"Rusty" the Lee Enfield

[bobfortier]

Hi all

My local hunting store had this in inventory. About a year ago I went to have a look, but I passed (he was asking 100$). Fast forward to yesterday. A friend of mine has all the metal bits to rebuild a full wood no 4. He will sell the parts to me for not much, so I needed a rifle.

I emailed the store, and they made me an offer....I took it. The bore has rust in it, the sight is deformed (I'll use the micrometer one) but it is complete, matching bolt and receiver, and the rust will probably clean up good.

I bathed all parts in evaporust, and I filled the bore with this overnight.

 

[bobfortier]

So this afternoon I cleaned the bore. A couple of pass with the brush, then with white fabric. There is still some particule in it, but I'll re-bruch it again. The bore will not be that bad I think. The riffling is ok, the bore is now clean, I'll shoot a couple of rounds through it as a test as soon as I can.

I took all the parts out of the evaporust bath, they all came out nice. I oiled the action, mag and bolt. I'll re-assemble it and fire it before I make the woodset for it. I'm thinking nice walnut this time...

 

[tbaybmkr]

Wow! Now that's a labour of love! Great job!

 

[WaffenMitUns]

Looked salvageable, and it was.

 

[Clubhopper]

Wow that's awesome! Tagged for interest. Keep those updates coming!

 

[Redlight35]

Definitely looks like you will have a good shooter there when you're done! Can't wait to see more pictures

 

[bobfortier]

I should not say that, but here it is. I paid 60$ for it !!!

 

[8 ball]

Heck! If the mag is good, it's worth that!

 

[TCBF]

- What did you use to remove the rust?

 

[Nabs]

No 4 Mk I made by Maltby in 1944 and FTRed in 1948 by the looks of it.

Good on you for bringing her back to life, keep us posted.

 

[Redlight35]

No 4 Mk I made by Maltby in 1944 and FTRed in 1948 by the looks of it.

Good on you for bringing her back to life, keep us posted.

I thought I saw Mk II on the receiver. But an excellent looking rifle either way, and what a deal!

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

Not too bad. The bore will probably brighten right up after a bullet or two.

 

[woodchopper]

I thought I saw Mk II on the receiver. But an excellent looking rifle either way, and what a deal!

not a Mk2 Mk1/2

I've seen several FTR 48s that were done to original spec. Seems that the '50s FTRs were all done to Mk2 Mk1/2 Mk1/3 standards

 

[bobfortier]

So what I have is a Maltby No4 Mk1 ?

 

[rgg_7]

Interesting history. Your rifle was made by BSA (M/47C code) at the Shirley factory in 1944. It has seen service and was FTR in 1948 at Fazakerely (F). The lettering and serial number have been redone (electropenciled or engraved) by Fazakerely. "G" serial number not often seen. Ron

 

[louthepou]

Bob never turns away from a great challenge!

Lou

 

[mbogo3]

The rear peep can be heated up and put back into shape with a tapered steel rod....Harold

 

[RRCo.]

I'd suggest you remove the sear, mag retaining catch, bolt head retaining catch & spring also. There will be plenty of rust and crud in there. The springs are not that hard to refit: hook the long end on the sear, then use a flat bladed screw driver to compress the short end of the spring by levering gently against the back of the mag catch while pushing the spring down into place with your left hand. Since your parts are pretty much in the white now after the Evapo-rust, I'd glass bead, parkerize and paint the whole thing.

 

[bobfortier]

It is ready for a test fire tomorrow. I reloaded 3 rounds with Hornady 174 RN, with 42.5 gr of IMR4350. I also reloaded 2 with 185 grain cast bullet, with 19 gr of SR-4759.

I'll see how it goes. I'm sure all will be ok. Every part is clean (well, free of visible rust that is)

I fed it with a stripper clip with 5 dummies, everything works perfect.

I did not reblue the part, I'll do this at a later time.

 

[bobbynewmark]

great job.. I have a very similar gun, with full stock tho