to them, the ways are often "bugg ered" by someone who doesn't know how to strip them down and reassemble them. It's not unusual to find the ways in some of these old rifles completely oil soaked and useless for their intended purposes. Three options available, carve out the soft areas and fill them in with fresh wood, use the Aussie system of copper shimming the faces on the ways, or carving out the soft wood and filling it all with glass.
For "shooter grade" repro rifles the latter two options are far superior, especially if the rifle has a tight of on spec bore.
I've put together a few of No1, No4 MkI/MkI* and MkI/3, MkII rifles for a few folks.
When I've asked them if they want the rifles correct, as in all original stocks, they mostly go for the cheapest option.
Putting a rifle together with "all correct" parts can be a daunting task, and even if it looks fantastic when finished, it's still not "original"
Some of the new old stock wood has shrunk and warped, which makes it very difficult to get fitted properly. Likely such wood was discarded back in the day, and maybe why it survived?
When they find out how much time it takes to properly fit the ways, most folks just don't want to pay for the job.
Most people aren't looking for a "collector" grade rifle. They just want something to shoot reasonably well with issue or commercial ammunition at the local club "milsurp matches"
The wood on those is "repro" as are some of the parts. Glass bedding is a great option for such rifles and let's face it, it's much more durable.
I had an MP marked "match" rifle and when I stripped it down to clean it up and inspect the ways, it had been skim coated with acra glass.
I love the old "original" Lee Enfields as much as anyone, but depending on who has had access to them, the ways are often "bugg ered" by someone who doesn't know how to strip them down and reassemble them. It's not unusual to find the ways in some of these old rifles completely oil soaked and useless for their intended purposes. Three options available, carve out the soft areas and fill them in with fresh wood, use the Aussie system of copper shimming the faces on the ways, or carving out the soft wood and filling it all with glass.
For "shooter grade" repro rifles the latter two options are far superior, especially if the rifle has a tight of on spec bore.
Intelligent and well worded answer. Thanks for that
Sounds like Mitchell's Mausers from the US around 20 years ago. No longer original so from a collector standpoint worthless.
That being said some have no interest in historically correct rifles just want a nice looking Lee Enfield they can shoot and show off. At least they are rescuing some sporters.
Yes, definitely a place for properly set up Lee-Enfield range guns. I've bought several collectible No. 1 and No. 4 rifles that had been bought by the previous owner to shoot with severe damage to the forends resulting. On a couple the entire "draws" area poured out in fragments upon disassembly. One No. 1 I bought from a guy who complained that it wouldn't do better than 2 foot groups at 100 had no draws! Unfortunately, damaged to that extent, the repairs couldn't be done in a way that it would be invisible from the outside.
milsurpo
